Dr Carrie Tompkins Stricker

Dr. Carrie Tompkins Stricker is Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, serving member of faculty, Nurse Practitioner at the Abraham Cancer Centre and co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer of On Q Health. 

Dr. Stricker is recognised for her clinical and research expertise in cancer survivorship care and evidenced-based symptom assessment and management.  Her research has focused on development, implementation and evaluation of nurse practitioner led clinical survivorship programs for breast cancer survivors.  She has collaborated on a US federally funded project, investigating the feasibility and impact of survivorship care planning.  Her research findings and desire to overcome gaps in cancer care has led her to develop an interactive technology based solution for cancer clinicians and patients.  She has taken opportunities throughout her career to optimise patient outcomes, clinically, through research, academia and now at an executive level. 

Professor Alex Molasiotis

Professor Alex Molasiotis is Chair Professor of Nursing, Angel S.P. Chan Lau Endowed Professor and Head of the School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Prior to moving to Hong Kong, he was Professor of Cancer & Supportive Care at the University of Manchester, UK, and Head of the Academic Cancer Nursing Research Unit, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. He has been a Bloomberg International Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Toronto and a Visiting Professor at the Australian Catholic University (Sydney), and the National University of Singapore. He is currently Visiting Professor at a Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa and Jiagnan University, Wuxi, China.

Professor Molasiotis is the Editor-in-Chief for the European Journal of Oncology Nursing. He serves on editorial board for multiple high quality journals, and on the Board of Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the Nurses committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). His research focus is complex symptoms, currently focusing on cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, peripheral neuropathy and cough/breathlessness in lung cancer.

 Speaker Travel kindly supported by:

Professor Lesley Fallowfield

Ms Kylie Ash

Kylie is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years’ experience in clinical and education roles in oncology and haematology practice settings.  Kylie completed a Masters of Nursing (Cancer Nursing) from QUT in 2008. A variety of roles in clinical and academic settings over the past ten years have further developed Kylies experience and knowledge in education and project management. Kylie is currently the Project Coordinator for EdCaN and PSGC. She is active in CNSA as the current Chair of the Education Committee.

Mr Michael Cain

Michael Cain is the Oncology Clinical Lead Pharmacist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth. He has over 25 years of experience in oncology contributing textbook chapters, journal articles and regular reviews to literature. He has lectured in formal and informal educational programs in Australia. He has served a variety of State, National, and International professional groups with involvement in working parties, advisory groups, and scientific review committees and as editorial board member. In the treatment of Cancer Michael has sought to enhance quality in the delivery of anticancer therapies through a focus on academic review and practical facilitation within the Sir Gairdner Cancer Centre. In 2011 Michael was recognised as the Australian Pharmacist of the Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

Mr Tony Connell

Mr Tony Connell is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon practicing in Perth, Western Australia.  He trained in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in Perth from 1993 to 1996 and in 1997 was the Hand Surgery and Micro Surgery Fellow at the Miami Hand Centre, Florida.  In 1998 he was the Clinical Fellow at the Cleveland Clinic in Ft Lauderdale, Florida and then he returned to Western Australia in 1999 to commence both public and private practice in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 

For the past twelve years he has specialised exclusively in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery and his Practice currently involves breast reconstruction, breast augmentation, revisional implant surgery, breast lift and breast reduction and congenital breast surgery. 

In 2008 he undertook the PACE I Trial whereby seven patients had ten AirXpanders placed for both immediate and delayed breast reconstructions.  In 2010 the PACE II Trial involved another thirty nine patients undergoing unilateral and bilateral breast reconstruction with insertion of a further 62 AirXpanders.  In 2011 the ASPIRE Trial involved the use of  the AirXpander device in breast reconstruction patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy and in patients who were allowed to fly with the device in-situ. 

He is currently the Principal Investigator for the AirXpander company in the Australian trials and has lectured world wide on the use of this device as he has the world’s largest clinical experience of it’s use in breast reconstruction. 

He is the immediate past President of the West Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and in addition continues to be involved in research in the use of 3D imaging in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery. 

