Interview with the Dean of Faculty of Health (2018-2021), Professor Suzanne Chambers AO

Many health alumni have not had the chance to personally meet the Dean of the Faculty of Health at UTS, Professor Suzanne Chambers AO, although her academic achievements and contributions to society are well known. As guest editor for this edition of the newsletter I thought I should share with you my personal impressions of this talented and inspirational woman who has been driving such positive change in the Faculty of Health at UTS for the past 2 years.

So, who is Suzanne?  Registered nurse, health psychologist, researcher, author, philanthropist, mother and…. Harley Davidson Sportster rider. Her exuberance, intelligence and charm make any meeting with her into a special occasion.

Suzanne’s early life was spent with her family in regional Queensland before settling in Brisbane, where she and her four sisters went to high school.  Back then many girls left school at year 10 but Suzanne completed year 12 as did her sisters. However instead of heading to teacher’s college or nursing Suzanne was lured by this slogan “Stefan makes your life more beautiful”. Stefan was the Brisbane hairdresser, so Suzanne began her apprenticeship learning the Botticelli perm, which was all the rage back then.

Thankfully for the healthcare industry, perming hair was not to be Suzanne’s destiny, and she started nursing at Brisbane’s Holy Spirit Hospital and thrived in her training. Fortunately at the time universities had started to provide nursing qualifications but opportunties were limited, so Suzanne took a degree in health psychology that seemed relevant to the needs of her patients. Working fulltime, and studying meant that when Suzanne finally completed her degree, she was married and had a child.

What was pivotal for Suzanne’s career was the realization that there were areas lacking evaluation, research and change of practice, such as young women with breast cancer. Recognizing a dire need in the provision of services, Suzanne created the first Australian support group specifically for young woman with breast cancer. Suzanne became recognised nationally and internationally in cancer care research, and a champion for men’s health and in particular prostate cancer, where she now leads the Prostate Cancer Survivorship Research Centre, Australia’s first Centre for Research Excellence in Prostate Cancer Survivorship,

On the topic of prostate cancer, Suzanne has recently published a book Facing the Tiger- A Guide for Men with Prostate Cancer and their Partners, with all proceeds from the sale of the book going to the prostate cancer foundation. Suzanne was also recognised in 2018 for her work in prostate cancer support in the Queen’s Birthday honours list with an Order of Australia (AO).

So, I will wrap up this snapshot by saying that all of us in the UTS Faculty of Health family, whether alumni, students or colleagues are priveleged to have such an approachable and accomplished, Harley Davidson-riding Dean, and I hope you will all have the opportunity to meet her one day and find out for yourselves.