Dr Samantha Herath

Monday - Friday 08:00-16:00Saturday and Sunday - CLOSED(02) 9487 8373info@sydneyrespiratoryspecialist.com.auParkway San ClinicWahroonga NSW 2076

Dr Herath completed her respiratory and sleep medicine training in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. She has 20 years of experience as a practising doctor and 13 years of experience as a specialist respiratory and sleep physician. She has been performing advanced bronchoscopy/EBUS since 2013 and has completed over 2000 EBUS procedures.

She became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2011 and completed her Sleep Medicine training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Woolcock Institute in Sydney in 2012. In 2013 she went on to achieve a Master of Philosophy in sleep medicine at the University of Sydney. Her master’s study investigated vigilance in sleep apnoea patients.

Further studies at the prestigious McGill University in Montreal, Canada resulted in a Fellowship in Interventional Bronchoscopy and Thoracic Malignancy in 2014.

Dr Herath is one of the very few respiratory specialists who have completed a dedicated year-long fellowship in lung cancer and advanced bronchoscopy in a North American Centre.

Dr Herath’s main interest are lung cancer/lung nodule screening, interventional bronchoscopy and sleep disorders

Qualifications
Experience
Awards & Honours
Publications

PhD, University of Sydney.
Jan 2015 –Dec 2018
Topic: Improving diagnostic yields of peripheral pulmonary lesions
Via the Radial EBUS guide sheath (navigation bronchoscopy).

Fellowship in interventional Bronchoscopy and thoracic malignancy
July 2013 to June 2014
McGill University, Montreal.

Master of Philosophy (University of Sydney)
November 2013

FRACP sleep physician Level 1 Sleep training
February 2013

FRACP Fellowship of Royal Australasian College of Physicians
December 2011
Respiratory Physician

ECFMG Certification October 2011
USMLE Step I – 2000
Step II CK – 2002
Step II CS – Los Angeles USA 2007

MBBS Bachelor of medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Hons)
February 2003
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

REGISTRATION/AFFILIATIONS

Specialist registration Australian Medical Board (AHPRA) MED000168552
(Respiratory and Sleep Physician)

Specialist registration New Zealand Medical Council 36133
(Respiratory Physician)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

ERS- European Respiratory Society Since 2010

TSANZ- Thoracic Society Australia and New Zealand Since 2009

WCLC Since 2010

Dr Herath completed her respiratory and sleep medicine training in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. She has 20 years of experience as a practicing doctor and 13 years of experience as a specialist respiratory and sleep physician. She has been performing advanced bronchoscopy/EBUS since 2013 and has completed over 2000 EBUS procedures.

She became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2011 and completed her Sleep Medicine training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Woolcock Institute in Sydney in 2012. In 2013 she went on to achieve a Master of Philosophy in sleep medicine at the University of Sydney.

Her master’s study investigated vigilance in sleep apnoea patients.
Further studies at the prestigious McGill University in Montreal, Canada resulted in a Fellowship in Interventional Bronchoscopy and Thoracic Malignancy in 2014.
Dr Herath is one of the very few respiratory specialists who have completed a dedicated year long fellowship in lung cancer and advanced bronchoscopy in a North American Centre.

1. Specialist Training

Dr Herath completed her respiratory and sleep medicine training in New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
She became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2011 and completed her Sleep Medicine training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Woolcock Institute in Sydney in 2012. In 2013 she went on to achieve a Master of Philosophy in sleep medicine at the University of Sydney.
Her master’s study investigated vigilance in sleep apnoea patients.
Further studies at the prestigious McGill University in Montreal, Canada resulted in a Fellowship in Interventional Bronchoscopy and Thoracic Malignancy in 2014.
Dr Herath is one of the very few respiratory specialists who have completed a dedicated year long fellowship in lung cancer and advanced bronchoscopy in a North American Centre.

2. Research Involvement

Dr Herath is an honorary lecturer at the University of Sydney; published widely in major peer-reviewed journals in all areas of respiratory medicine and has won multiple scholarships and grants for her research contributions.

She is the lead author in a Cochrane review looking at prophylactic antibiotic use in COPD.

She is currently conducting several multi-centre international trials as the lead investigator, looking at introducing safer and more effective biopsy methods in diagnosing lung cancer, using advanced bronchoscopic methods. Dr Herath established the first Radial EBUS and cryo-biopsy services in New Zealand and has commenced these services at Westmead Public Hospital and The Sydney Adventist Hospital.

3. Scholarships & Awards

Dr Herath was the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship from Health Workforce New Zealand that enabled her extensive advanced training in interventional bronchoscopy and pleural procedures in thoracic malignancy in Canada. She has also won the Boehringer Ingelheim travel award for the best presentation in COPD in 2013, enabling her to present her studies in an international forum.

Dr Herath firmly believes in keeping up to date with current practice and improving her technical procedural skills as well as safety and comfort in procedures for the patient. She participates in a European hands-on interventional procedural course on a yearly basis. She also participates in regular short term fellowships in North American and European Centres.