Professor Jon Emery

Professor Jon Emery is the Herman Professor of Primary Care Cancer Research at the University of Melbourne within the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. He is an NHMRC Practitioner Fellow, Director of the Cancer Australia Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4), a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge and a GP. 

He studied medicine at Cambridge and Oxford and obtained his DPhil at Oxford on computer decision support to assess cancer risk in general practice.  His research interests are in the role of primary care in cancer prevention, diagnosis and management, genetic medicine and primary care trials of complex interventions.  Much of his research entails parallel programs of work in Australia and Cambridge on cancer screening, early diagnosis and follow-up care.  He has published over 150 papers  and has been a Chief Investigator on research grants and awards totalling over $AUD15 million  and GBP11 million. 

Professor Daniel Galvão

Daniel Galvão is Professor of Exercise Science and Co-Director of the Edith Cowan University Health and Wellness Institute, Perth, Western Australia, and a Cancer Council Western Australia Research Fellow. He received his B.Sc. (1998, Brazil) in Physical Education, M.Sc. (2003) in Clinical Exercise Science from the University of Queensland and his Ph.D. (2006) in Exercise Science from Edith Cowan University.

Professor Galvão’s research program focuses on applications of exercise as medicine for the prevention and management of cancer treatment side effects and survival and has received funding from NHMRC, Cancer Australia and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. His research has been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, European Urology and Cancer and he has co-authored the Exercise and Sports Science Australia position stand in exercise and cancer (2009) and the American College of Sports Medicine’s exercise guidelines for cancer survivors (2010). 

These guidelines, recently endorsed by the American Cancer Society, contributed significantly to a major modification in clinical recommendations for individuals to avoid physical inactivity and return to normal activity as soon as possible after cancer diagnosis or treatment. 

Ms Melissa Hegarty

Mrs Catherine Hunt

Catherine is a registered physiotherapist who has been working with Cancer Services at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital since 1989.

In 2000 she completed a QI looking at functional outcomes for Breast Cancer Surgery patients. At that stage Professor Lesley Fallowfield (U.K.) and others reported that 97% of women had some physical morbidity after breast cancer treatment. The Breast Care CNS suggested Catherine commenced attending the Breast Centre on call.  This enabled Catherine to institute early self management strategies for patients on an ad hoc basis. In 2007 the SCGH Breast Centre Team initiated a dedicated Physiotherapy role focusing on early intervention and prevention of functional morbidity for their patients.

This role has facilitated Catherine’s development of her physiotherapy skills and knowledge in the rehabilitation of women having Breast Cancer treatment.

Catherine is an active member of many societies and organisations including: The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists in Oncology and Palliative Care, the Australasian Lymphology Association, the W.A. Breast Cancer Collaborative and the W.A Cancer Survivorship Collaborative.

She enjoys contributing to Undergraduate and Postgraduate Physiotherapy Student education.

Professor Mei Krishnasamy

Mei is Executive Director of Cancer Nursing and Allied Health at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne and Professor of Cancer Nursing-Translational Research, in the Department of Nursing at the University of Melbourne. Mei works with specialist and advanced practice nurses and allied health clinicians to develop, implement and evaluate models of patient-centred care. She is chief investigator on several research grants that focus on improving patient experiences of cancer and has a particular interest in the relationship between patient experience and health outcomes. She is President of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia and a past President of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia.

Mr Jim McGinty

Jim McGinty is a former Labor Health Minister in Western Australia and former Chair of Health Workforce Australia.

During his time as Member for Fremantle in the Western Australian Parliament he held the positions of Attorney General, Leader of the Opposition and several other ministerial position in addition to the health portfolio.

As Health Minister he was responsible for devising and implementing the Health Reform Plan which has largely survived the change of government in 2008.

Key elements of that plan were the new Fiona Stanley Hospital, the new Perth Children’s Hospital and significant expansion of the secondary hospitals servicing Perth’s suburbs.

