Head and Neck Cancer full day workshop

Emma Louise Vale

Dietitian, Genesis Care

Emma-Louise Vale is a Graduate from Flinders University’s Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics (2004) & University of South Australia’s Bachelor of Applied Science (2002). Emma-Louise has extensive Senior Clinical Dietetic experience through employment with The Royal Adelaide Hospital & Flinders Medical Centre and privately at GENESISCare. Specialising in the dietetic management of Head and Neck, Oesophageal and Lung cancer patients across their treatment journey, Emma-Louise is a strong advocate for patient centred care with a multidisciplinary team focus. Emma has represented Dietetics as a committee member on The South Australian Head and Neck Cancer Care Pathway and The 2019 Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Cancer Society Annual Scientific Meeting

Tracy Nicholls

Nurse Practitioner, Flinders Medical Centre

Nursing for more years than we will talk about Tracey has been employed in her current role for almost ten years.

Her career has seen her working in the areas of acute care, rehab, mental health and 25 years as an ENT Clinical Nurse in the operating room.

Tracey is a past president of the National ENT Nurses group, OHNNG, (Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Nurses Group) a position she held for 11 years. She has been the convenor of over 12 National conferences, numerous teaching workshops and education meetings. 

She has sat on the Board of ACORN (Australian College of Operating Room Nurses and was Chair of CoNNMO (Coalition of National Nursing & Midwifery Organisation). She has recently been part of the MBS taskforce for Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Clinical Committee and COSA malnutrition and sarcopenia position statement & clinical guidelines working committee.

Tracey has been the recipient of several awards including a $12,000 Premiers scholarship, and the Nursing & Midwifery Excellence award for Education. In 2017 SALHN Excellence award for Innovation for the teams new AMBULATORY clinic and 2018 Nursing & Midwifery Awards for Excellence in Practice.

She has presented both nationally and internationally and on completion of her masters for Nurse Practitioner she was the first endorsed ENT NP in Australia and the first ENT Nurse Practitioner Head & Neck Cancer Coordinator in South Australia.

Tracey also volunteers her time with Head & Neck Cancer Australia (HANCA) education program and is clinical chair of the Resource committee. HANCA was the first Australian not-for-profit organisation to specifically support head & neck cancer patients and carers.

Ms Nicholls started and runs the Head & Neck Cancer patient support group, and has organised public oral screening during the World head & neck cancer awareness day for the past five years.

Tracey has been engaged with several research projects within the ENT unit at flinders including the Breath Analysis Research team Looking at biomarkers in breath to detect H&N cancer, and recently had her poster accepted at the international CNSA & ICCN conference

Associate Professor Rohit Joshi

Medical Oncologist

A/Prof. Rohit Joshi is a Medical Oncologist who works at private and public hospitals in Adelaide. He works with GenesisCare at Calvary and St. Andrew's Hospitals and is a Staff Specialist at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.

Rohit received his initial medical education at Christian Medical College in India and completed his Medical Oncology training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Rohit has a particular interest in breast and lung cancers. He is the Director at Cancer Research SA, conducting research across multiple tumour types through Phase I, II, and III studies.

In addition to his clinical work, Rohit is an Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia, where he actively engages in the teaching and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Dr Kevin Palumbo

Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Oncology South Australia

Dr Palumbo is a Radiation Oncologist with GenesisCare Oncology South Australia, he graduated in Medicine at the University of Adelaide in 1988, later training in radiation oncology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital graduating in 1996. Following this Dr Palumbo worked as a consultant clinical oncologist at Western Infirmary, Glasgow during 1997 to 1998. Following this he returned as a staff specialist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital until he joined the Adelaide Radiotherapy Centre in 2001 (now known as Genesis Care).

From 2000 to 2003 he was an examiner for the Part I examinations of the Faculty of Radiation Oncology. His special interests include malignancies of the central nervous system, head and neck, urological, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.

Nicole McCarthy

Clinical Nurse in Radiation Oncology, Royal Adelaide Hospital

Nicole McCarthy

Nicole McCarthy is a Clinical Nurse in Radiation Oncology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. She has experience in Haematology, Medical and Radiation Oncology, and Palliative Care, and has practised in Australia and overseas.

Nicole graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Nursing. She achieved a Graduate Certificate in Oncology Nursing in 2023 and has cared for people who have received a cancer diagnosis and their families for more than two decades.

Dr Suren Krishnan

OAM., FRACS ENT Specialist Otolaryngology

Dr Suren Krishnan is a graduate of the University of Adelaide Medical School and an Otolaryngologist, Head and Neck Surgeon trained in the Adelaide Training Program. He received his fellowship in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1993 and was a Fellow at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford , United Kingdom in 1994. On his return from Oxford he was appointed Consultant Surgeon at The Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia and in private practice. He is currently Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

He is an examiner in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and is the current Chairman of the Head and Neck subcommittee of the Australian Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and was President of the Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Society in 2007.