Barwon Health

New Cancer Services Director announced

Monday, 23 October 2017

Barwon Health has appointed A/Prof Philip Campbell as the new Director of Cancer Services.

A/Prof Campbell has been a haematologist at Barwon Health since 2002 and Head of Clinical Haematology since 2013, during which time he has built a cohesive unit with strong clinical and research focus.

Barwon Health CEO Prof Ruth Salom said A/Prof Campbell’s strengths include his ability to forge excellent working relationships, consult widely and engage with his peers and colleagues at a local and national level. The position was previously held by Professor David Ashley who took up a prestigious position in the US at the Duke University Brain Tumour Center as Director of Paediatric Neuro-Oncology in June 2017.

Almost 2,400 people in the Geelong region are diagnosed with cancer each year. Barwon Health’s Cancer Services provide adults with treatment options including radiotherapy treatment, chemotherapy, apheresis unit, transplant clinic and haematology services. There is a dedicated cancer inpatient ward located at University Hospital Geelong, and a range of complementary services such as clinical trials and pharmacy at the Andrew Love Cancer Centre and dedicated Supportive Care Centre.

A/Prof said he wants the Geelong community to be proud of the world-class services Barwon Health provides to patients, their families and carers.

“I'm really looking forward to working with all my colleagues in Cancer Services as we take what is already an excellent service, to new heights as a cancer treatment centre of national and international repute,” he said.

“In particular I'm really looking forward to strengthening and developing further productive relationships with Deakin University, local healthcare providers and key Victorian, national and international partners.

“Although we face significant demographic and economic challenges associated with the rising prevalence of cancer, at the same time these are exciting times as we see the emergence of 'targeted therapies' and new treatments that harness the powerful effects of the immune system in treating cancer.”

A/Prof Campbell will officially take up the role on 2 November, taking over from Dr Graham Pitson, who has been Acting Director for the past six months.