Fighting cancer by day, taking on Gladiators by night

January 29, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Janice Sideroudakis is our senior hospital scientist managing the Cytology Laboratory at Nepean Hospital. But in her spare time, she’s been taking on Gladiators in the Channel Ten revival of the popular TV show.

Cytology involves diagnosing patients’ cells under the microscope and is mainly used to screen for cancer.

Janice describes her job at the Nepean Laboratory as incredibly rewarding.

“I’m looking for indications as to whether it’s a benign or malignant process. This work ultimately dictates a patient’s treatment and care plan, and hopefully gets them well sooner,” she says.

“I love collaborating with fellow scientists, pathologists, radiographers, radiologists and the medical care team to ensure our patients receive the best care possible.

“Also, our pathology team here at Nepean Hospital, from the most senior to junior roles, are just an amazing bunch of people, which makes coming to work joyful and fun, despite our serious jobs.”

A woman sits at a desk looking through a microscope with a cytology textbook on the table. — Janice Sideroudakis helps doctors diagnose and treat cancer as head of the cytology laboratory at Nepean Hospital.

So what got Janice onto a show like Gladiators?

She watched the show as a teenager and even got to meet one of the original Gladiators – her favourite, Vulcan – at a shopping centre.

“My eldest daughter, Samara (10 years old), encouraged me to try out as she really believes in my fitness and thought I would do well,” Janice explains.

“I have also been in previous reality TV fitness competitions like leading the 3‑person team in “Spartan” in 2018 and a game of chase in “Ultimate Tag” in 2021.

“Although, I did not progress past round 2 in those competitions, due to injuries and pressure, they were both a lot of fun and a great experience. Coming to do a third reality TV fitness competition, I thought I would just enjoy it, try my best and have fun, as I am getting older, and it may be the last time I will ever be selected for such a competition.”

We’re not so sure about that – Janice made it all the way to the grand final of Gladiators and was leading the final race when she fell and was overtaken by her rival contender.

A woman wearing gym gear yells while a flame shoots up beside her. — Janice came very close to winning this year’s revival of the Gladiators TV show.

She was one of the smallest contenders on the show – but at 42 is incredibly fit. We asked Janice what she does to keep in shape.

“I exercise 6 days a week, with half an hour of cardio to warm up. Always skipping rope with a mixture of running, rowing and cycling prior to doing heavy weights and finishing off with CrossFit or high-intensity workouts. I have just recently gone back to Jiujitsu again 3 times a week as well.

“I am a highly energetic person and love to train hard and burn all that excess energy. Many people who see me training for the first time have always asked what competition I am training for as they’ve never really seen someone go as hard, every single time.”

At the end of the Gladiators grand finale, Janice was joined by her daughters and husband. She says the support of her family is key.

“My family are my biggest fans and support group and just love seeing me compete generally but are so proud for me to have been selected in this re-make of Gladiators.”

As for new challenges, Janice doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon.

She says having knee surgery just over a year ago allowed her some downtime to concentrate on completing her Masters in Health Service Management, which is she is just about to finish.

She’s also determined to generate more interest in cytology.

“Cytology is a very niche profession and I plan to teach more students our craft and support emerging cytology scientists.”

Pathologist and infectious diseases expert makes Australia Day honours list

January 29, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Dr Matthew O’Sullivan AM from our Westmead laboratory has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to medicine.

He was involved in treating some of the first COVID-19 patients in Australia and has now been honoured for his years of work in the field of infectious diseases.

Dr O’Sullivan is the Supervising Pathologist at our Microbiology Laboratory at Westmead Hospital, where he is also Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases.

He has a clinical interest in staphylococcal infection, tropical medicine, HIV, infections in immunocompromised hosts and diagnosis, and in the management and clinical biocontainment of infectious diseases, such as Ebola and COVID-19.

His research interest is in genotyped-based surveillance of pathogens responsible for hospital-acquired infections.

A man working in a laboratory. — Dr Matthew O’Sullivan at work in the lab.

In early 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr O’Sullivan travelled to Christmas Island to help manage 278 Australians who were quarantined there.

“We did a rapid assessment of every evacuee as they arrived and identified those who needed further testing,” Dr O’Sullivan said.

“We actually set up a laboratory on the island, which was a major achievement and supported the whole operation.

“That meant we could do the primary testing there and have results within hours, rather than a three-day wait if we needed to send them to the mainland.

“We also did check-ups every day, but a lot of our work became keeping people occupied and entertained for the two weeks of isolation.”

We’re proud to have you on our team Dr O’Sullivan, congratulations on this well-deserved honour!

