Our Practitioners
Dr Peter Sharman
Director/Consultant Occupational Physician
MBBS FAFOEM FAICD
Dr Sharman is a fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM). He has worked in the field of occupational medicine for more than 30 years. He is passionate about making improvements to our workers compensation system to achieve better health outcomes for those unfortunate to be injured at work.
After studying medicine at the University of Adelaide, he commenced his occupational career as the on-site doctor on Hydro Tasmania’s West Coast Construction in the mid-1980’s. He went on to a managerial role in workplace health & safety with the Hydro, before branching out into rehabilitation management in his own business during the 1990’s. For the last 25 years Dr Sharman has worked as a Consultant Occupational Physician in Hobart.
For further information about Dr Sharman’s career as an occupational physician, here is a link to an article on his blog: Occupational Medicine – ‘Why Do I Do It’ !
Mark Stipic‘s programmes on RTW Nation now include two Podcast interviews with Dr Sharman:
- Complex Case Management includes a summary of his work history
- How to Communicate Effectively with GPs includes advice for rehabilitation providers about how to communicate with doctors
Dr Sharman has expertise in the management of musculoskeletal injuries and occupational diseases with a particular interest in low back pain, upper extremity pain related to use of computers, occupational respiratory disorders and the management of rehabilitation programmes. He is an experienced independent medical examiner and an accredited impairment assessor with competency to assess upper and lower limb, spinal, nervous system, ENT (including hearing), respiratory and skin impairments. He has a research interest in brachial plexus neuropathy, as a cause of upper limb pain in computer operators.
Dr Sharman is the AFOEM representative on the Medical Advisory Panel to the Tasmanian WorkCover Board and Secretary of the newly-formed Tasmanian Foundation for Occupational Medicine Inc. In the past he has convened the Tasmanian AMA’s Worker’s Compensation Subcommittee invited to join Safe Work Australia’s advisory group on GP engagement in RTW. In March 2017 he was appointed as the representative of the Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) on the Safe Work Australia National Permanent Impairment Coordinating Committee. He also writes a blog “Insult & Injury” about issues affecting our workers compensation systems.
Dr Helen McArdle
Consultant Occupational Physician
MBBS MPH FAFOEM FRACMA FAICD
Dr McArdle is a fellow of both the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the
Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators. She has worked in the field of occupational medicine for more than 30 years
Dr McArdle is a local Tasmanian medical graduate and following the completion of a Master of Public Health qualification from Sydney University she commenced working in occupational medicine at the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. She subsequently worked in private occupational medicine practice for a variety of organizations within Victoria
On returning to Hobart Dr McArdle worked in both occupational medicine and medical administration for the Royal Hobart Hospital. Her main areas of interest include mental health in the workplace, blood borne viruses and occupational dermatitis. She also has an interest in doctors health particularly in the assisting doctors to return to work following a period of absence.
Dr Troy Crowell
Registrar – Occupational & Environmental Medicine
MBBS
Dr Crowell returns to Hobart Occupational Medicine after a two year absence working in General Practice. He has now entered the AFOEM training programme as a Stage “B” (Advanced) trainee and hopes to progress to his AFOEM Fellowship gaining further experience through his work at Hobart Occupational Medicine under Dr Sharman’s supervision. The practice is now accredited by AFOEM as a training practice.
Dr Crowell’s role includes managing complex cases of work-related injury on referral from General Practitioners and assisting Dr Sharman with the assessment of newly referred patients.
