On Tuesday, 13th September 2022, leading charity Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) will launch a new online Thought Leader Series with some of the brightest minds in the Australian cancera disease where abnormal cells split without control and spread to other nearby body tissue and/or organs community.
The candid conversations on cancer, hosted by RCA Chief Executive Richard Vines, offer fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of the health system, and what needs to be done to make change for patients.
“We talk about patient-centricity and involving patients in decision making a lot. But the reality is that most big decisions are made by a small number of dedicated and talented people. People that patients will probably never meet – but whose decisions have a very direct and profound impact on their lives,” Richard explained.
“We want to get an insight into the people behind the titles, to get to the heart of why they do what they do for patients. How do they align their roles and organisations with the lives of Australians living with cancer? This initiative is all about having very real conversations about patients and their care with those at the highest levels of decision-making,” he said.
Richard observes that the conversation around patient needs is often reserved for those on the front line delivering the services.
“We need to be having these conversations in boardrooms as well, not just in doctor’s offices. Patient-centricity should be a focus at all levels of the health system – from policy makers and health economists through to health care providers and the pharmaceutical industry. There is so much more to the sector than just doctors and nurses. We all have a responsibility to do better for Australians living with cancer.”
The Thought Leader Series will kick off with Professor Shelley Dolan, Chief Executive of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.
“Shelley has a remarkable story, having moved through the ranks from ICU nurse to CEO. We talked about what she’s learned from patients and their families over 30 years; the importance of making your voice heard as a patient; and how we can improve access to clinical trialsresearch studies performed to test new treatments, tests or procedures and evaluate their effectiveness on various diseases in rural and regional areas, among other things,” Richard said.
Other guests in the first season of the Thought Leader Series include:
- Carlo Montagner, Chief Executive of Specialised Therapeutics Australia
- Professor John Zalcberg, Head of Cancer Research at Monash University
- Ann Single, from the Patient Voice Initiative and Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) Patient and Citizen Involvement Interest Group
- Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer, co-inventor of the technology behind the world’s first cervical cancer vaccine
- Professor Grant McArthur, Executive Director of the VCCC Alliance
“Each conversation is unique; they all have different insights and perspectives to offer. Our hope is that this series will help give patients a chance to hear from those who affect their lives every day and how these decision makers see the opportunities for change,” Richard said.
The first episode of the RCA Thought Leader Series with Professor Shelley Dolan is now available.