Dr Louisa Sondergeld

Louisa has always wanted to be a doctor. In fact, one of her earliest memories is wearing a stethoscope (that banged into her shins) while following her dad on ward rounds out in Texas (Queensland). Having completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Queensland (Bachelor of Science with an extended major in Psychology), Louisa moved to Sydney to study Medicine at the University of Notre Dame. She completed her final year in regional New South Wales, gaining extensive exposure to obstetrics, anaesthetics and emergency medicine. Louisa was then appointed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, spending three years working in rotations across the breadth of the medical and surgical disciplines – including stints in Cooktown and Dalby. While working at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, she completed a postgraduate paediatric degree, the SCHP.

Dr Sondergeld then entered the General Practice Fellowship Program of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, studying and working in general practice as a prelude to joining the doctors at Walton Bridge Medical Centre. With her interests ranging through paediatrics to palliative care, sexual health, adolescent medicine, women’s health and men’s health, she brings a broad range of skills essential to general practice. Her procedural interests encompass skin biopsy and (of course) ear microsuction.

When asked, “Why Walton Bridge Medical Centre?”, she replied “the reputation of Walton Bridge Medical Centre for quality and excellence is well known - not only locally but is a view firmly and widely held by medical specialists and throughout the major Brisbane teaching hospitals. I want to contribute to, and enhance that reputation.”

Louisa has lived, worked, attended church and visited nursing homes in The Gap for over 20 years. Both sides of her family moved to The Gap over 50 years ago. She loves swimming, rowing (having coxed the St Margaret’s First VIII to victory at the Head of the River), musicals, painting, anything to do with family and friends and, being a Sondergeld, has followed cricket and Rugby League before she first donned a stethoscope. She is an active researcher (cardiac transplantation - Cardiology Department, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney) and is a Lecturer with the University of Notre Dame, Sydney – her special interest being managing the transition from medical student to junior doctor. “It means everything to me to care for my local community – to be part of the next generation of doctors caring for the future generations of The Gap.”
 

Qualifications

• BSc (Qld), 
• MD (UNDS), 
• SCHP