Our Team
At G&H Cardiovascular, our dedicated team of healthcare professionals is driven by a shared commitment to delivering exceptional care and improving the well-being of our patients. With a diverse range of specialties and expertise, we work tirelessly to provide the highest level of medical services and support to our community. Meet the exceptional individuals who make up our exceptional team
Our Cardiologists
Assoc. Prof.
Robert Gerber
BSc (Hons) MB BS FRACP, FRCP (UK), PhD (Lond)
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Associate Professor Robert Gerber
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, BSc (Hons) MB BS FRCP (Lond) FRACP PhD
Bob is a Consultant Cardiologist, who graduated from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Medical School which is part of King’s College London in 2000. He holds dual accreditation in Cardiology and General Internal. He is also currently an Associate Professor at Sydney University.
Bob is an expert in the field of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guided stent implantation and is also trained in implanting pacemakers and implantable cardio-defibrillators (ICDs) as well as coronary stents. He has maintained his credentialing within New Zealand by performing these procedures on a regular basis. He has expertise in hypertension and heart failure as well as heart rhythm disturbances and dyslipidaemia.
He enjoys cycling, trail-running and time with the family who are living in Hawke’s bay.
Dr Thalib Mowjood
MBChB, FRACP
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Dr Thalib Mowjood
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, MBChB, FRACP
Dr Mowjood is a cardiologist based primarily in Nelson, where he spent his early years prior to attending the University of Auckland School of Medicine. As a medical student, his interest in cardiology was piqued by putting his training to use to resuscitate his father from a sudden cardiac arrest.
After attaining his medical degree in 2011, he trained in internal medicine through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians as a prerequisite to specialisation in cardiology. He was awarded the College’s prestigious Bryan Hudson Medal for the best Australasia-wide result in the 2016 Adult Medicine Division examination. After being admitted to the Fellowship of the College as a cardiologist, he completed subspecialty training in interventional cardiology at Wellington Hospital.
Now a consultant interventional cardiologist at Nelson Hospital, he finds great satisfaction in also being able to help patients in Hawke’s Bay through his work at Gerber and Hutchison Cardiovascular.
Dr Muhammad Ahsan Arshad
MBBS, FRACP
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Dr Muhammad Ahsan Arshad
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist,MBBS, FRACP, FCSANZ, FSCAI
Dr Arshad is an interventional and general cardiologist practising at Wellington Hospital.
After graduating from Pakistan, Dr Arshad finished his internal medicine training from New Zealand before embarking onto the journey of training in cardiology and interventional cardiology. After FRACP in 2016, Dr Arshad was awarded Heart Foundation Scholarship to train in complex and high risk percutaneous coronary interventions at University of Toronto. Dr Arshad completed his TAVI training supported by Cardiac Society of Australia & New Zealand Scholarship, at James Cook University Hospital Middlesbrough, UK.
Dr Arshad’s special interests are preventive cardiology, non-invasive assessment of coronary artery disease using echocardiogram, stress tests, cardiac CT, performing complex PCI using intracoronary physiology and imaging and treating valvular heart diseases especially aortic valve stenosis with balloon valvuloplasty and TAVI.
Assoc. Prof.
Kamran Majeed
MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FCSANZ
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Associate Professor Kamran Majeed
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FCSANZ
Kamran is a Cardiologist at Waikato Hospital and providing services at G&H Cardiovascular services.
Upon completion of his first year of training in Interventional Cardiology at The Royal Adelaide Hospital, Kamran was awarded the Interventional Research Scholarship at The University of Western Australia (Perth), where he completed his Ph.D. There he completed his PhD thesis, studying the role of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a novel intravascular imaging modality which uses infrared light, in refining the risk stratification of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Subsequently, Kamran joined the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (Ontario, Canada). It was here that he completed his advanced interventional training in Complex and High-Risk Coronary Intervention & gained specialised training in performing percutaneous coronary intervention in chronically occluded vessels & the use of intravascular imaging to improve cardiovascular outcomes.
