Speakers

Giselle Cooke Pymble Grove Health Centre

Profile:

Dr Giselle Cooke is a self-described wholistic medical practitioner. She trained in Medicine at the University of NSW and followed her degree with overseas training as a general practitioner in paediatrics (UK) and plastic surgery (Canada). Returning to Australia she completed her general practice training in Brisbane (Qld), Launceston (Tas) and Gloucester and Toukley(NSW).

Whilst working on the NSW Central Coast she undertook training in herbal medicine with Mr Denis Stewart, considered by some to be the father of herbal medicine in Australia. After four years’ part-time study with Mr Stewart, Dr Cooke sought further training in nutritional medicine and spiritual psychology at the Nature Care College of Natural Therapies, then in Artarmon, NSW. She also lectured at this college for twelve years in a variety of medical subjects.

In 1989 she opened a wholistic medical centre, Pymble Grove Health Centre, on Sydney upper north shore, comprising a large team of medical and complementary medicine practitioners. At that time it was a unique concept in comprehensive health care delivery and has grown steadily in strength and reputation since then to be one of the busiest and most established wholistic medical centres in Australasia.

Dr Cooke continues to consult at her practice and in 2003 launched the Modern Apothecary and Tea House in Neutral Bay. The Modern Apothecary specialises in the prescription and preparation of herbal formulae following a complimentary, on-the-spot consultation with one of three qualified naturopathic practitioners.

In addition to work at the practice and apothecary, Dr Cooke also lectured at Macquarie University at the School of Chiropractic, for the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine and to various medical, nursing and other colleges on alternative medicine. She delivered public lectures throughout Australia and in Malaysia, and has delivered papers at numerous complementary medicine conferences in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Dr Cooke has served on the executive of the Australian Complementary Medicine Association, was convenor of Health Network Australia and spokesperson for the Complementary Health Care Council. She belongs to the oldest medical association in the country, the National Herbalists Association of Australia and was a founding member of the Natural Health Care Alliance (NHCA) launched in July 2003. She is a strong proponent for alternative health care choices, hoping to one day make natural medicines more accessible and affordable for all Australians.

In 1999 Dr Cooke published her first book, “Blooming: Healthy Living for Women Over 40” (Lansdowne - reprinted in 2000) and as been commissioned to write the companion volume for women under 40. She was also medical editor of “The Complete Guide to Health & Wellbeing” (Lansdowne). Dr Cooke has been a regular contributor to natural health magazines, newspapers, television and radio talk back programs over the past fifteen years.