Dentists at Goulburn Valley Dental Group

Dr. Sath Saranathan BDSc (Melb)

Sath was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Australia in 1988 after living in Nigeria and Brunei. After graduating from the University of Melbourne in 2002 with a Bachelor of Dental Science, Sath moved to Shepparton in 2003 to work with Dr Herb Barlow and purchased the practice in 2006.  
Sath's relaxed nature combined with an eye for detail and passion for high quality dentistry has enabled him to build strong patient relationships over the years. He has developed a keen interest in performing implant restorative procedures, which he now considers his niche specialty in the dental field. He is also passionate about nurturing young dental students and is a senior lecturer with the University of Melbourne's Rural Health Academic Centre.
 Sath has always shown a keen interest in the local community; he has been a club member and a committee volunteer at Central Park St Brendan's since he moved to Shepparton.
He also is a proud father to three young children and enjoys watching Collingwood dominate the AFL in his time off.

Dr. Raathika Raj – BDS (UK)

Raathika was born and raised in the United Kingdom and gained her qualifications in 2005 at Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' in London.
She migrated to Australia in 2006 and joined our team in 2007.
Her unique, compassionate approach to her patients alleviates the common fear of dental treatment. Over the years, she has also developed a strong interest in endodontic dentistry.
Raathika divides her time between seeing her patients at the practice and doing an amazing job in raising her and Sath's 3 beautiful children.
Outside of her work commitments, Raathika enjoys interior design, expertly styling children's parties and keeping fit.

Dr. Margaret Tran

Dr. Margaret grew up in the western suburbs of Melbourne, attending Mac Robertson’s High School and graduated from La Trobe University. Margaret has extensive recognition as being a leader and a c ontributor to the dental community including being the President of BOHDS (Bendigo Oral Health and Dentistry Society) as well as currently serving on the ADAVB Recent Graduates and Students Committee. Margaret has a passion for exercise and cooking!

Dr. Tom Mackey

Tom was born and grew up in Melbourne. He attended Xavier College & then Melbourne University, graduating as a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2019.
Tom worked at Goulburn Valley Health as a graduate dentist from 2019 and while he was there, he developed an interest for oral surgery and endodontics. He enjoys camping, hiking, and travelling, as well as playing and watching tennis. Tom supports Essendon in the AFL (but we won’t hold that against him…) and loves watching the Wallabies in Rugby Union.

Dr. Michael Huynh

Born and raised in Springvale, Melbourne, Michael completed his secondary education at Haileybury College. He went on to earn his Master of Dentistry from La Trobe University, where he developed a strong foundation in all aspects of general dentistry.
Dr Michael began his career in Traralgon and later worked at GV Health, gaining valuable experience in both regional and metropolitan settings. He currently splits his time between Melbourne and the Goulburn Valley, treating patients at our Numurkah practice.
Known for his gentle chairside manner and attention to detail, Dr Michael is passionate about providing comprehensive dental care tailored to each patient's needs.
Outside of dentistry, he's an avid foodie who loves discovering new restaurants and recreating recipes he finds online. He also enjoys staying active through badminton, table tennis, and volleyball.

Dr. Karen Luu

Dr. Karen grew up in Melbourne and went to La Trobe University to complete her degree. She is extremely driven and hardworking which is confirmed by the fact that over the last 4 years she has been working as a casual dental assistant, giving her a good insight into private dental practices. She is extremely strong academically, being awarded the Golden Key Award and being rated as one of the top 5 dental students in her year. Karen is multilingual in Mandarin & Cantonese and likes to cook in her spare time.

Dr. Rutuja Nirale

Rutuja was born in India. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2005 and Master of Dental Surgery (Prosthodontics) in 2011. Since then, she worked in both private and public sectors of dentistry in India and Australia. She migrated to Australia in 2012 and settled in Shepparton since 2014. She is passionate about general dentistry with a keen interest in cosmetic dentistry. She is happy to explore and discuss all options of treatment. She is known to be a great listener and has a gentle and compassionate demeanour towards her patients and strives hard to put their worries at rest. She provides very high-quality dental care and is skilful in her work. She received a Gold Medal in her Prosthodontics post-graduation in India. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with two young children and her husband. She loves to cook different cuisines.

