Tracey O’Brien: There are never enough words about nurses’ incredible contribution in health care

Quoting Tracey O’Brien on LinkedIn:

”Each and every day, nurses are there at every turn in health care.

They are by the bedside or in the community watching over someone through one of the most challenging times of their lives, providing care, reassurance, and a listening ear.

They are teaching, undertaking life-changing research and delivering clinical trials and innovative studies to help shape a better future for the people of NSW and beyond.

That’s why today, International Nurses Day, is so important. It’s a time to celebrate those who dedicate their lives to supporting the sick, injured and vulnerable – many of who I’m proud to call my mentors, colleagues and friends.

At the Cancer Institute NSW, we’re proud to work hand in hand with nurses to reduce cancer’s devastating impact. From cancer prevention to screening and treatment, we simply could not do what we do without them.

For 10 years, the Institute has partnered with local health districts to support Women’s Health Nurses in providing free Cervical Screening Tests to women. Leveraged by their unique expertise and reach to the state’s most remote communities, this initiative has led to tens of thousands of people accessing life-saving cervical screening.

Today you’ll hear a lot about nurses’ incredible contribution, and rightly so. I could write a soliloquy about their impact, but there are never enough words. I encourage you instead to read the words of some of the women’s health nurses who are helping NSW and Australia eliminate cervical cancer by the mid-2030s. Their passion, and commitment to reducing cancer’s impact is truly inspiring.

Read more.”

Source: Tracey O’Brien/LinkedIn

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.