Dorothy Keefe, PSM, MBBS, MSc, MD, FRACP, FRCP, a MASCC Past President and the recipient of MASCC’s 2014 Distinguished Service Award, has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Australia. The announcement was made on March 3, 2019 by Australian Minister for Health, Greg Hunt. Dorothy Keefe is currently Professor of Cancer Medicine at the University of Adelaide and a Senior Medical Oncologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. She is also the Interim Medical Director of the South Australia Cancer Service. In addition to her work as a medical oncologist, Dorothy is also an expert on the toxicity of cancer treatment and a tireless advocate for cancer patients and healthcare reform. A longtime MASCC member, Dorothy has been an integral part of many MASCC Annual Meetings. As a leader of MASCC’s Mucositis Study Group, she was instrumental in producing the MASCC/ISOO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Mucositis Secondary to Cancer Therapy. She has published widely on mucositis as well as other toxicities of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and the efficacy of new preventive and therapeutic agents. Many of her fellows and trainees have become highly engaged MASCC members and include Study Group leaders and a Past President of ISOO. She is a frequent featured speaker at international meetings and has worked to forge supportive care links throughout Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. Dorothy remains an active member of MASCC’s Study Groups on Mucositis, Palliative Care, and Oncodermatology. Cancer Australia was established by the Australian government in 2006 to benefit all Australians affected by cancer, as well as their families and caregivers. Its strong supportive care mission includes the aims of reducing the impact of cancer, addressing disparities in care, and improving patient outcomes. Cancer Australia leads and coordinates national, evidence-based interventions across the continuum of care. Dorothy will assume the role of CEO, the agency’s highest position, in July 2019.
