Team: Our Team

Team: Our Team

Nikita Deo – Clinical Dietician

Highlights

  • Qualified and registered clinical dietician
  • Highly experienced in men’s health
  • Expert in diabetes, heart disease and chronic illness

It is exciting to be involved with Vityl to empower patients to truly live their best possible life through healthy lifestyle changes.”

Experience

Nikita Deo is a highly dedicated professional with an excellent patient outcome record. She is skilled at crafting medically mandated dietary plan tailored to individual patient needs and preferences.  A confident speaker who can explain complicated nutritional information clearly to patients or groups from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Accreditations

  • Member of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) (No. 17-652)
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD017652)

Education

Jennifer Vera RD

Jennifer Vera, BSc, MS, is a licensed dietitian and nutrition and diabetes consultant from Australia.

Special interests: diabetes, diet consulting, volunteer work, creating menus.

Jennifer Vera started her education by attending the University of Wollongong in 2015. She finished her Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science in 2017.

In 2019, she became a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Jennifer completed a few placements following her graduation from the University of Wollongong. Her first was in January 2019, at the Community Placement Broken Hill Health Service. Then, she went on to her placement at the FoodService Placement at the Top Ryde Royal Rehabilitation Centre until April 2019.

Then in June 2019, Jennifer completed a Clinical Placement – ICM 1, at the Liverpool Hospital. Afterward, she completed a Clinical Placement – ICM 2 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in September 2019. Jennifer’s last placement was a Personal Interest Placement – PIP, at the Radnwich Sydney Children’s Hospital in November 2019. 

Jennifer’s first job was at All-Round Nutrition as a Nutrition Consultant in 2017. She worked almost for a year at this job, working with clients and educating them on the importance of nutrition. She also analyzed nutritional content and formulated personalized meal plans.

When Jennifer left in 2018, she started working at Equalution as a Dietitian. She oversaw clients with special dietary requirements, managed pregnant and postpartum clients, and did individual progress assessments. She also worked closely with all company departments to provide the best benefits for the clients

She then began working as a Dietitian at the HelpStreet Aged Care Services in November 2020 providing clinical experience in the nutrition care process. 

At the same time, Jennifer started working at Foodini, also as a Dietitian. At Foodini, Jennifer is providing menu analysis, catering to clients with special dietary needs, and so on.

Jennifer also did a research project at the University of Wollongong, which helped her fulfill her Master’s degree requirements. She implemented a new pathway for perioperative nutrition care for patients under colorectal surgery for malignancy.

Jennifer also gave back to her community by doing volunteer work. She volunteered in 2017 in The Cancer Council in the project “Eat It To Beat It”. She was a program facilitator and she conducted workshops for healthy eating – for children and their families. She was also educating people on the key nutrition principles.

Jennifer’s notable professional memberships and achievements are:

  • Dietitians Association of Australia – full member since July 2020
  • Accredited Practising Dietitian Program – APD – participant and mentor
  • Graduated with her Master’s studies in Nutrition and Dietetics with Distinction.

Jennifer’s personal goal is to learn more about nutrition and help more people with dietary restrictions. She hopes to expand her volunteer work.

Emma Miller RD

Emma Miller is a licensed dietitian and nutrition and diabetes consultant from New Zealand.

Special interests: diabetes and blood glucose control, cardiovascular disease and heart health, men’s health, weight management, intuitive/mindful eating/emotional eating, intermittent fasting.

Emma uses an evidence-based approach and tailors information and plans to the individual to meet their goals and/or health conditions.

Emma enjoys educating her patients in helping them find a healthy relationship with food so their goals are in line with lifestyle choices.

Education

  • University of Otago, Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, 2010
  • University of Otago, Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics

Professional Associations and Affiliations

  • NZ Dietitians Board NZ – Te Mana Matanga Matai Kai, Registered Member

Sharon Code RD, CDE

Overview

Sharon Code has been dedicated to helping patients and private clients fulfill their unique and individual health goals for over 20 years. Sharon is a Registered Dietitian (RD), a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario, and holds an advanced certification in Integrated and Functional Nutrition (IFNCP). Leveraging her extensive experience, Sharon has built a reputation for providing both a holistic and clinical approach to nutritional coaching. 

Driven to help her patients improve their health, Sharon empowers clients to take charge of their health and happiness. Often, clients are unaware of how their individual food choices can impact mood, energy, aging, ability to deal with stress, and prevent the progression of disease or dysfunction. Sharon’s unique approach focuses on the body systems as a whole, using personalized nutrition to address symptoms and identify the root causes that are negatively affecting health and wellness.