A man stands with his arms crossed in front of shelves filled with equipment. — Dr O’Sullivan was part of the team that went to Christmas Island at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

World leading pathologist and oncologist named joint Australians of the Year

January 29, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

NSW Health Pathology’s Professor Richard Scolyer AO and his colleague, oncologist Professor Georgina Long AO, have been named joint 2024 Australians of the Year.

Two Australians changing the world for the better!

We’d like to congratulate our very own world-renowned melanoma pathologist Professor Richard Scolyer AO and his colleague, oncologist Professor Georgina Long AO, on being named 2024 Australians of the Year.

Prof Scolyer is NSW Health Pathology’s Senior Staff Specialist in Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and he and Prof Long are Co-Medical Directors at Melanoma Institute Australia.

Their enduring partnership has saved thousands of lives from melanoma, known as Australia’s national cancer.

Less than a decade ago, advanced melanoma was fatal – but thanks to Richard and Georgina’s immunotherapy approach, which activates a patient’s own immune system, it has become a curable disease.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presented the pair with the award on 25 January 2024 at a ceremony in Canberra.

In their acceptance speech they both called for more work to be done to address rising rates of melanoma.

A man and a woman holding trophies stand in front of the Sydney Harbour bridge at night. — Georgina and Richard in Sydney.

“There is nothing healthy about a tan. Nothing,” Professor Long told the gathering.

“Our bronzed Aussie culture is actually killing us.

“So, we call on advertisers and social media influencers – stop glamorising tanning,” she said.

They also spoke about Richard’s own brain cancer journey and his decision to put himself forward for an experimental treatment program.

In June 2023, when Richard was diagnosed with incurable grade 4 brain cancer, he and Georgina developed a series of world-first treatments based on their melanoma breakthroughs.

Richard became the world’s first brain cancer patient to have pre-surgery combination immunotherapy.

A man lying in a hospital bed, with the side of his head bandaged, smiling. — Richard Scoyler just after undergoing his surgery at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

By undertaking an experimental treatment with the risk of shortening his life, he has advanced the understanding of brain cancer and is benefiting future patients.

“I stand here tonight as a terminal brain cancer patient. I’m only 57. I don’t want to die. I love my life, my family, my work. I’ve so much more to do and to give,” Professor Scolyer said after receiving the award.

“I’m one of the many thousands of cancer patients who’ve travelled this path, and thousands will follow.

“Devising this world-first experimental treatment for my type of brain cancer was bold and for me, the decision to take on Georgina’s ground-breaking plan was a no-brainer.

“Here was an opportunity for us to crack another incurable cancer and make a difference – if not for me, then for others.”

We wish him all the best on his treatment journey and as 2024 Australian of the Year!

Farewell to Louise Moonen after 40 fabulous years in healthcare!

December 19, 2023 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Immunology Technical Assistant at NSW Health Pathology’s Newcastle laboratory, Louise Moonen, looks back on her career which began in nursing in the 1980s.

Louise began her training as an enrolled nurse in 1982 at St Joseph’s Home Sandgate on the western outskirts of Newcastle.

“This was a teaching hospital back in the day, taking in 25 or so applicants every year,” she said.

“Being trained by the nuns, who were very strict but compassionate, I believe made us better and more caring nurses.”

Louise then worked as an Occupational Therapy Technical Assistant from 1990 to 1996 and from there moved into pathology, working as a technical assistant from 1996 to 2023.

She admits her move into pathology was quite accidental.

“In 1995 St Joseph’s was to be taken over by the Federal Government and those who wanted to retain their benefits were to be re-employed in similar positions at the various public hospitals in the Hunter.

“Pathology was picked for me so off I went.

“It was very daunting at first as there was so much to learn and retain and I needed to train at three different hospitals – the John Hunter Hospital, the Mater and the Royal Newcastle Hospital where I was to be employed.

“The best times of my career were at ‘The Royal’ as I’m sure everyone who worked there in the 80s and 90s would agree.

“The lab was smaller, and we were a very close-knit group. Plus, we got to look out at those million-dollar ocean views!”

Since the birth of her son in 1999, Louise has been working in the laboratory two days a week, so she’s confident she’ll adjust to retired life.

“I’ll have another day to go to the gym or catch up with friends for coffee. Maybe I’ll take up golf and join my husband on the course. Travel to Canada and Croatia are on our wish list as well,” she says.

“It goes without saying I will miss my workmates and the banter and laughs often at my expense!! When you work with colleagues for a long time they become like family, and you share each other’s joys and sorrows. No one will call me ‘Lady Louise’ at home like they do in Immunology!”

You will be missed just as much by your colleagues, Louise – we wish you every happiness in retirement!

