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Obstetrics | Maternal disease - what we need to know

Tracks
Rm 6 | Virtual
Obstetrics
Saturday, May 30, 2026
1:50 PM - 2:30 PM
Rm 6 | First Floor

Speaker

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Dr Alexa Bendall
Senior Medical Officer
MFM- RBWH

Autoimmune complications

1:50 PM - 2:10 PM

Presentation Synopsis / Abstract

This practical, case-focused session equips sonographers with the knowledge and skills to recognise sonographic signs of maternal autoimmune disease and escalate care effectively. Covering common conditions — including antiphospholipid syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, anti‑Ro/La–related neonatal lupus and congenital heart block, autoimmune thyroid disease, and immune thrombocytopenia — the talk emphasizes targeted scanning protocols, Doppler techniques (MCA‑PSV, UA, DV), and focused fetal cardiac rhythm assessment. Attendees will see annotated imaging examples and learn standardised reporting language to improve multidisciplinary communication and patient outcomes.

Biography

Dr Alexa Bendall | MFM- RBWH Dr Alexa Bendall is Senior Medical Officer and Co Clinical Lead in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. A relatively new subspecialist in maternal fetal medicine, she trained at Gold Coast University Hospital and at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Her presentation today addresses autoimmune complications in pregnancy. Dr Bendall is committed to multidisciplinary care that optimises outcomes for mother and baby. Outside work she balances her clinical role with family life as a busy mother of three, bringing practical insight and empathy to her patient care and teaching.
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Mrs Sally Mahler
Sonographer
Gold Coast University Hospital

Infection in pregnancy: Implications for fetal neurosonography and brain development **NEW VOICE**

2:10 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Mrs Sally Mahler | Gold Coast University Hospital I am a qualified sonographer with eight years of clinical experience. For the past six years, I have worked as a senior sonographer in the Maternal Fetal Medicine department at Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH), specialising in high-risk obstetric ultrasound. I am currently part of the research team at GCUH, contributing to projects on placental health and pre-eclampsia, focusing on advanced ultrasound assessment of placental function to improve early detection and maternal-fetal outcomes
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