A/Prof Katrina Tonga

A/Prof Katrina Tonga is a Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Physician at Westmead Private Hospital who provides comprehensive care for patients with respiratory and sleep disorders. She is also a Senior Staff Specialist at Westmead Hospital, where she co-leads the Severe Asthma Clinic and is part of the Cystic Fibrosis Specialist Services team — one of the largest in NSW. She works closely with other specialists and allied health professionals to deliver coordinated, multidisciplinary care.

A/Prof Tonga completed her medical degree at the University of Otago and specialist training in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in Sydney. She earned her PhD at the University of Sydney, exploring the mechanisms of asthma. She has worked across major Sydney hospitals and served as one of the inaugural Net Zero Leads for Respiratory Medicine with NSW Health. She is a strong advocate for lung health through her role as President of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (NSW/ACT Branch) and active involvement with the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society.

An Associate Professor at the University of Sydney’s Westmead Clinical School, A/Prof Tonga also holds research and teaching roles with the University of New South Wales and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. A respected clinician–scientist and educator, she has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and received multiple national and international awards and research grants. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for people with chronic respiratory conditions through evidence-based care, education and research.

Interests include:

•    Asthma
•    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
•    Bronchiectasis 
•    Other respiratory and sleep disorders such as: 
      o    Respiratory infections 
      o    Lung cancer 
      o    Obstructive sleep apnoea