Our Nurse Practitioners
Rebecca Nichols
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Rebecca Nichols
Cardiac Nurse Practitioner
“I am a sincere, self-motivated, passionate and innovative health care professional with over 26 years of clinical experience, including six years as a nurse educator for an undergraduate nursing programme.
My previous experience in intensive critical care nursing and acute care triage in primary care has given me excellent knowledge, skills, assessment, diagnostic reasoning, management of both complex, simple and acute and chronic health conditions.
I currently work as a Cardiology nurse practitioner (NP) with G& H Cardiovascular.
As a NP in the Cardiology and PHC setting, management of long-term conditions and their associated risks is a large focus. Managing hypertension and heart failure can be challenging and as a result I have developed a local hypertension clinic in our cardiology services, providing a more accessible and affordable access to care, allowing more time for health education and promotion, disease prevention and management of care.
Out-side of work I love to walk, bike and tramp. I am often referred to as earth mother by my friends as they reference my love of gardening, preserving, cheese making, cooking and generally trying to feed the 500. I love spending time with my children both of which are currently studying at University and my family.
Natasha Darby
Janine Palmer
Our Other Providers
Dr Colin Hutchison
MBChB, MRCP (UK), PhD, CCT Nephrology & FRACP
Consultant Nephrologist
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Dr Colin Hutchison
Consultant Nephrologist, PhD RRACP. MBBS, MBedSci(Hons), MPH, PhD
Colin trained in Birmingham (UK) before moving to New Zealand in 2012. Colin has an academic background with over 75 peer reviewed publications.
Colin has worked in senior management roles in the public sector including COO of HB DHB.
As co-founder of Kaweka Health and now G&H cardiovascular, Colin brings a clear vision of the role of the private sector to support healthcare in New Zealand.
Dr Rachel Leigh
FRACP, MBChB (Edin)
Geriatrician
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Dr Rachel Leigh
Geriatrician, FRACP, MBChB (Edinburgh)
Rachel is an NZ trained Geriatrician specialising in the holistic care of older adults with complex age related conditions including memory problems, frailty, mobility issues and falls, bladder and bowel issues and chronic pain. Rachel is experienced in managing multiple long term health conditions and is proficient in managing polypharmacy (more than 5 regular medications).
Rachel is skilled in multidimensional diagnostic processes to optimise the medical, functional, psychological, and social health of older adults by creating evidence based, pragmatic and compassionate care plans.
She believes in shared decision making with patients, families, and colleagues by blending medical expertise with what matters most to her patients.
Rachel aims to improve quality of life and promote independence by improving functional status, reducing hospitalisation, and preventing or delaying nursing home placement.
Rachel also has a positive approach to creating preventative health plans for older adults who might be seeking reassurance about their future. She is skilled at promoting key strategies to support healthy ageing, whilst respecting personal choices.
Rachel will be working alongside a highly skilled clinical nurse specialist, Leigh White, to help support patients and families (and colleagues) navigating complex age related conditions.
When not at work, Rachel enjoys being outside chasing after her children (human and canine) and having dinner with friends.
Rachel and Leigh look forward to building a trusted partnership with you and your family to enhance your quality of life.
Andrew Pickering
Dietician
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Andrew Pickering
Dietician
Andrew is an Advanced Practising Dietitian at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, with nearly two decades of clinical experience spanning a broad range of nutrition and disease states. He is a key member of the Nutrition Support Team, delivering specialist care for complex patients across both acute and community settings.
Alongside his hospital role, Andrew has built extensive experience in private practice over more than 15 years, with a particular focus on post-bariatric surgery nutrition, weight management, and functional bowel disorders. His approach is grounded in evidence-based practice, with an emphasis on delivering comprehensive, patient-centred care.
More of Our Team Members
Andy Wilkinson
Andy Wilkinson
Clinic Manager / PA to Dr Bob Gerber
Andy is our clinic manager who is the voice at the end of the phone taking all your queries and booking your appointments.
Andy has a wealth of experience with over 12 years in administration within healthcare.
“I have a passion for making patients and relatives journeys as pleasant and as smooth as possible – always going above and beyond.
