Professor Rachel Thomson
Thoracic and Sleep Physician
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Prof Rachel Thomson is a Thoracic and Sleep Physician at Greenslopes Private Hospital, Respiratory Research Unit Head at Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation and Head of the University of Queensland Greenslopes Clinical Unit.
Prof Rachel Thomson has an international reputation in the area of Pulmonary Nontuberculous mycobacterial disease (NTM). She has been invited to speak on this subject at international meetings, and has published several papers in the area. She has an active research program into the clinical and environmental epidemiology of these infections, and into immune defects that may predispose to acquisition of infection. She is able to offer patients expert management of their disease, and access to novel treatments through clinical trials.
Prof Thomson has a special interest in respiratory problems of the elite athlete. This includes asthma management, vocal cord dysfunction, and the requirements of national and international doping organisations for asthma medications.
Dr Katherine Semple
Thoracic and Sleep Physician
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Dr Katherine Semple is a Thoracic and Sleep Physician at Greenslopes Private Hospital. Dr Semple graduated in medicine from the University of Queensland. She trained in Respiratory Medicine in Brisbane and at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney before completing a Sleep Fellowship at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. She did research investigating Pseudomonas biofilm formation in bronchiectasis and obtained a Master of Philosophy from UQ.
Dr Semple enjoys all aspects of respiratory and sleep medicine. She is particularly interested in bronchiectasis and pulmonary infections. Dr Semple maintains a research interest and is affiliated with the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation.
Dr Michael Holt
Thoracic and Sleep Physician
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Dr Michael Holt received his medical degree from The University of Queensland. He was awarded Fellowship of the RACP in 2014 after completing respiratory training at The Prince Charles Hospital and a sleep medicine fellowship at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. In 2015, Michael commenced his sub-specialty training with the inaugural Mycobacterial Fellowship at Princess Alexandra Hospital. He subsequently completed all parts of the United States Medical Licensing Examination and obtained a Colorado Physician Training License to pursue further training as the Lowerre Fellow at National Jewish Health, the premier respiratory hospital in the USA.
Dr Holt is currently studying a PhD with The University of Queensland. He has been published in international journals and presented scientific abstracts and didactic sessions at American Thoracic Society conferences. He remains an active member of the American Thoracic Society, serving on the Program Committee of the Assembly for Pulmonary Infections and Tuberculosis. He also maintains membership of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, and the Australasian Sleep Association.
Lisa Franks
Respiratory Physiotherapist
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Lisa Franks is a physiotherapist with over ten years clinical experience. She has a special interest in respiratory physiotherapy and completed her PhD in airway clearance and bronchiectasis in 2022. Lisa has published research papers in leading journals and has obtained competitive research funding. She has been invited to present at multiple local, state and national conferences and has won competitive awards for excellence in allied health led research. Her research outputs are directly relevant to clinical practice and have improved clinical education, patient access to care and contributed to cost effective health care in multiple hospitals and health services. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of health professionals in complex cardiorespiratory disease management to improve clinical practice, patient outcomes and quality of life. She currently works at Pulmedica and The Prince Charles Hospital.