Meet the team
Behind every service we provide a dedicated team of professionals, each bringing their unique expertise and enthusiasm.
FRANCES TOOMEH CHECCHIN
Founder & Managing Director
Frances is a healthcare executive and clinical leader with over 15 years' experience across private hospitals, specialist practices and outpatient clinics. As Founder and Managing Director of The Operating Table, she partners with healthcare organisations to develop strategy, consolidate and grow existing business, establish new practices, optimise operations and deliver sustainable business growth. Her passion lies in bridging the gap between clinical excellence and commercial performance, helping specialists and healthcare providers build efficient, scalable and patient-centred businesses.
Frances began her career at the Northern Laser Vision Centre, where she developed her clinical expertise under the mentorship of the late Dr Kim Frumar. This foundational blend of clinical and operational experience sparked a lifelong dedication to improving healthcare delivery through strong leadership and practical business management.
Uniquely positioned to advise across the healthcare sector, Frances combines executive hospital leadership with extensive experience in outpatient clinic operations, specialist practice management and hospital stakeholder engagement. She has successfully operated at the highest levels of hospital management, working collaboratively with executives, specialists and multidisciplinary teams to deliver strategic initiatives and achieve measurable business outcomes.
She has held several senior leadership positions, including Director of Clinic Operations at Macquarie University Hospital, where she worked closely with Executive management, Specialists and staff to lead operational strategy, specialist engagement, workforce planning and business performance across multiple medical specialties. She later served as Chief Operating Officer of HPCG before further strengthening her hospital leadership experience in Clinic Operations at St Luke's Private Hospital.
Frances brings a rare combination of clinical insight, executive leadership and commercial acumen. She has successfully led healthcare business transformations, practice start-ups, organisational restructures, workforce optimisation and financial performance improvement initiatives. She is also recognised for her expertise in functional medical fit-outs and clinical space planning, understanding that thoughtfully designed environments enhance operational efficiency, improve staff workflows and elevate the patient experience.
Her collaborative leadership style enables her to build trusted relationships with specialists, executive teams and multidisciplinary clinicians. She is passionate about helping healthcare organisations reduce operational risk, strengthen governance, improve financial sustainability and create businesses that are positioned for long-term growth.
Qualifications:
BAppSc (Orth), USyd MOAOB, MOAAPM, MOA
Advanced Coursework:
- Refractive Surgery | Advanced clinical diagnostics, laser metrics, and surgical patient workflows.
- Practice Management | Healthcare Operational Strategy, Clinical Compliance, and Clinic Operations.
Professional Development:
- Executive & Business Training
- MGSM Management Series | Macquarie Graduate School of Management
- Design - Medical Fit-out
- Interior Design | The Interior Design Institute
DR LUCIA ARANA
Principal Clinical Consultant
Dr. Lucia Arana is a Cognitive Neuroscientist, Psychotherapist, and Coach.
The Operating Table partners with healthcare organisations to build resilient, high-performing teams through evidence-based workshops focused on workplace culture, burnout prevention, resilience, psychological wellbeing, and emotionally intelligent leadership. Our practical programs empower individuals and organisations to create healthier, more engaged, and sustainable workplaces.
Lucia’s academic background in physics sparked a deep interest in the complex dynamics of human emotions and behaviour, ultimately leading her to earn a PhD in Neuroscience. She later expanded her expertise in psychology, specialising in emotional education and stress management, and completed a Master's degree in Psychopathology, Clinical Intervention, and Health.
With over 15 years of research experience using non-invasive brain stimulation and neuroimaging technologies such as EEG and fMRI, her work spans key areas including anxiety, attention, memory, and reward processing. Her research also focuses on intentional forgetting, a crucial cognitive function that supports mental clarity and emotional wellbeing. In addition, she explores the therapeutic benefits of mindfulness for mental health.
At the Operating Table, Lucia works to meet the needs of teams and organisations, fostering healthier, resilient workplace environments she is dedicated to transforming workplaces into environments that foster growth, resilience, and wellbeing.
By integrating scientific rigour with practical application, her methodology places the individual at the centre, emphasising personal development and psychological wellbeing as key drivers of both individual flourishing and organisational success.
