Dr Abhi Pal unpacks three key reasons as to why the inclusion of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in clinical trials is imperative.
Dr Abhi Pal is a medical oncologist who has a special interest in early phase cancer clinical trials. After completing his medical oncology core training in the Liverpool Hospital training network as a registrar, he completed a fellowship at the internationally renowned Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute for Cancer Research in the United Kingdom from 2019–2020 and worked in the Drug Development Unit, working alongside leading figures in the field such as Professor Johann De Bono.
He is thrilled to bring his international experience back to Liverpool Hospital and use his expertise and interest in clinical trials to increase the availability of cancer clinical trials to the residents of South West Sydney. He is also completing a PhD through Sydney University under the supervision of Professor Frances Boyle and Dr Deme Karikios, looking at ways to improve the representation of patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) on to cancer clinical trials, and he is funded by an NHMRC Postgraduate Research scholarship to complete this work.
Julie McCrossin gets people talking. After 20 years as a presenter with ABC Radio National, ABC TV and Network Ten, she is now a freelance broadcaster, podcaster and MC.
Julie was treated for stage four, HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer (tonsils, tongue and throat) in 2013. Julie is an Ambassador for Targeting Cancer and TROG Cancer Research. She is a member of the advocacy group, Cancer Voices SA. Julie hosts the podcast series, The Thing About Cancer and The Thing About Advanced Cancer for Cancer Council NSW.
In 2019, Julie was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community, particularly through LGBTIQ advocacy roles and to the broadcast media.