Mental Health, primary health care and community based ambulatory care were also important aspects of the plan. Cigarettes and junk food were targeted during Mr McGinty’s tenure as Health Minister.

After retiring from political life in 2009, Mr McGinty continued an active involvement in health matters on the Boards of Telethon Kids Institute (child health medical research) Australian Medicare Local Alliance, Fremantle Medicare Local, and Brightwater (disability and aged care service provider).

Mr McGinty is also a member of the Independent Media Council, a Board member with Access Housing and a skipper with Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue Group.

In 2014 Mr McGinty’s contribution to law reform, health and the Western Australian parliament and community was recognised when he was made a Member of the Order of Australia.

Ms Lucy Patton

Lucy Patton is the Senior Project Coordinator of Education and Training for the Perth Children’s Hospital Project, in addition, she currently coordinates both oncology and palliative care specialty streams in the Master of Clinical Nursing at Edith Cowan University. As a nurse Lucy worked for many years in both inpatient and outpatient haematology and oncology settings in direct care and clinical education roles. 

Lucy has previously held roles as a Staff Development Educator at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia.  She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Training and Development and a Masters in Nursing.  Lucy has extensive experience in curriculum design and implementation across the scaffold of training and education from professional development to postgraduate study. This is in addition to experience in the application of open and flexible technologies in teaching and learning and ensuring accessibility and relevancy for the adult learner.

In her current role Lucy is responsible for the planning, development, delivery and evaluation of a comprehensive, collaborative induction and orientation program for 3000 staff transitioning to a new Health Service site in 2016.

Professor Jane Phillips

Jane Phillips is the Director of the Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care and Professor Nursing (Palliative Care) at UTS. She has an in-depth understanding of palliative care and experience in delivering best-evidenced based palliative care across diverse settings, including rural and regional Australia and considerable expertise in leading and evaluating complex, health service reforms.  Jane has led a number of major cancer and palliative care reform initiatives, at the local and national levels. She has the capacity to navigate the complex interplay between the clinical, research, policy and professional environments.

Jane graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a PhD in 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Science – Nursing and a post-graduate Diploma in Health Promotion from Curtin University, Western Australia. In 2005, she completed the “Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice” at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

She is currently an Editor of ‘Collegian’ the Australian Journal of Nursing and on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Palliative Nursing.  In late 2013, she co-edited a special issue on Geriatric Oncology for the ‘Cancer Forum’ Journal. She is a member of the Palliative Care Nurses Australia national committee and holds an honorary clinical appointment at Sacred Heart Hospice and St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.

Ms Shannon Philp

Shannon Philp is a Nurse Practitioner with 20 years experience in cancer nursing, working clinically at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in Gynaecological Oncology. Shannon is also a Lecturer and Course Coordinator of Cancer and Haematology Nursing at Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney. Shannon holds a Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) and Graduate Certificates in Cancer Nursing and Women's Health Nursing. She is a member of the Cancer Nursing Research Unit, a consortium of Sydney Nursing School and the Sydney Local Health District and on the Executive Committee of the NSW ACI Gynaeoncology Nurses' Group.

Shannon has research interests in many aspects relating to the care of women with gynaecological cancers, particularly patient satisfaction and experience, quality of life and fast track surgical care. Shannon runs a Nurse Practitioner Clinic which provides a comprehensive service to women with a low risk of cancer recurrence, post-operative patients and women with Gestational Trophoblastic Disease.

Professor Christobel Saunders

Professor Christobel Saunders is a Consultant Surgeon at Royal Perth and St John of God Hospitals in Perth, Western Australia.   She is the Professor of Surgical Oncology and Head of Unit, General Surgery at The University of Western Australia; and holds both clinical and research roles in the breast and melanoma cancer field.  She is closely involved in strategic planning and management of cancer services nationally as member of the National Lead Clinicians Group and Cancer Australia Advisory Council, Board Member of Cancer Council Australia and Breast Cancer Network Australia, and past President of Cancer Council Western Australia.  Christobel has been involved in the development of numerous best practice guidelines for both patients and clinicians and her work is embedded in a firm evidence base implementing the latest research.