I have two teenage children at home that keep me on my toes and in what little spare time I have I enjoy reading and spending time with my family.”
Neil Silverwood
Neil Silverwood
Cardiac Sonographer, ASCT MSCT BSE NZMRTB
Neil is a registered Cardiac Sonographer, originally trained in the UK who has worked in the Hawkes Bay since 2006.
He holds dual accreditation in Cardiac Ultrasound with the British Society of Echocardiography (B.S.E.) & New Zealand Medical Radiation Board (NZMRTB).
Neil has worked in major centres in the U.K. as well as internationally in Australia & the Middle East. Neil has over 30 years experience of Echocardiography in both adult and paediatrics. He has a passion for Echocardiography & has been involved in research of St-Jude bio-prosthetic heart valves in the UK & more recently in collaboration with Astra Zeneca & P3 research.
Enjoys cycling, skiing & the superb Hawkes Bay weather.
Leigh White
Leigh White
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Geriatrics
Leigh is a dedicated Clinical Nurse Specialist specialising in Gerontology (dedicated to the care of elderly). Leigh has worked in various settings, including acute hospital, urgent care facilities, aged residential care, dementia care, general practice and assessments in the person’s home.
Leigh possesses specialised knowledge in the complexities of aging and is skilled in assessing, planning, and implementing care plans tailored to the unique needs of the older person. In addition to addressing physical health issues, Leigh is adept to focus on the emotional and psychological well-being of the older person.
Leigh is confident to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to manage chronic illnesses, prevent complications, and enhance the quality of life for the older person. By fostering strong relationships with the older person and their families, Leigh can play a vital role in educating them about health management, medication adherence, lifestyle modifications that promote healthy aging and end of life discussions.
Leigh is looking forward to working with colleagues who are constantly seeking ways to promote and ensure high quality person centered care for the older person.
Ben Wade
Ben Wade
Cath Lab Manager
Specialty: Cardiology. Registered nurse trained in diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology (Cardiac Catheter Lab).
Previously: Specialist Cardiac Catheter Lab practitioner at Leeds General Infirmary, UK.
Qualification: Bachelor of Nursing (Otago Polytechnic 2018)
Clinical interests: All things interventional cardiology, particularly PCI and CTO, complex devices and TAVI. I’m also very interested in service development.
Personal Interests: I am a very outdoorsy person with a love for fishing and the ocean. I am also a very keen footballer having played previously for Napier City Rovers and Southern United in the national league.
Mekayla Wanrooy - Lead MRT
Mekayla Wanrooy
Lead MRT
Mekayla is an accomplished Medical Imaging Technologist with over 10 years of specialised experience in coronary intervention imaging. After completing her training in Wellington, she gained valuable expertise working in Scotland and Australia. She has since returned to her hometown of Hawke’s Bay, where she is committed to provide crucial cardiac services and contributing to the well-being of her community.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new cafes and restaurants, and crafting unique crocheted toy animals.
Kurt Sowersby - MIT
Kurt Sowersby
MIT
Kurt did his training in Wellington Hospital where he discovered his passion for cardiac and vascular procedures.
He then returned back to his hometown in Hawkes Bay in 2017.
Kurt brings to the region, 15 years of experience with a focus on infection control and delivering new technology to the service.
Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family and pursuing adrenaline sports such as: mountain biking, snowboarding and motorsport
Jodi Cotton
Jodi Cotton
Physiologist (Reports Holter's)
Jodi is a registered Cardiac Physiologist who originally trained in West Yorkshire, England but has been working in Hawke’s Bay DHB since early 2014.
With a BSc in Cardiology, Jodi also holds the IBHRE (International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners) accreditation. She has worked in both tertiary and regional centres in the UK, in addition to Hawke’s Bay. Jodi has 15+ years of experience within Cardiology investigations, but her true passion is in Cardiac devices.
Although reading, mindfulness and meditation are her hobbies, spending time with family and/or friends exploring the wonderful sights New Zealand has to offer is always enjoyable.