Radiologist celebrates 30 years at Charlies

6 August, 2012

Radiologist Dr Anita Bourke recently celebrated 30 years since starting work at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

She commenced in 1982 after moving to Perth from Dublin.  She went on to become the first dual qualified Radiologist and Nuclear Physician in Western Australia. She currently works in the Breast Centre at SCGH, Breast Screen WA and is also a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia.

Dr Bourke said there have been remarkable advances in her field over the course of 30 years.

“Digital imaging and storage (PACS) facilities have revolutionised radiology. When I started in radiology we had a basic CT head scanner while ultrasound images lacked current resolution. Diagnoses are faster and more precise with new imaging modalities, for example, MRI and PET scanning.” she said.

Dr Bourke says her work in the Breast Centre at SCGH has been some of the most interesting and rewarding in her career.

“Breast cancer is one area in medicine where outcomes have improved as a result of breast screening and better therapies in the multi disciplinary team setting. I am constantly humbled by the courage and determination shown by women who face a life altering time when they discover they have breast cancer.”

“My biggest achievement is the “juggling” of home life and work with clinical commitments, teaching and research”.

“It could not have been done without the support of my family. The attitude to women in academic positions in hospital medicine has changed as work-life balance is more recognised in medicine.”