Sharon’s areas of expertise include; weight loss, gut health, food intolerances/sensitivities, adrenal health, cardio metabolic disease, diabetes, mitochondria, GI disorders, and anxiety/mood. 

Sharon’s passion for food, nutrition, and health is evident in her everyday life. She enjoys cooking, exercising, and spending time with family and friends. Her focus is on living her best life and would love to assist you in achieving yours. 

Sandy Jeffries

Sandy Jeffries, BSc, is a licensed and trained naturopath and psychology student from Australia.

Special interests: naturopathy, psychology, nutritional medicine, herbal medicine, evidence-based research, homeopathy.

Sandy started her studies at the Nature Care College in 1991. During her studies there, she obtained four diplomas – Diploma of Naturopathy, Diploma of Nutrition, Diploma of Botanical Medicine, and Diploma of Homeopathy. 

She then went on to the University of Technology Sydney to begin a Bachelor of Midwifery. In 2015, Sandy went to the All Australian Training and received a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. 

In 2016, Sandy continued her education at the Australasian College of Natural Therapies. Sandy received a Bachelor of Health Science – Naturopathy in 2020. 

During that time, she studied at the Study Group Australia/Ivy College in 2015. Sandy got upgrades for her diplomas in Naturopathy, Nutritional Medicine, and Herbal Medicine.

Currently, Sandy is studying at the Deakin University in Australia. She started in 2018 and is expecting to graduate next year with a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours.

Sandy’s other notable professional memberships and qualifications:

  • Current Complementary Medicine Association (including professional insurances and health fund provider numbers)
  • Australian Traditional Medicine Society – full member
  • Foundation Certificate in Health-Related Exercise
  • Certificate of Small Business Management
  • Certificate of Childbirth and Early Parenting Education 
  • First Aid Certificate

Sandy’s personal goal is to learn more about nature’s medicine and to finish her Bachelor’s degree in psychology. She hopes to help more people with their chronic illness.

Catharine Nixon R.N

Highlights

  • Highly experienced registered nurse with a global career
  • Passion for wellness and vitality
  • Clinical and commercial healthcare operations manager
  • Bachelor of Nursing: Australian Catholic University 1996-1999
  • EAR accreditation at The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP): Issued Dec 2015

In my experience, it takes a 360-degree lens to most effectively strategize, build, and execute the fundamentals required to deliver healthcare that not only succeeds but thrives.

Experience

Catharine Nixon RN is a highly experienced Registered Nurse whos career has spanned over many continents over several decades.

She began her healthcare career at the age of 15 and after a successful 25 year journey traversing healthcare in diverse clinical and commercial health roles she has developed an innate understanding of what it takes to create a consumer-centric healthcare business whereby the patients needs come before everything else.

A defining part of her healthcare career was playing an integral role over almost a decade growing one of Australias most successful franchised sleep healthcare brands, ResSleep, acquired by a multinational MedTech company at year 5.

During this 8-year period, she was a National Operations Manager for a network of 25 remote sleep clinic sites, an external team of specialist sleep physicians and sleep technician contractors, an external call center alongside becoming a franchisee operating 2 sleep clinics.

Over the years I have mastered the art of active listening, the ease to interact with people, developed skills to build awesome teams, alongside the know-how of how to successfully connect commercial and clinical.

She now turns her attention to the Vityl healthcare platform and co-ordinates thousands of consultations each year and manages the care of patients across Australia.

Many patients know her personally and her friendly demeanour is always welcomed during their clinical journey towards recovery.

Work history

  • National Operations Manager: ResSleep
  • Franchisee owner of 2 ResSleep clinics
  • Branch manager and clinical nurse specialist at ResMed: London
  • Registered Nurse at the London Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS foundation trust
  • Registered Nurse at Princess Alexander Hospital

Prosper Bamford

Experience

Prosper Bamford is a Nurse Practitioner at Vityl, specialising in the treatment of Men’s Sexual Dysfunction. 

Education has been a core focus in Prosper’s nursing career and when working with patients. Prosper enjoys observing firsthand how educating the patient to become a willing participant in their own healthcare journey is empowering and results driven.

Qualifying as an Nurse Practitioner in 2015 increased Prosper’s scope of work, responsibilities and exposed her to the emergence of telehealth in 2017 – consulting 1:1 with clients in regional areas and linking with specialist doctors in metro areas via telehealth for specialist care input. An important component in the management of chronic disease.

