WELCOME!
I work with a wonderful team of clerical, medical and nursing staff. We all look forward to meeting you when you come to your first consultation.
At your first visit Jenny and I will get our own version of your medical history from you and your doctors letters, we will examine you and look at any X-Rays or scans that you might have had done, and the results of your pathology tests.
After that we will discuss a plan of management with you. This may include some further tests, and a program of treatment.
As you probably know, in addition to being a consultant medical oncologist, I am Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney. As a result, I am very much involved in the teaching and training of medical students and young doctors. At any of the locations where you might see me, there may be medical students in attendance. Generally there are no more than two present in the consulting room. If there are medical students attending, you will be told this when you arrive, and it is your right to decline to have them present during your consultation. I would ask, however, that you consider helping in the education of trainee doctors by allowing them to observe your consultation.
Staying on top of a field like medical oncology is a great challenge, and it is necessary for me to attend international oncology conferences at least twice yearly in order to ensure that you are given the very latest and best advice in your medical management. I also have responsibilities as Chair of one of the major committees of the National Health and Medical Research Council in Canberra, and all of these commitments mean that some of my clinics may be rescheduled from time to time, and that on some occasions, when I am unavailable for clinics, a locum may be attending my rooms. If this is the case you will be told in advance, and I can assure you that I only choose the most experienced and fully qualified medical oncologists to serve as my locums.
A note about waiting.
Like all doctors, I try very hard to organise my clinic in such a way that waiting times for my patients are minimised. However, the best planning in the world cannot predict for sudden changes in people's health, or for medical emergencies. Where possible, clinic staff will warn you if waiting times are long, but I would suggest that you bring some good reading matter with you and try to organise for somebody to look after small children rather than bringing them to clinics. You may like to phone the clinic on the morning or evening of your attendance to check on any late changes to your appointment time. Numbers for all clinics may be found by clicking here.
If you are unfortunate enough to be stuck in a long wait to see me, please understand that there is nothing that I nor the clinic staff can do about it and that we are doing our very best to be efficient. Also, keep in mind, that if ever you need for me to spend a longer time than usual with you because of your medical condition that I will do so without question.
What should I bring to my first visit?
It is a good idea to come with a close friend or family member to help you remember what is said.
More information
Download our patient information brochure here
At your first visit Jenny and I will get our own version of your medical history from you and your doctors letters, we will examine you and look at any X-Rays or scans that you might have had done, and the results of your pathology tests.
After that we will discuss a plan of management with you. This may include some further tests, and a program of treatment.
As you probably know, in addition to being a consultant medical oncologist, I am Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney. As a result, I am very much involved in the teaching and training of medical students and young doctors. At any of the locations where you might see me, there may be medical students in attendance. Generally there are no more than two present in the consulting room. If there are medical students attending, you will be told this when you arrive, and it is your right to decline to have them present during your consultation. I would ask, however, that you consider helping in the education of trainee doctors by allowing them to observe your consultation.
Staying on top of a field like medical oncology is a great challenge, and it is necessary for me to attend international oncology conferences at least twice yearly in order to ensure that you are given the very latest and best advice in your medical management. I also have responsibilities as Chair of one of the major committees of the National Health and Medical Research Council in Canberra, and all of these commitments mean that some of my clinics may be rescheduled from time to time, and that on some occasions, when I am unavailable for clinics, a locum may be attending my rooms. If this is the case you will be told in advance, and I can assure you that I only choose the most experienced and fully qualified medical oncologists to serve as my locums.
A note about waiting.
Like all doctors, I try very hard to organise my clinic in such a way that waiting times for my patients are minimised. However, the best planning in the world cannot predict for sudden changes in people's health, or for medical emergencies. Where possible, clinic staff will warn you if waiting times are long, but I would suggest that you bring some good reading matter with you and try to organise for somebody to look after small children rather than bringing them to clinics. You may like to phone the clinic on the morning or evening of your attendance to check on any late changes to your appointment time. Numbers for all clinics may be found by clicking here.
If you are unfortunate enough to be stuck in a long wait to see me, please understand that there is nothing that I nor the clinic staff can do about it and that we are doing our very best to be efficient. Also, keep in mind, that if ever you need for me to spend a longer time than usual with you because of your medical condition that I will do so without question.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- Your doctor’s referring letter
- Any other specialist's reports
- All X-Rays, scans and reports
- Any relevant pathology results or reports
- Your list of questions
- Your completed Health Questionnaire
It is a good idea to come with a close friend or family member to help you remember what is said.
More information
Download our patient information brochure here