4. Life outside Medicine

Dr Herath is a mother of three children Tishaan, Ranalee and Niven. Dr Herath is a keen basketball player having captained the university women’s basketball team for three consecutive years during her undergraduate years in Sri Lanka. She is also an ardent skier.

Arnotts Cancer Research Scholarship RACP foundation Grants: 2017 December for Multi-
center trial developing a simple and effective technique in obtaining a core biopsy from
peripheral lung nodules.
Basser Research Entry Scholarship from RACP foundation grants: 2016 December, for
multi center Randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the diagnostic yield of Cryo-biopsy
via Radial Endo-Bronchial Ultra-Sound (R-EBUS) guide sheath (GS) Vs. CT guided transthoracic
biopsy in patients with parenchymal pulmonary lesions. (CT-CROP).
Three-minute thesis challenge Concord Clinical Day 2016. Third Prize-winner for CT CROP
multi center study.
ASSER Trust grant funding for the multicentre RCT titled” Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
comparing the diagnostic yield of Cryo-biopsy via Radial Endo-Bronchial Ultra-Sound (R-EBUS)
guide sheath (GS) Vs. CT guided transthoracic biopsy in patients with parenchymal pulmonary
lesions. (CT-CROP)”.
Koawetea Research fund seed grant for Feasibility study done to assess the use of cryo biopsy via radial
EBUS in Middlemore Hospital.
Boehringer Ingelheim Travel grant for research in COPD – 2013 TSANZ (Darwin)
Aawarded to the best abstract submitted to TSANZ on COPD. The
grant enables the candidate to present the same abstract at the CHEST conference 2013
(Chicago), by covering the cost of airfare, accommodation and registration fee for the
conference.
CIRUS (Centre for integrating research and understanding of sleep) clinical research
fellowship-2012 (Sydney)
This is an AUD 30,000 grant given to pursue a one year program of strongly mentored protected
clinical research time is combined with limited clinical work and working towards a higher degree in sleep
or respiratory research.
Senior Registrar Award from Green lane Research Fund -2011 (Auckland)
This is a NZD 3000 grant given to one senior registrar from the disciplines of cardiothoracic,
cardiology and respiratory each year for their outstanding enthusiasm for research; enabling
them to attend an international conference of their choice
Advance Trainee Scheme Fellowship – from New Zealand Health Workforce -2011
(Auckland)
This scholarship awarded in order to carry out further training overseas to up
skill the trainee and bring back the expertise to New Zealand.
This was offered for completing a fellowship in thoracic malignancy and interventional
bronchoscopy at the McGill’s University/ Canada.

PUBLICATIONS

1. Herath, S. (2023). Using cryobiopsy with Radial EBUS in high-bleeding-risk, peripheral pulmonary lesions
(PPL): Description of cases and technique. Respirology Case Reports 14:11(4):e 01125.
https//doi.org/10.1002/rcr2.1125. PMID: 36935897; PMCID: PMC 10014523 (Appendix 27).

2. Herath, S., Wong, C., Dawkins, P., Veale, A. Yap, E., Williamson, J., Low, I., Mahajan, H., Pryan, T.,
Barnard, S., Hawkins, S., Cookson, D., Singh, T., & Ing, A. (2022). Cryobiopsy with radial-endobronchial
ultrasound (Cryo-Radial) has comparable diagnosis yield with higher safety in comparison to computed
tomography-guarded transthoracic biopsy for peripheral pulmonary lesions: An exploratory randomised
study. Internal Medicine Journal, Jun 8. https://doi.org/10.111/lmj.15833. Epub ahead of print. PMID :
35675149.

3. Herath, S., Bashirzadeh, F., Mahajan, H., Ing, A., & Fielding, D. (2022). Using the GenCut core biopsy
tool with the radial endobronchial ultrasound guide sheath enables a high -quality histology sample capable
of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) testing. Respirology Case Reports, 10(5), e093.
https://doi.org/10.1002/rc2.935

4. Herath, S., Mahajan, H., Yap, E., & Ing, A. (2022). Radial endobronchial ultrasound guided biopsy for
lung lesions: Evaluating the role of the guide sheath size, addition of needle aspirate and multi-modal
sampling, in improving the diagnostic yield – An exploratory randomized study. Journal of Community
Medicine and Public Health Reports, 3(02). https://doi.org/10.38207/JCMPHR/2022/FEB03020119

5. Herath, S. (2019). Safe and effective use of cryobiopsy with Radial EBUS for lung masses with a high
bleeding risk: Case series and description of technique. Respirology, 24(1), 151 -152 (Appendix 3).

6. Herath, S., Yap, E., Low, I., Mahjan, H., & Ing. A. (2019). Multicentre randomised controlled trial with
Radial EBUS comparing thin versus thick guide sheath (GS) with the addition of an aspiration needle biopsy,
in the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions (REBUST 2). Respirology, 24(1), 91 (Appendix 5).

