my World - The Waters Group

Prof. Michael Quinn – Ovarian Cancer Instituteichael Quinn is Director of Oncology/Dysplasiaat The Royal Women’sHospital, Melbourne and Professor in theDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecologyat the University of Melbourne. He is theauthor of more than 120 articles and haswritten a number of important text bookson Gynaecological Cancer. He currentlychairs the Ovarian Cancer Research Groupat the Cancer Council and is a member ofthe National Expert Advisory Group onOvarian Cancer.The following interview gives someinsight into Michael Quinn.What attracted you to medicine?The opportunity to care for peopleWhy did you specifically specialise inwoman’s cancer?I looked after a 19 year old when I was training,and I’ll never forget her name: it wasRosa. Rosa had a very malignant unusualgerm cell tumour of the ovary and she diedwithin three months, she died when I wasthere looking after her, and that has lived withme ever since. And it’s been at the back of mymind that if you can make a small change ina big disease, even a small change will savelives, and is therefore worth doing.What has been your most formativeexperience?Training with Dr Robert Fraser in Canada,who applied a holistic, team based approach,treating not just the disease, but caring forthe whole woman and her family.Who do you admire professionally?Ian Frazer, another Scotsman, Australian ofthe Year, who developed the vaccine forcervical cancerWho do you admire personally?Social worker and community activist, LesTwentyman, for his approach and dedicationto disadvantaged kids in Melbourne’swestern suburbs.What do you think has been your greatestachievement?Introducing multidisciplinary care to theRoyal Women’s Hospital and Peter Mac 20years ago, the model which delivers the bestpossible care and treatment.What do you do in your leisure time?Read, listen to opera, run.What is your personal definition ofsuccess?Achieving your vision for yourself.How would you like the world to perceiveyou?As a persistent advocate for women’s healthThis year, more than 1200 women in Australiawill be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, 800women will die – almost double the numberof women who will die on our roads. Currently,there is no community-based screeningtest for early stage ovarian cancer. Mostpeople mistakenly believe that the Pap smeartest will detect all gynaecological abnormalities,but this is not the case. By the time mostwomen are diagnosed with ovarian cancer,it has spread throughout the body and thesurvival rate is less than 30%.Women’s Cancer FoundationFundraising Dinner 25 Octobercontact Judy 0407 826 771. Valid until 4 December 2006SK5110 The 101 Quarterly