Mater attracts two national leaders in Pathology amid worldwide shortage
- Release Date: 2/03/2005
- Media Contact: Miranda Hunt 0410 417 790
Brisbane's Mater Health Services has achieved a major medical coup for Queensland in attracting two national leaders in pathology.
The appointments come during a massive employment shortage of pathologists, demonstrated by more than 70 vacant pathology positions across Australia.
Professor Deon Venter and Dr Jane Armes, are both renowned anatomic and molecular pathologists from Melbourne and recently began their new positions with Mater Pathology's team.
Anatomic pathology is a subspecialty of pathology that pertains to the diagnosis of cells, tissues and organs removed for biopsy, surgical treatment or during postmortem examination. Molecular pathology focuses on the biochemical and cellular mechanisms as the basic factors in disease.
Professor Venter, who specialises in molecular and paediatric pathology, will take the lead role as Director of Clinical and Experimental Pathology and will also head the Molecular Genetics Research team in the Cancer Biology Laboratory at Mater Medical Research Institute (MMRI).
A pioneer in the use of molecular techniques both in diagnosing cancer and their use in cancer treatment, Professor Venter will further enhance these methods with his team at MMRI to develop novel approaches to diagnosing and treating cancer.
Meanwhile, Dr Jane Armes is well recognised as a national leader in breast, gynaecological and molecular pathology and has been appointed as Director of Anatomic Pathology. She will also continue her research at MMRI into the molecular genetics of breast cancer as part of the Molecular Genetics Research team, led by Professor Venter.
Both have worked extensively in the United Kingdom and currently hold a number of prestigious positions in Australia. Professor Venter is the Head of the Cancer Genomics Laboratory, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Dr Armes is Coordinator for the quality control program in breast pathology for the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.
Professor Venter said Mater's clear vision for innovation and research was one of the key reasons behind their decision to relocate and join Mater Pathology's team.
"Molecular pathology is emerging as the dominant pathology discipline underpinning a new era of genomics and genetics based medicine, where disease management is increasingly tailored to suit the patient's individual characteristics in order to dramatically improve outcomes.
"Mater's commitment to becoming leaders in this area of medicine was a key factor in our decision and we are really excited at the prospect of rolling out of this new form of medical care which will benefit not only Queensland but the entire Asian-Pacific region," Professor Venter said.
They will join Dr Rory Donnellan, an Anatomic Pathologist from South Africa who joined Mater Pathology's team in August 2004 and specialises in neuropathology including dementia, brain tumours and diseases of the muscles, nerves and eyes.
Director of Mater Pathology, Dr John Hinds has welcomed the new appointments and said it was a testament to Mater's reputation and standing in the national community to attract such top specialists in their fields.
"With the ongoing pathology employment crisis, we are delighted by their choice to come on board and join Mater team.
"Both appointments will help to strengthen Mater Pathology's position in the local and national pathology market and also as a leader in pathology services, teaching and research initiatives," Dr Hinds said.