MIHAELA GRONSKI
Project Manager
Mihaela brings a unique blend of technical precision and advanced healthcare leadership to The Operating Table. Mihaela is responsible for driving key operational projects, streamlining multi-suite workflows and implementing strategic systems that elevate the experience for both clinicians and patients.
Mihaela’s exceptional analytical framework stems from her engineering origins. She holds a degree from the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, qualifying as an Engineer in Land Measurement and Cadastral Survey. This foundational expertise in spatial planning, accurate calculation, and structural logistics makes her uniquely instrumental in managing The Operating Table’s fit-out and construction projects. She seamlessly bridges the gap between complex engineering concepts and medical-grade spatial design.
Before applying her project expertise, Mihaela established a reputation in complex healthcare operations at Macquarie University Hospital. Mihaela managed a diverse portfolio of medical suites and directed the intricate day-to-day operations of an Oncology Unit - The Clinical Care Centre.
Mihaela's technical background allows her to oversee clinical construction with a deep understanding of medical compliance, workflow efficiency and patient-centered outcomes.
MITCHELL BIRD
Principal Consultant, Digital Health
Mitchell provides hospital executives, clinicians, and private practices with a sophisticated, strategic approach to digital growth, backed by over 20 years of IT infrastructure and enterprise marketing experience. He leads a specialised team engineering high-performance digital ecosystems and secure websites tailored to the strict operational, clinical, and compliance needs of the healthcare sector.
Throughout his career, Mitchell has designed digital infrastructure and growth strategies for prominent consumer health and corporate brands, including Nutra-Life, Aussie Bodies, Bodytrim, Musashi, and Hitachi.
Specialising in medical-grade digital platforms, Mitchell’s expertise goes far beyond premium web design. Leveraging his deep infrastructure background, he implements secure third-party integrations that completely automate clinical workflows - seamlessly linking patient acquisition, referral networks, booking pathways, and compliant follow-up systems. Ultimately, he ensures medical organisations deploy beautifully designed, AI-ready digital assets that drive measurable clinical growth and operational efficiency.
GINA SALIB
Principal Consultant, Finance
Gina brings over 12 years of specialist experience supporting medical professionals with customised lending solutions across every stage of their clinical careers. Her sophisticated approach to medical finance stems from her tenure with Macquarie Group, where she developed an understanding of complex financial structures, strategy, and long-term financial thinking.
Following her time at Macquarie, Gina spent over a decade as a Finance Specialist at Grimsey Wealth. This extensive tenure allowed her to develop deep, sector-specific insight into the unique business models and cash flow realities of private practices and hospital-based clinicians.
From helping doctors confidently purchase their first practice to structuring complex asset finance for cutting-edge medical equipment, custom clinical fit-outs, and commercial property, Gina provides clarity, care, and support that genuinely fits. She specialises in navigating the highly preferential lending frameworks available exclusively to medical practitioners, ensuring every commercial lending strategy is technically sound, tax-effective, and personally meaningful.
JODIE O'NEILL
Principal Solicitor & Legal Counsel
Jodie brings over 10 years of legal experience gained within Australia’s top-tier legal environments, including a distinguished tenure as Special Counsel at the global firm Norton Rose Fulbright. Throughout her career, she has represented major banks, prominent property developers, and institutional private lenders in high-stakes commercial and structural transactions.
Today, Jodie brings that formidable top-tier expertise directly to individuals, clinicians and growing businesses. Specialising in cutting through legal complexity, she delivers clear, tailored advice that empowers clients to make informed commercial decisions with absolute confidence.
With a distinct mission to make the law personal, practical, and entirely stress-free, Jodie seamlessly bridges the gap between rigorous legal compliance and real-world commercial agility. Whether navigating complex healthcare property acquisitions, commercial lease negotiations, or corporate structures, she ensures every client receives protection delivered with a deeply personalised, accessible approach.
"The Operating Table has been instrumental in strengthening our practice. Their strategic insight, collaborative approach and deep understanding of healthcare helped align our team, enhance our operations and create a clear pathway for sustainable growth. We highly recommend The Operating Table to any healthcare organisation seeking trusted, results-driven advisory support."
- Eastwood Eye Surgery