Dr Purnima Bhat

Dr Purnima Bhat is a highly accomplished Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist who provides comprehensive care for patients with a wide range of gastrointestinal and liver conditions. With a strong commitment to patient-centred care, she focuses on the detection of bowel cancer and the management of complex inflammatory disorders affecting the bowel and liver. Dr Bhat combines her clinical expertise with a compassionate approach, ensuring that each patient receives a personalised and reassuring treatment experience.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr Bhat is a distinguished Senior Research Fellow and Consultant Physician. Her extensive research activities focus on mucosal immunology, the gut-liver axis, and the development of novel immunotherapies for gastrointestinal cancers and viral hepatitis. She has published numerous high-ranking research papers in leading scientific journals and is frequently invited to present her findings at national and international medical conferences. Her work in translational medicine aims to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and improved clinical outcomes for patients.

Dr Bhat completed her medical degree at the University of Queensland, graduating in 1993. She subsequently undertook specialist training in gastroenterology and liver transplantation, and she was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by the University of Melbourne for her research on the Hepatitis B virus. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). Demonstrating her commitment to global health and professional standards, Dr Bhat holds several key leadership roles, including serving as the Chair of the World Endoscopy Organisation African Outreach Committee. She also serves on the World Gastroenterology Organisation Climate Change Committee and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Ethics Committee.