Dr Shanka Karunarathne

Dr Shanka Karunarathne
MBBS, FCCP, MMed (Sleep Medicine), FRACP
Respiratory, Sleep Physician and Interventional Pulmonologist

Dr Shanka Karunarathne completed advanced training in Respiratory and Sleep medicine at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and obtained his fellowship from Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in 2012.
Then, he undertook a fellowship in Lung Cancer and Pleural Disease at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital – Perth in 2013. Following that, Shanka undertook training in several international centres which allowed him to specialise in both Lung Cancer and Pleural disease, with a particular focus on advanced Bronchoscopic and complex Pleural procedures. This includes training within the St. Mariana Hospital (Japan), the National Cancer Centre (Japan), Aix – Marseille University Hospital (France). He trained in Rigid Bronchoscopy and other complex Bronchoscopic procedures at Thoraxklinik in Heidelberg (Germany).

Shanka completed a Master of Medicine (MMed) in Sleep Medicine from the University of Sydney.

Shanka is the Head of the Respiratory Department at NALHN and Director of Thoracic Procedure Unit and Lung cancer service. He is a senior Clinical Lecturer in The University of Adelaide.

He has ongoing involvement in Education, Research and Teaching in the fields of Respiratory, Sleep medicine and Interventional Pulmonology. He has presented his research projects at national and international conferences.

He provides care for patients with:

• Lung Cancer and Pleural disease
• Respiratory conditions such as Asthma, COPD, Shortness of Breath and Chronic Cough.
• Sleep disorders such as Sleep apnoea, Snoring, Restless Leg Syndrome, Parasomnias and Insomnia.

Shanka provides Bronchoscopy, EBUS (Endobronchial Ultrasound), Pleural procedure and other complex Interventional Pulmonology services in both the public and private sector. He also organizes Home Based/ In lab Sleep Studies and NIV titration in the public and private sector.