Celebrating 10 years of Point of Care testing

December 18, 2023 by Renee Mantle Leave a Comment

At NSW Health Pathology (NSWHP), we manage the largest accredited Point of Care Testing (PoCT) service in the world.

This vital service has been growing since the day we went live in Narromine ten years ago, with over 1100 PoCT devices now in 190 health services across NSW.

PoCT uses mobile devices to analyse pathology samples, like blood and saliva, and provide on-the-spot results at a patient’s hospital bedside or in the community. We help to make sure that patients can get quality, reliable pathology tests, at the time they need them the most.

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of PoCT and reflect on just how much the service has evolved, we caught up with a member of the original PoCT team who launched our Narromine service in 2013, Gayle Warnock, Acting Operations Manager PoCT.

What did the PoCT service look like when you launched the service at Narromine in October 2013?

Prior to 2013 when NSWHP began rolling out our PoCT network, local point of care testing was disjointed. There weren’t enough services to cover the growing demand, particularly in our rural and regional areas.

How has the PoCT service changed over 10 years?

Our service has been expanding since day one and it is amazing to reflect on what has been achieved.

We’ve added devices in more rural and remote hospitals to ensure more patients in NSW can access urgent and sometimes lifesaving pathology services.

We have worked with our NSW Health colleagues to connect existing PoCT devices that were in regular use in hospitals and clinics to electronic medical records (eMRs) and quality management systems, helping us to provide truly connected care.

We’ve continued to add new and higher-quality devices to improve our services as new technology and more point of care pathology tests became available.

Our POCT service has matured so much over the past 10 years. We have a comprehensive governance system, world leading Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) management tools and have developed simpler and more accessible training systems to support our health care providers and clinical teams.

We are even now branching out into AI systems and a stronger IT infrastructure to provide better insights into our PoCT service. PoCT is not just pathology! It’s a combination of technology, people and data management, melding together to shape what NSW Health and our patients and communities need now, and into the future.

What does the growth in PoCT testing mean for clinicians and patients in regional and rural communities?

The availability of PoCT can be lifesaving for people in rural and remote communities. In its most extreme examples, it provides vital emergency and primary health services like the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter Service and Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) with access to critical pathology results that give seriously injured and unwell patents the best chance at survival.

On a day-to-day level, local PoCT services help people to stay in their homes and communities and avoid unnecessary travel and hospital admissions. It’s so much better to be near friends and family when you’re unwell, rather than need to be transferred hundreds of kilometres from home for care.

In more metropolitan areas, PoCT also helps to break down barriers for people with challenges accessing healthcare. Those who don’t have English as a first language, who struggle with transport, isolation, or mental health issues. Having a result straight away when seeing their specialist or clinic can help provide the best care to everyone accessing NSW Health services.

What do you love most about working in the PoCT space?

I love the problem solving! There is never a dull day and I get to work with so many diverse groups both within pathology and in the clinical space. We have so many opportunities to develop systems that really contribute to patient care, to pathology and even into the growth of PoCT nationally as our peers in other states develop their own systems.

What is your vision for PoCT?

My vision is for PoCT to be a fully connected clinical resource. To support our health care colleagues, connect into clinical decision tools and patient management systems and maintain a laboratory quality standard of results.

There are so many new PoCT options available now as technology allows for smaller and smaller systems, new diagnostic markers are being found and everyone wants an immediate answer.

I want to see NSW Health Pathology as the leading voice on PoCT. To see us lead the way with validated high-quality systems that provide meaningful results to people, no matter where they are in NSW.

We are committed to developing and improving our PoCT service and can’t wait to watch it continue to grow over the next 10 years. Learn more about the service here.

Using art to connect sorry business with healing at Forensic Medicine

December 16, 2023 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

These beautiful painted leaves help families mourning the unexpected or unexplained death of someone close. But they’re also helping to heal the women who paint them.

In a sun-filled room near the shores of Lake Macquarie a group of First Nations women gather to paint, share stories and food, and most of all, to support each other.

The Nikinpa art group began as a short-term art therapy program, but several years later it’s still going strong, thanks to the women who say it’s helping to change their lives for the better.

Aunty Brenda Simon is a proud Wiradjuri woman from the small town of Gulargambone in Central West NSW. All seven of Brenda’s children were taken from her by government authorities in the 1970s, and her story is now the subject of a powerful new documentary, The Last Daughter, on Netflix.

Aunty Brenda attends the art group each week and says painting leaves has helped build connections in her community.

