Chris O'Brien (surgeon)
Encyclopedia
Christopher John "Chris" O'Brien AO
(3 January 1952 – 4 June 2009) was an Australian head and neck surgeon. He achieved national recognition as a compassionate surgeon in the reality television
series RPA
.
. He was educated at Parramatta Marist High School
, where he was dux
of the class of 1969, he later graduated in medicine from the University of Sydney
.
O'Brien was instrumental in establishing the Lifehouse Sydney Cancer Centre. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
said "Chris's vision was for an integrated cancer treatment centre so that patients would no longer have to navigate their way through all the different elements of dealing with their illness alone."
) in November 2006. He underwent surgery on three occasions and radiotherapy. He detailed his battle with the illness in his autobiographical book Never Say Die. He died on 4 June 2009.
O'Brien was given a state funeral service at St Mary's Cathedral
in Sydney. He is survived by his wife Gail and children Adam, Juliette and James.
Prime Minister Rudd flew to Sydney to be with O'Brien shortly before his death. After his death, Rudd said
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(3 January 1952 – 4 June 2009) was an Australian head and neck surgeon. He achieved national recognition as a compassionate surgeon in the reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series RPA
RPA (TV series)
RPA is an Australian reality television show that is filmed at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and shows the everyday workings of this major hospital in Sydney, Australia...
.
Early life
O'Brien was born into a working class family and grew up in a Housing Commission home in the Sydney suburb of Regents ParkRegents Park, New South Wales
Alternate uses: Regents Park Regents Park is a western suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Regents Park is located 22 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council.-History:The suburb took its name from a local...
. He was educated at Parramatta Marist High School
Parramatta Marist High School
Parramatta Marist High School is the oldest Catholic school in Australia.Parramatta Marist began as a school established by Father John Therry in 1820, under the direction of Mr George Morley. The school was transferred to the site of the present Cathedral in 1837 and entrusted to the care of the...
, where he was dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of the class of 1969, he later graduated in medicine from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
Medical career
O'Brien rose to the positions of Director of the Sydney Cancer Centre based at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney, Professor of Surgery at the University of Sydney, Director of the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, and Director of Cancer Services for the Sydney South West Area Health Service. He founded the Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Society in 1998 and was President of the Society in 2004. During his career, O'Brien lectured widely overseas, wrote several book papers and wrote more than 100 scientific papers.O'Brien was instrumental in establishing the Lifehouse Sydney Cancer Centre. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
said "Chris's vision was for an integrated cancer treatment centre so that patients would no longer have to navigate their way through all the different elements of dealing with their illness alone."
Illness and death
O'Brien was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour (glioblastoma multiformeGlioblastoma multiforme
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans, involving glial cells and accounting for 52% of all functional tissue brain tumor cases and 20% of all intracranial tumors. Despite being the most prevalent form of primary brain tumor, GBMs...
) in November 2006. He underwent surgery on three occasions and radiotherapy. He detailed his battle with the illness in his autobiographical book Never Say Die. He died on 4 June 2009.
O'Brien was given a state funeral service at St Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. The cathedral is dedicated to "Mary, Help of Christians", Patron of Australia...
in Sydney. He is survived by his wife Gail and children Adam, Juliette and James.
Prime Minister Rudd flew to Sydney to be with O'Brien shortly before his death. After his death, Rudd said
I believe Chris O'Brien has been a truly exceptional Australian. Chris O'Brien was a man of leadership, vision and courage. He inspired people, both through his work as a cancer specialist and through his own three-year battle with an aggressive, highly malignant brain tumour.
Recognition and awards
- 2009 - O'Brien was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia posthumously
- "For continued service to medicine and to the community through advocacy and fundraising roles for the development of integrated care and clinical research facilities for people with cancer, particularly the establishment of the Lifehouse Centre at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital"
- 2005 - Member of the Order of Australia
- "For service to medicine, particularly to the specialty of head and neck surgery through leadership as a clinical researcher and teacher"