Callington Health Centre

Dr Jennifer Early BM MRCGP DRCOG DFSRH DPD
Jennifer qualified in Southampton in 1996 and joined Tamar Valley Health in 2002. In addition to her role as a GP within the Practice, Jennifer also works as a clinical director for Launceston and Tamar Valley Primary Care Network. Within the Practice she is closely involved with chronic disease management, quality improvement and the GP Quality and Outcomes Framework. She has undertaken extra study into skin disease and contraception to further enhance her role. She is a GP trainer and provides mentoring and clinical support to various members of the primary care team.

Jennifer’s usual working days for patient-facing care are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesdays and Fridays are reserved for management work and maintaining personal fitness.

Dr Alison Farr BSc (Hons) MBBS MRCGP DRCOG DFSRH
Alison qualified in 1990 from University College London and as a GP in 1994. She first joined Tamar Valley Health in 1994 and became a partner in 2003. She is responsible for Children and Adult Safeguarding, Palliative Care, Immunisations, Contraceptive Care including the provision of intrauterine devices and implants and sexual health. She also manages Tic Tac, the teenage information and advice service held daily at Callington Community College. In addition, she is the practice representative at the East Cornwall Locality Meeting for the Kernow ICB. Married with two grown up children, Alison enjoys walking her chocolate Labrador, cycling and a bit of jogging.

Alison’s usual working days are Tuesday and Friday.

Dr Rhiannon Starks BMBCh (BA Hons)
Rhiannon qualified in Oxford in 2008, and completed her GP training in North Devon in 2014. She joined Tamar Valley Health in 2018 after getting married and relocating to the area. She enjoys spending time with her young daughter and dog walking.

Rhiannon’s usual working days are Wednesday and Thursday mornings

Dr Samer Darwich MD FRCS
Qualified University of Damascus, Syria 1986.
‘Sammy’, as he likes to be known, qualified from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2000 and then trained as a GP in Dorset before becoming a partner at a practice in Devon in 2006. Sammy intends to continue his involvement in training medical students and junior doctors at Tamar Valley Health. In his spare time he is a keen football fan and enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters.

Sammy’s usual working days are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Dr David Harris BSc (Hons) PhD MB. ChB (Hons) MRCGP DFSRH MSc
David qualified in Manchester in 1994. He went on to complete a Ph.D in Biochemistry and a M.B Ch.B (Hons) and Masters in Evidence Based Health Care. He joined Tamar Valley Health in 2013. He is particularly interested in Research in Medicine and chronic disease management. David enjoys living in the West Country. David qualified in Manchester in 1994.

David’s usual working days are Wednesday and Thursday.

Dr Michelle Raspa MBBCh, DRCOG, MRCGP
Michelle completed her medical degree in Wales, graduating from Cardiff University in 2008. She worked as a Junior Doctor in North Wales for 2 years, then completed GP Training in Plymouth and South East Cornwall, qualifying as a GP in 2013. She has worked as a locum and salaried GP in South East Cornwall and in Nottingham. She joined Tamar Valley Health as a salaried GP in 2018. She is interested in Womens’ Health, having completed the Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2011. She is also particularly interested in Cancer Care, having completed the Macmillan Cancer Course for Primary Care in 2022. She works mainly at Gunnislake Health Centre but also some days at Callington. Michelle enjoys exploring the woodlands, coastline and gardens of Cornwall and Devon with her 2 young sons.

Michelle’s usual working days are Monday, Thursday and Friday mornings.

Dr Kelechi Okengwu MBBS, MRCGP

Dr Okengwu qualified from the University of Nigeria in 2009 after which he underwent a residency training in General Internal Medicine in Nigeria. In the UK, he worked as a clinical fellow in Respiratory, acute and geriatric medicine prior to commencing GP training in the Plymouth area which he completed in 2023.

He is biased for the primary care management of Cardio-respiratory and metabolic conditions whilst upskilling his research capacity.

Gunnislake Health Centre

Dr Suzanne Porter MBChB BSc DRCOG DFSRH
Suzanne qualified from St Andrews in 1992 and then went on to undertake clinical training at Manchester and qualified MBChB in 1995. During her last year at St Andrews she joined the Royal Navy, and on qualification as a doctor in 1995 went on to serve full time on 5 ships and several shore bases around the UK until November 2008. She then went on to be a GP Locum for 5 years before joining Tamar Valley Health in 2013. Although a true generalist GP, Suzanne’s area of interest is palliative care. In her spare time she enjoys sailing, yacht racing, walking, photography, cooking and cake decorating and sugar craft.

Suzanne’s usual working days are Monday to Wednesday.

Dr Emma Blundy MBChB MRCGP DRCOG DFSRH
Emma graduated from Leicester University in 2002 and qualified as a GP in 2006. She moved to the South West in 2011 and joined Tamar Valley Health in 2012 as an Associate GP. Emma has a particular interest in medical education and also works for Plymouth University helping in the training of medical students. Outside of work Emma enjoys spending time with her young family and being involved in her local church.

Emma’s usual working days are Tuesday and Wednesday.

Dr Thomas Brogden MBChB(Hons) MRCGP MRCSEdPGCertMedEd
Dr Brogden Qualified from Liverpool Medical School in 2005 following a Royal Navy Cadetship. A Royal Navy carer has offered a variety of deployed roles and medical career pathways. After pursuit of a surgical career GP training was undertaken in the Plymouth area. Leaving the Royal Navy in 2023, Dr Brogden joined Tamar Valley Health. In addition he also works at the University, maintaining an interest in medical education.

Dr Tomilola Sofela MBCHb, MRCGP
Tomi qualified from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria in 2014, Registered with GMC 2019, MRCGP 2023.
She currently works as a salaried GP in Tamar Valley Health and is developing her interest in women’s health. Tomi’s usual working days for patient-facing care are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and she currently works remotely for on Wednesday morning. Other days are taken up with her career development and personal life interests.

Remote Working Doctors

Dr Maxine Mitchell Bsc Hons, MBChB and MRCGP
Maxine qualified in Aberdeen in 2013 and moved to Cornwall to complete her junior doctor training and GP training. She qualified as a GP in Cornwall in 2019 and worked as a locum GP until she joined the Tamar valley health team in 2022. She works remotely from her home in Falmouth doing telephone consultations for the surgery on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. She also works locally in the urgent treatment centre and for the out of hours service. Maxine enjoys coastal walks, sea swimming, gardening and spending time with her young family.

Maxine’s usual working days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

Dr Niamh O’Keeffe MB BCh BAO BA MRCGP
Niamh completed her training in Dublin, Ireland in 2011. She worked for four years in Australia prior to moving to Cornwall to complete her GP training. As well as working remotely for Tamar Valley Health on Wednesdays and Thursdays, she works as a GP in Truro and in the urgent treatment centre. She has two young children and enjoys spending time with her family.

Niamh’s usual working hours are Wednesday and Thursday mornings.