An elderly First Nations woman stands in a garden wearing a black shirt with red, yellow and white Aboriginal designs. — Wiradjuri woman, Aunty Brenda Simon says the art group helps to keep her connected to the local First Nations community.

“It just gives you that good feeling just to come in and sit down, just to paint leaves and get your mind going. I just love it,” she said.

Aunty Jill Jessop is a Wailwan woman, also from Central Western NSW, and says the group provides an important gathering place for the women, as well as a chance to create something that makes a big difference in the lives of others.

“It’s a safe place for all women, it’s just been amazing to see how much the women have grown. It’s given them a purpose,” Aunty Jill said.

The women collect the gum leaves either from the local Newcastle area, or from across regional NSW when they travel back home to country.

The leaves are then dried for several weeks and brought into the Nikinpa art room at Toronto where the women paint intricate designs in a rainbow of colours.

A First Nations woman stands on a sunny walkway. — Aunty Jill Jessop says the Nikinpa Art Group is a safe space for women and has helped them heal and grow together.

“The picking of the gum leaves is a thing, finding the right gum leaves. We’re always out in the bush looking,” explains Aunty Jill.

“A lot of us use the traditional symbols, but there’s no right or wrong way, there’s no story, really to our leaves. It’s the purpose of why we do them, that’s our story.”

“A conversation starter”

The gum leaves they paint end up at NSW Health Pathology’s forensic medicine facility in Newcastle, where specialist social workers support families who are grieving after an unexpected death reported to the Coroner.

Families are encouraged to place the leaves with their person and can also take a leaf home to remember them and their ongoing connection.

“It’s a real conversation starter,” said Danny Nugus, Senior Forensic Medicine Social Worker. (pictured below – back row, second from left)

“You get to know the person, even if the family are unable to get to Newcastle and we’re just talking over the phone. I’ll talk to them about the leaves, and ask what sort of leaves do you think they’d like? They might say, ‘well he was a mad Rabbitohs fan’, and we’ll find them a leaf with those colours.

“There might be a leaf design with a particular number of circles, matching the number of siblings that person had, or styles and patterns that fit with where they and their mob are from, what their totem is. Each leaf is as unique and precious as the person who painted it and the person who the leaf finds,” he said.

The leaves provide an important connection for grieving First Nations families but are also respectfully accepted by non-Indigenous families.

For one of the women at the Nikinpa art group, the leaves were a welcome sight when she was confronted with the sudden death of a relative and visited the Newcastle forensic medicine facility.

“Not long ago I had to go into forensics as a personal experience myself, and we had to say our goodbyes,” said Bonny Roberts, a Moandik woman from South Australia.

“I went into the family room and here was a basket of our leaves all painted up. Just the warmth of the whole experience of that, it didn’t feel so clinical.

“We had leaves to place with Pop and it was amazing to pick them out. It was just really personal. I’ve seen it from both sides now, and I couldn’t thank the ladies enough when I came back to Nikinpa.”

The art group is now providing art workshops at schools in the Lake Macquarie area, teaching students to paint their own leaves.

“The kids get involved and we explain to them what the leaves mean and where they go,” said Bonny.

“We ask them at the end would you like to keep your leaf? Or would you like to donate it? And 90 per cent of them want to donate it, they say, ‘no we want to give it’ and it goes in the forensic box.”

NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic & Analytical Science Service Director Michael Symonds (pictured below – back row, far right) expressed his heartfelt thanks to members of the Nikinpa art group for sharing their stories and their artwork.

“The leaves offer comfort and meaning to bereaved families at Forensic Medicine, and we’re honoured to have this important connection to the local Indigenous community,” Mr Symonds said.

Fighting cancer by day, taking on Gladiators by night

Janice Sideroudakis is our senior hospital scientist managing the Cytology Laboratory at Nepean Hospital. But in her spare time, she’s been taking on Gladiators in the Channel Ten revival of the popular TV show.

Dr Matthew O’Sullivan AM from our Westmead laboratory has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to medicine.

NSW Health Pathology’s Professor Richard Scolyer AO and his colleague, oncologist Professor Georgina Long AO, have been named joint 2024 Australians of the Year.

Immunology Technical Assistant at NSW Health Pathology’s Newcastle laboratory, Louise Moonen, looks back on her career which began in nursing in the 1980s.

What did the PoCT service look like when you launched the service at Narromine in October 2013?

How has the PoCT service changed over 10 years?

What does the growth in PoCT testing mean for clinicians and patients in regional and rural communities?

What do you love most about working in the PoCT space?

What is your vision for PoCT?

These beautiful painted leaves help families mourning the unexpected or unexplained death of someone close. But they’re also helping to heal the women who paint them.

“A conversation starter”

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