QUT cancer survivorship researcher, Professor Ray Chan will be inducted into the Sigma International Nursing Hall of Fame in recognition of the significant and sustained national or international impact of his research.
Sigma—an international membership of over 135,000 nurse leaders –will induct 20 nurse researchers from Australia, Canada, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, during its 32nd International Conference, Singapore, July 2021.
Professor Chan—a research leader with the QUT Cancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre—is well-known for his work to enact system-wide healthcare changes in cancer care.
He holds a Professorial Chair in Cancer Nursing, a joint appointment between Queensland’s Metro South Health and QUT, has attracted more than $20M in grants for supportive cancer care research, and has published more than 140 peer-reviewed articles.
“I realised early in my career as a registered nurse that I could choose to help one patient at a time or to change our healthcare system to help more people. There was a deep passion to focus on the latter,” Professor Chan said.
Professor Chan aims to improve outcomes for cancer survivors—people living with cancer after diagnosis and throughout treatment—particularly the largest groups comprising people living with breast, prostate or lymphoma cancer.
“With technological advances in treatment, cancer drugs and early detection worldwide, there has been a huge increase in survival rates for many people with cancer,” Professor Chan said.
“Thirty or 40 years ago, a cancer diagnosis was a death sentence for many. Nowadays people are living with cancer for much longer, because of scientific and treatment advances.
“In Australia, more than 1.1 million people are living with cancer. They struggle with the adverse physical and psychosocial effects of their cancer or treatment, which sometimes can last as long as these patients continue to live.
“So, there is a huge agenda for me to try to change care and improve the health of cancer survivors.”
Transforming cancer follow-up care
Among his many achievements, Professor Chan has redesigned cancer follow-up care models to enable healthcare system improvements at all levels.
In 2019, he was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to lead the IBIS-Survivorship study, a national clinical trial to implement a shared care model between specialist nurses and general practitioners (GPs).
The model is expected to improve patient outcomes and alleviate pressures for cancer outpatients in the hospital.
Almost 1,400 breast cancer patients across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia are expected to participate in the trial funded by a $1.44 million NHMRC grant, and $1.6 million in-kind contribution from the McGrath Foundation and the seven cancer centres.
In 2020, Professor Chan received an additional $1.5M from the NHMRC to advance a shared follow-up care model using telehealth services, which is expected to make quality survivorship care much more accessible for breast cancer and lymphoma survivors, especially those living in regional and remote areas.
Informing national model of breast cancer nursing care
According to Cancer Australia, there were an estimated 19,974 new breast cancer cases in Australia in 2020, significantly higher than twenty years ago.
Professor Chan’s recent collaborative work with the McGrath Foundation—the largest funder of breast care nurses (BCNs) in Australia—aimed to provide research evidence that formed the basis of the foundation’s first comprehensive model of breast cancer nursing care in Australia in more than two decades.
Launched in 2020, the McGrath Model of Care is intended for use by BCNs in Australia to improve learning and development, drive further research and improve the care and outcomes for patients diagnosed with breast cancer.
Early career calling
Professor Chan has a long history of patient care and maintained his clinical nursing practice while studying and researching.
He started his career as an aged care nurse before enrolling in a Bachelor of Nursing with QUT. He graduated as a registered nurse in 2004 and since worked in cancer and palliative care.
Over the following years, he completed his Masters and PhD on improving supportive care for people with advanced cancer through QUT while also working full time at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH).
In 2017 QUT awarded Professor Chan a full professorship at only 34 years of age, making him one of the youngest nursing professors appointed by the university.
It is his many career achievements that earned him a place in the Sigma International Nursing Hall of Fame.
“Sigma recognises nurse researchers and provides professional development to thousands of members throughout the world,” Professor Chan said.
“A lot of academics are part of Sigma and it’s particularly prestigious in that you have to be invited to join as a member.”
Sigma President Richard Ricciardi, PhD, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN said each inductee into the hall of fame was extraordinary.
“These extraordinary nurse researchers embody the broad spectrum of nursing’s impact on global healthcare; their research encompasses the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion, environmental health, reproductive health, and workforce stability,” Professor Ricciardi said.
This year marks the 12th presentation of the hall of fame honour. The 2021 inductees will join 218 previously inducted nurse researchers who have achieved significant and sustained national or international recognition and whose research has improved the profession of nursing and the people it serves.