Sydney Melanoma Unit
The Sydney Melanoma Unit is a multidisciplinary oncology centre dedicated to the melanoma patient care, research, training and education. It is an integrated component of the Discipline of Surgery, University of Sydney. As a clinical academic unit, it is committed to clinical excellence, clinical, translational and basic research, and a broad range of teaching (to undergraduates, surgical, medical and pathology trainees and fellows, nurses, clinical researchers, basic scientists and others).
The SMU team consists of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, immunologists, pathologists, oncology nurses, palliative care and clinical trial specialists. Its approach is based on the principle that clinicians provide the best quality cancer care when they are members of a multidisciplinary cancer centre, meeting regularly as at team to discuss the most appropriate management of each individual patient.
Sydney Melanoma Unit clinicians currently provide care based from its four major centres associated with the Royal Prince Alfred, Mater, Westmead and Newcastle Hospitals.
The surgical staff consists of:
- Michael Quinn
- Robin Saw
- Andrew Spillane
- Kerwin Shannon
- Jonathan Stretch
- John Thompson
The SMU is currently commissioning extensive new facilities as a result of a substantial benefaction by Mr Greg Poche. The development project is targeted to achieve
the following:
- Define and provide leading care to patients with melanoma.
- Conduct research into the many diverse aspects of this cancer, maximally utilizing the SMU caseload and the resources available to the Unit both locally and by international collaboration. The SMU intends to be at the forefront of developing effective treatments and preventing melanoma.
- Promote the role of academic medical practice because of its contribution to knowledge and the standard of clinical practice it demands.
- Train the broad range of clinicians and scientists who contribute to multidisciplinary cancer care.
- Demonstrate, with the achievements of the SMU, that philanthropy directed toward medical research can return an unparalleled social dividend.