7. Herath, S., Yap, E., Dawkins, P., Veale, A., Williamson. J., & Ing, A. (2019). Multicentre randomised
control trial of the diagnostic yield and safety of Radial EBUS guided xvi cryobiopsy (cryo -radial) versus CTguided transthoracic biopsy for lung masses demonstrates similar diagnostic success (CT-CROP).
Respirology, 24(1), 93 (Appendix 6).

8. Herath, S., & Yap, E. (2017). Novel hybrid cryo-radial method: An emerging alternative to CT-guided
biopsy in suspected lung cancer. A prospective case series and description of technique. Respirology Case
Reports, 6(2), e00287.

9. Herath, S., & Low, I. (2016). Needle aspiration using a 21G needle (eXcelon or Wang), via Radial EBUS
guide sheath, gives better samples in comparison to cytology brush or forceps biopsies: A descriptive case
series. Respirology, 21(1), 156

10. Herath SC, Poole P. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy for COPD. JAMA. 2014; 311: 2225-2226

11. Wong C, Herath S. Azithromycin for patients with frequent COPD exacerbations. Lancet Respir Med
2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600 (14) 70087-6.
Available from: http://www.rrh.org.au

12. Herath S, Lewis Extra pulmonary Tuberculosis: Thinking beyond a normal CXR. Journal of primary
health care 2013; 6 (1): 64-68.

13. Herath SC, Poole P. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD009764. DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD009764.pub2.

14. Herath S, Lewis C, Nsibet M. Rhodococcus equi pulmonary infection in an immunocompetent host:
A case report and literature review in managing an uncommon condition. NZMJ 2013; 126 (1387):
165-174.

15. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment in COPD; preliminary data from a Cochrane systematic review. Respirology 2013; 18 (supplement 2): 19 Herath S, Poole P.

16. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy for chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Herath S, Poole P. Cochrane database of systematic reviews Issue 4, 2012.

17. Use of postictal respiratory pattern to discriminate between convulsive psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures Ian Rosemergy, Richard Frith, Samantha Herath, Elizabeth Walker
Epilepsy and behavior 2013; 27:81-84

18. Is walking barefoot a risk factor for diabetic foot disease in developing countries?
Jayasinghe SA, Atukorala I, Gunethilleke B, Siriwardena V, Herath SC, De Abrew K.
Rural and Remote Health 7 (online), 2007: 692.
Available from: http://www.rrh.org.au

PRESENTATIONS

1. Addition of a cryobiopsy improves the diagnostic yield of radial EBUS sampling. Case series.
Herath S, Yap E, Low I. TSANZ 2016 (oral)

2. CPAP compliance among the socio economically deprived South Auckland (NZ) population.
Jaya Jose, Samantha Herath TSANZ 2016 (oral)

3. Needle aspiration using a 21G needle (eXcelon or WANG), via Radial EBUS guide sheath,
gives better samples in comparison to cytology brush or forceps biopsies. A descriptive case
series. (poster)
Herath S, Low I. TSANZ 2016

4. Maintenance Cost of a Linear Endobronchial Ultrasound TBNA (EBUS TBNA) Service. Elaine Yap,
Samantha Herath (poster). TSANZ 2015, Perth

5. Achieving auto pleurodesis in loculated malignant pleural effusion by administration of tissue
plasminogen activator and deoxy-ribo nuclease via indwelling pleural catheter followed by aggressive
drainage. Case report and literature review. (Poster) Jae Beom Hong, Samantha Herath. TSANZ 2016
Perth

6. Prophylactic antibiotics in COPD. A Cochrane systematic review. 2013.
Herath S, Poole. (Oral) TSANZ 2013
Darwin, Australia 2013.
(This presentation was awarded the Boreingher Ingelheim Travel Grant for COPD)

7. Pulmonary involvement in patients presenting with extra pulmonary tuberculosis: Thinking
beyond a normal CXR. (Oral) Herath S, Lewis C.
RACP young investigators presentation
Auckland, New Zealand 2011.

8. Assessing lung cancer patients for surgical resection; all may not need cardio-pulmonary
exercise testing (CPET)? (Poster) Herath S, Horwood F.
World Lung Cancer Conference
Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2011

9. Rhodococcus equi pulmonary infection in an immune-competent host: a case report and
literature review. (Poster) Herath S, Lewis C, Nisbet M
Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Scientific Sessions
Perth, Australia 2011.

10. Evaluation of patients admitted under General Medicine; Has Clinical Judgment Being Taken
Over by serial troponins? (Oral) Herath S, Spriggs D
Internal Medicine Society Australia New Zealand
Queensland Branch Meeting 2010-October.

11. Use of Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatoid Drug Usage in Rheumatoid arthritis in Sri Lanka
(Oral)
Herath S, Udugama DG, Fernandopulle.R.
Lanka Medical Association annual academic sessions
Colombo, Sri Lanka 2005.

12. “Knowledge, Attitudes and skills of breastfeeding in mothers with new born babies, in the Sri
Lankan Tertiary Care setting. (Oral)
Herath S, Udugama DG, Perera J.
Sri Lanka Medical Association annual academic sessions, Colombo Sri Lanka 2004