Tracey O’Brien: A shout-out to the allied health workforce supporting cancer patients

Tracey O’Brien shared a post by Cancer Institute NSW on LinkedIn, adding the following:

“A shout out to all the brilliant allied health staff supporting people across NSW with cancer. It is a critical part of the health work force playing many and varied roles in delivering care and wellbeing for cancer patients.”

Quoting Cancer Institute NSW’s post:

“This Allied Health Professions Day we’re recognising everybody dedicating their careers to helping people impacted by cancer.

From counsellors to dietitians, pharmacists to radiation therapists – there are so many roles that contribute to treatment, care, and life beyond cancer.

Roger Lay worked as a physiotherapist before joining the Cancer Institute NSW. He has seen first-hand the difference that working in allied health can make.

What does Allied Health Professions Day mean to you?

‘It’s a day to celebrate the incredible work that our diverse multidisciplinary workforce provides for our communities across their entire lifespan. Our allied health workforce helps people not only to recover from ill-health but reclaim their confidence and thrive. As our health systems mature and evolve, the benefits of a holistic and integrated approach are becoming standard practice. This is aptly embodied in this year’s theme ‘Stronger together’.’

Why did you decide to go into allied health?

‘I was always drawn to working in health for both the incredible science behind its advancements and the ability to apply this to helping people in need. Through my studies as a physiotherapist, I grew to truly appreciate the non-invasive treatments that were at our disposal. I’m incredibly humbled and honoured to have helped my patients return to the people and activities that they loved.’

How has your background in allied health impacted the work you do with the Cancer Institute NSW?

‘People’s stories stick with me – from the joy of being able to hug their grandchild to the shared tears of lives forever changed. My work at the Institute is grounded in the understanding that everything I do impacts the lives of these individuals (not just a statistic). Having been both a patient and service provider for cancer patients, I have a strong appreciation of the importance of the networks supporting individuals through the healthcare system. We’ve made great strides, but there is so much more we can do across the cancer spectrum to support our communities to achieve equitable health outcomes.'”

Dr. Tracey O’Brien is the NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Australia. Before her current role, Tracey was Director of the Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, and Director of the Transplant & Cellular Therapy Program.

Tracey has held numerous high-profile national and international leadership positions, including Advisory Chair, Cancer Australia; V/Chair (Africa, Asia and Australasia) International Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant Research and V/President of the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Oncology Group.

In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Tracey was profiled in 2023 as one of the world’s foremost women in paediatric cancer by the International Society of Paediatric Oncology. In 2019 Tracey was named in the Australian Financial Review’s prestigious Top 10 Women of Influence, winning the Innovation category.

In addition to her medical expertise, Tracey has a Master of Law (Health) and executive MBA and serves as a conjoint Professor in Clinical Medicine (UNSW) and Honorary Professor in Science and Engineering (Macquarie University).

Dr. O’Brien remains committed to mentoring the next generation of clinician leaders and maintains an active clinical practice in cancer survivorship at Sydney Children’s Hospital.