Christobel has worked in the breast cancer field for over 13 years and in 2010 received the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) Patron’s Award for achievement in breast cancer research. Christobel’s research covers a wide diversity of areas including clinical trials of new treatments, psychosocial research and translational and health services research. She has an exceptional funding track record, having attracted a career total of nearly $23 million in over 55 grants awarded in Australia since 2001. Christobel has published over 90 scientific papers in refereed journals, two books and 18 book chapters. She is a co-author of the book Breast Cancer - a guide for every woman and Breast Cancer: The Facts, which was shortlisted for the BMA Book of the Year in 2010.

Christobel has a passion for health and medical research, patient advocacy and an exceptional clinical track record in the management and treatment of breast cancer.

Professor Eric Visser

Eric holds the Inaugural Churack Chair in Chronic Pain Education and Research at the University of Notre Dame Australia and St John of God Health Care, and is a pain medicine physician and anaesthesiologist at PainScienceWA® at Joondalup Health Campus.

He is also a clinical senior lecturer in the School of Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology at the University of Western Australia.

Eric’s wide-ranging interests include developing best-practice pain education systems, acute pain service applications and chronic post-surgical pain. 

Ms Julie Wilkes

Julie Wilkes graduated from Curtin University in WA with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 1986.  She went on to complete her Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital Pharmacy in 1995, and in 1999 she successfully obtained Board Certification in Oncology Pharmacy (US).  Julie has worked in the area of oncology and haematology for the past 26 years, in a number of hospitals (both public and private) in Western Australia.  In 2000, she was successful in obtaining a grant from the Health Department of WA to establish the Home Cancer Care Service, which enabled oncology and haematology patients to receive their chemotherapy and supportive care therapy at home.  In 2013 Julie with her business partner, Lorna Rogers, started a private home health service company - View Health and its related subsidiary chemo@home.  chemo@home is and innovative service which enables patients with cancer and other chronic health conditions to receive highly specialised care (including chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies) in their own home. Her interests include drug therapy of haematological malignancies, bone marrow transplantation, infectious complications and service delivery change management and research.

Professor Patsy Yates

Patsy Yates is jointly appointed as Head, School of Nursing at Queensland University of Technology and Director for Queensland Health’s statewide Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education (CPCRE).  

She has over 30 years’ experience in research, education and clinical practice in cancer and palliative care.  She leads a range of research and service improvement programs focused on developing workforce capacity in cancer and palliative care, advancing the management of cancer related symptoms and treatment side effects, and strengthening the nexus between research, policy and practice in cancer care.  She is currently President for Palliative Care Australia.

She is regularly invited to provide expert advice to professional groups and government bodies, and has held ministerial appointments on a number of Boards and Committees for Federal and State Governments.

Patsy has received awards in recognition of her research, teaching and service, including being awarded the Tom Reeve Oration Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cancer Care and Life Membership from the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia as well as the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia. In 2010, she was awarded a Citation from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.  Patsy is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and has recently been inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.

Dr Nik Zeps

Dr. Zeps is a PhD scientist involved in translational research in breast, gastrointestinal and gynecological malignancies. He is the Director of Research at SJGHC Subiaco Hospital and head of a translational research program that has established a biobank and clinical registry as a part of routine multidisciplinary cancer care.

He is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Health Sciences at Curtin University and in the Centre for Comparative Genomics at Murdoch University. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Surgery at the University of Western Australia and at Notre Dame Medical School. He is a member of Research Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia. He is the chair of the Cancer Biology Group of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia and the Biological sub-committee of the Australasian Gastro-intestinal Trials Group and a member of the Research and Data Advisory Committee of Cancer Australia. He is the Australian representative on the Ethics and Policy Committee of the International Cancer Genome Consortium. He is a founding Board Member of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance.

His objective as Director of Research is to integrate clinical research and teaching into routine healthcare delivery to improve the lives of patients and their families.