Dr. Pree

Meet Dr. Pree, our dedicated dentist with a global perspective and a passion for creating healthy, beautiful smiles. Pree’s journey in dentistry began in Australia, where she completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences and earned her Master’s in Dentistry at La Trobe University in Bendigo. She then embarked on a professional adventure, starting her career in at dental practices within Bendigo and Wangaratta then she moved back to her hometown Shepparton where she began at GV Dental Group in 2019.
Pree’s commitment to excellence took her across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, where she practices dentistry there for the past two years. There, she further honed her skills and broadened her cultural horizons. She has recently returned back to Shepparton and back to GV Dental Group.
In her practice, Pree's passions lie in the fields of periodontics and cosmetic dentistry, ensuring that her patients not only enjoy optimal oral health but also the confidence that comes with a beautiful smile. Beyond her professional life, Pree treasures time with her family and maintains an active, healthy lifestyle by frequenting the gym.
We are thrilled to have Pree back at Goulburn Valley Dental Group, ready to serve you with expertise and a warm smile.

Dr Natalie Dassanayake

Dr. Natalie Dassanayake is a highly skilled dentist who graduated from Griffith University in Bachelor of Dental Health Science and a master of Dentistry. She brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for dentistry to our practice, ensuring the highest standard of dental care for our patients.
Natalie has chosen Goulburn Valley as her new home and is excited become an active member of our community. Outside of her professional life, she loves spending time with her family, enjoys cooking, and is an avid gym-goer. Her commitment to patient well-being and her dedication to providing exceptional dental services makes her a valuable asset to our team.

We are confident that Natalie's skills and enthusiasm will greatly benefit out patients and enhance the quality of care we provide.

Dr. Gabrielle Sargant

Dr. Gabrielle Sargant is a Shepparton local who is passionate about providing high-quality dental care to regional communities. She attended Wanganui Park Secondary College before completing her Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) at La Trobe University in Bendigo.
Gabrielle enjoys all aspects of dentistry but has a special interest in working with children and families, helping to create positive dental experiences from an early age. She is committed to making a meaningful impact in underserved areas, ensuring that patients receive the care they need in a comfortable and supportive environment. With a strong focus on patient-centered care, Gabrielle combines her technical expertise with a warm and personalised approach. She strives to help every patient feel confident in their smile and comfortable in the dental chair. Outside of dentistry, Gabrielle enjoys cooking, dining out with friends, and playing the violin in the GV Concert Orchestra.

Ms Hayley Emmi
Oral Health Therapist

Hayley is a GV local who grew up on a farm near Kyabram.
She graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Oral Health Science however she has over 14 years of dental experience under her belt and she has a special interest in Early Childhood Dental Intervention.
Hayley is married with 3 children and she enjoys spending time in the great outdoors with her young family camping and fishing.
When she isn't doing that, Hayley is a Thermomix Consultant who loves whipping up yummy treats for her beautiful family and sometimes even her colleagues!

Ms Hawrah Al-Bendar
Oral Health Therapist

Hawrah was born and raised in Shepparton, completing her secondary education in the local area. She has since recently graduated from La Trobe University in Bendigo after completing her Bachelor of oral health.
She is very excited to get her career started at Goulburn Valley Dental Group as she enjoys both the hygiene and therapy sides of her role. In her time away from work, Hawrah enjoys travelling either locally or overseas. She loves spending time with her friends exploring new places.

Ms Renee Church
Oral Health Therapist

Renee's passion for dentistry began in secondary college when she completed work experience as a dental assistant. After completing her secondary education, she went on to pursue a career as a dental assistant in Shepparton where she worked for six years.
In 2009, Renee completed a Bachelor Oral Health Science at La Trobe University in Bendigo.
She returned to Shepparton where she worked in a private practice for several years.
Renee is also currently working part-time at Goulburn Valley Orthodontics.
Renee and husband, Brad are raising their three daughters Lola, Ruby and Violet on a dairy farm in the Goulburn Valley.
In her spare time, Renee enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as camping, water skiing and reading.

Ms Aimee Brond
Dental Therapist

Aimee has a long background in Dentistry, completing Dental Assisting after High School and then moving on to complete the Bachelor of Applied Science (Dental Therapy) through Melbourne University in 1996. Working for many years in the School Dental Service and Goulburn Valley Health Aimee has enjoyed 27 years in Dentistry. Over this time Aimee has developed communication and behavioural management in paediatric patients - using age-appropriate vocabulary, empathy and a highly skilled gentle approach to dental care that continues to be greatly accepted by children and those with special needs. Aimee's expertise involves areas of Infant oral health exams, which include risk assessment for caries in mother and child. Preventive dental care treatments, as well as nutrition and diet recommendations to children and families. Habit counselling (for example, dummy and thumb sucking, diet, smoking) Early assessment and referral for orthodontics and other specialty dental areas. Care for dental injuries (for example, fractured, displaced or knocked-out teeth). In 2014 Aimee completed the Advanced Clinical Practice Post Graduate certificate, which meant she could extend her passion for Dentistry to include patients of all ages. She is looking forward to meeting you at your next appointment!