More about Sharlene
Dr Sharlene Tan has been working as a GP since 2014 and is based in Casey Medical Centre in Cranbourne, Victoria. She has lived experience of hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) and is passionate about helping HSD and hEDS patients navigate the often challenging journey of living their best life with these conditions
Sharlene's HSD Journey
Dr Sharlene Tan graduated from Melbourne University in 2008 with her medical degree and worked in St Vincents, Boxhill and the Austin Hospital until 2012. She then entered GP training and has been been working as a GP in Casey Medical Centre Cranbourne since 2015 with an interest in skin cancer medicine.
She was diagnosed with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) and autonomic dysfunction in her mid 30s despite having symptoms all her life. Like many patients, she found her symptoms were dismissed by medical practitioners. It was through a chance meeting with a knowledgeable physiotherapist while she was struggling with pain and mobility issues during her first pregnancy, that she was able to get a diagnosis and sought help from practitioners who were familiar with this condition.
She recognises that the early diagnosis of HSD and hEDS is important to help improve and maintain a good quality of life for patients. Family doctors are central in helping patients build up and coordinate a strong care team of allied health and specialists in managing these complex conditions. Dr Sharlene Tan hopes that her lived experience and expertise in managing HSD/hEDS will make her an invaluable member of your clinical team.
One of the things Dr Tan found challenging on her HSD journey was finding clinicians who were experienced with treating HSD and hEDS patients. Therefore, she decided to start Blissfully Bendy as a resource and directory for patients living in East and Southeast Melbourne.
In her free time, Dr Tan enjoys spending time with her young family and riding her pushbike up the slopes of Mount Dandenong with her cycling club ( albeit terribly slowly). She is immensely grateful for the support and care of her husband and her care team to be able to live her best life with HSD.