I have a passion for chronic disease management. Men’s sexual dysfunction is a chronic disease like any other. And like most chronic diseases, does not occur overnight. It often is not a solo condition either, but a culmination of other conditions, each needing to be managed successfully for the overall dysfunction to be improved. Just as sometimes sexual intimacy is described as ‘one thing leading to another’, so is sexual dysfunction.

Prosper Bamford

Prosper’s passion is to work with our patients in identifying that ‘one thing’ that may have led to where they are now and providing education on how to manage things to get a better and long-term solution.

Education

  • Latrobe University, Bachelor of Nursing with Honours (1st Class Honors) (2008).
  • Bendigo Health CHERC, Graduate Certificate in Gerontology (2010)
  • Nationwide Training Solutions, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (2013)
  • Latrobe University, Master of Nurse Practitioner (2014)
  • Gravitas Leadership Academy, Diploma in Leadership and Management (2016)

Professional Associations

  • AHPRA registered
  • Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) member
  • Australian Primary Care Nurses Association (APNA) member
  • Australian Wound Management Association (AWMA) member

Helena Halton

Since completing her training in the UK, Helena has been a nurse for over 30 years. She has worked in Advanced Nursing roles in the United States and in Australia. She has a deep desire to improve outcomes in those who are chronically ill.

Professional Associations

  • National Secretary of the Australian college of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP)
  • Alumni member and former Clinical senator for the WA Clinical Senate committee
  • WA Drugs advisory panel (WADAP) Former voting member
  • AHPRA-Expert panel member (Nurse practitioner endorsement).

Research Areas and Interests

  • Emergency nursing and chronic disease management.

Qualifications

  • Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner), Curtin University of Technology, 2009.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Specialisation, Curtin University of Technology, 2007.

Research

  • Nurse Practitioner Candidacy Model,  Department of Health WA,  Nursing and Midwifery Office Grant,  2020, Research grant of $45,000.

Vanessa Smith

Vanessa Smith is a Mental Health & Addiction Nurse Practitioner in Men’s Sexual Dysfunction with Vityl.  

Overview

Vanessa Smith has spent the past 12-years consulting as a Nurse Practitioner in both clinical and community health settings. Vanessa dedicates her work to the field of mental health, specialising in addictions as well as developing expertise in supporting biopsychosocial needs. 

In her experience, the trend among men today struggling from addictions such as sex, alcohol, drugs, gambling, or tobacco is on the increase, though given the right level of support and strategies these addictions can be tackled and overcome. It’s in this specialist work where Vanessa gains immense satisfaction for her role as a specialist Practitioner. 

Vanessa approaches her clinical work with empathy and humility. She has a genuine ability to engage which allows her clients to open up more easily and seek the help they need to turn their health around. 

To fuel her energy for her work, Vanessa enjoys spending her time engaging in quiet activities of mindfulness and reading while also dancing, walking, and spending time with family and friends. 

Ryan Semera

Once completing his study at Deakin University, Ryan commenced a post graduate degree in Diabetes Education and Management. He currently is a Credentialed Diabetes Educator whilst maintaining a full membership with the Australian Diabetes Educators Association.

Ryan has worked at the Alfred Hospital and was a Clinical Nurse Consultant in Diabetes Education in one of the regional hospitals in Victoria. He was also a Diabetes Coordinator and Advisor for one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world at their satellite office in Melbourne.

Ryan has training in oncology, haematology and chemotherapy nursing at Peter MacCallum Centre and used to work as an Associate Nurse Unit Manager in some tertiary referring hospitals in Melbourne’s southeast.

He also conducts several Diabetes Clinics around southeast Melbourne.

Education

  • Master of Nursing (Diabetes Management and Education) –
    Flinders University
  • Master of Nurse Practitioner – Flinders University
  • The Australian College of Nursing, Burwood, NSW
  • Immunisation Course for Registered Nurses
  • Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education, Deakin University, Melbourne, Credentialed Diabetes Educator
  • Peter McCallum Cancer Institute, Chemotherapy Modules 1 and 2
  • Overseas Registered Nurse Training, Deakin University, Melbourne
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Davao Doctor’s College

Professional Memberships

  • AHPRA (Australia Health Professionals Registration Agency) registered
  • ADEA (Association of Diabetes Educator in Australia) full member – CDE
  • ANMF (Australian Nursing and Midwife Federation) member