Royal North Shore Hospital

12/06/2026

🌈 PRIDE MONTH: LGBTIQ+ CONSUMER EXPERIENCE SURVEY 🌈

This Pride Month, Northern Sydney Local Health District is inviting LGBTIQ+ community members and families to share their experiences of care across our health services.

As part of the implementation of the NSW Health LGBTIQ+ Strategy, we are working to strengthen inclusive, respectful and equitable healthcare for everyone. Your feedback will help guide education and quality improvement initiatives across our services.

If you are a person who is le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, or identify within the LGBTIQ+ community, or a family member or carer of someone who is LGBTIQ+ accessing healthcare, we encourage you to take part.

Your insights will help us better understand where improvements can be made to ensure services are safe, welcoming and responsive.

👉 Take the survey here: https://rnsapmredcap.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/redcap/surveys/?s=FLRRKKHJKCTLXYME&accessed=2

We are also excited to be attending the North Sydney Council Pride Picnic on Sunday 14 June. Come along and say hello — we would love to see you there.

10/06/2026

🎙️ TOMORROW’S MEDICINE TODAY: AI AND THE SHOULDER 🎙️

What if AI could help clinicians see what the human eye can’t?

In this episode, PhD student Brian Kim from the Kolling Institute joins Professor James Elliott and Associate Professor Matthew Doane to explore how artificial intelligence is changing shoulder imaging and rehabilitation.

The conversation centres on the Muscle Map — a global dataset of 150,000 images helping to standardise measurements and improve clinical decision-making worldwide.

From surgical planning to recovery, AI is shaping a more personalised approach to treatment and rehabilitation.

“AI can help us see what the naked eye can’t - giving clinicians better tools to understand muscle quality and personalise recovery.”

🎧 Listen now:
Website: http://bit.ly/4o7BzPF
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3J2uD7x

09/06/2026

A day full of smiles, care and something truly special!

The CommBank Matildas, alongside the incredible Clown Doctors Australia, brought pure joy to Royal North Shore Hospital - spending a beautiful afternoon with our patients, families and staff across Neonatal ICU and Paediatric wards, made possible with the support of CommBank.

With arms full of gifts and hearts full of kindness, CommBank Matildas stars Steph Catley, Alex Chidiac and Wini Heatley took the time to connect, laugh and brighten every room they entered.

But the greatest gift of all was their time.

You could feel the difference instantly - the smiles, the lifted spirits, the sense of hope. For our children and their families, moments like these mean more than words can say, and their impact on healing is truly immeasurable.

Go Tillies! ⚽

09/06/2026

RNSH clinicians recognised in King’s Birthday Honours 🎖🎖

When Margaret Schnitzler started her medical career 40 years ago, she couldn’t have imagined she would go on to be considered by others as a trailblazer and receive the accolades she has.

Holding the title of being the first female colorectal surgeon in Australia, Margaret can now add Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) after receiving the prestigious appointment in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Margaret is one of four clinicians from Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) to be acknowledged for their services to fields of medicine and research.

When Margaret became a surgical trainee in 1987, she was only the second general surgery registrar Royal North Shore Hospital.

She went on to become the first female general surgeon appointed to the staff in Northern Sydney Local Health District.

Other clinicians to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia were:

Dr Luke Coyle, a haematologist at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, RNSH.

Dr Ross Macpherson, for his service to medicine as an anaesthetist.

Professor Suran Fernando for his service to immunology.
Suran is the inaugural head of the clinical immunology and allergy department at RNSH since 2012. He has had more than 140 peer reviewed journal articles published or his research and sits on many expert panels and advisory boards for immunology sharing his expertise.

05/06/2026

NSLHD News 🙌

The latest edition of our district newsletter is out now! Read all about:

• NSLHD staff shine at the Innovation Pitch Program
• Winners of the NSLHD district Nursing and Midwifery Awards
• Staff have a yarn
• AYAH residency works unveiled in St Leonards exhibition

Click the link here to view:

News NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD NSLhd staff shine in innovation pitch program PAGe 3 nslhd staff have a yarn Page 5 nslhd nursing and

03/06/2026

TOMORROW'S MEDICINE TODAY!

In an NSLHD and TMT first, the latest episode of Tomorrow's Medicine Today features two guests. Professor Brian Burns and Dr Geoff Healy join James Elliott to discuss life beyond survival and the journey of recovery after major trauma.

A major injury can change a life in seconds. Dr Healy and Professor Burns explore how trauma care is evolving beyond survival, with a focus on recovery, rehabilitation and long-term patient outcomes.

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4vhh3zu
🌐 Or via the NSLHD website: https://bit.ly/4x2Qtfc

01/06/2026

Hand hygiene remains one of the most powerful and simple defences against the spread of disease, particularly during winter when respiratory infections are circulating more widely.

Northern Sydney Local Health District has been recognised nationally for its leadership in this space, recently launching an award-winning awareness campaign which included a district-wide hand hygiene roadshow featuring learning sessions, games and practical education designed to strengthen everyday hand hygiene practice in clinical settings.

Hands can carry millions of organisms every day, making proper hygiene a critical step in breaking chains of infection and protecting our patients, staff and community across our health services.

Across Northern Sydney Local Health District, teams are stepping up with education, hands-on learning and practical tips to make good hand hygiene second nature in clinical care. 🫧

29/05/2026

In an instant, Sam’s life changed.

But thanks to medical research, he was given hope through an innovative stem cell transplant that helped reset his immune system.

Today, Sam has a second chance at a future he once thought was out of reach.

This EOFY, you can make more stories like Sam’s possible. Your tax-deductible donation to our charity partner, the NORTH Foundation, helps fund life-changing medical research, innovative treatments and compassionate care.

Donate before 30 June and help shape the future of healthcare ❤ bit.ly/4e2nu3H

22/05/2026

NSLHD News 🙌

The latest edition of our district newsletter is out now! Read all about:

• Celebrating international Nurses Day
• A new chapter at Northern Beaches Hospital
• International Clinical Trials Day
• Kindness goes a long way
• Celebrating our incredible volunteers

Click the link here to view:

News NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD International nurses day celebrations PAGEs 8-9 International clinical trials day Page 3 a new chapte

21/05/2026

🐾 PAWS FOR THOUGHT: STAFF WELLBEING IS FUR REAL 🐾

Staff at Royal North Shore Hospital and the NSLHD Executive unit enjoyed a welcome pause today as Delta Therapy dogs visited the Kolling Building for a staff wellbeing session.

As part of Northern Sydney Local Health District’s ongoing commitment to supporting staff mental health and wellbeing, the therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers spent time at the Kolling Institute, offering a calm and restorative break in the middle of a busy working day.

Staff dropped in throughout the session to spend time with the dogs.

Robyn, handler for Dr Skye, said:
“Dr Skye has been volunteering at Royal North Shore Hospital for six years. He helps reduce stress for children going into surgery and has a real sense for when someone needs calming. He’s very good at what he does.”

Thank you to everyone who attended, and to the Delta Therapy Dogs team and volunteers for bringing such a positive and calming presence to the Kolling.

20/05/2026

CELEBRATING OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS 💙

With over 450 dedicated volunteers supporting Royal North Shore Hospital across a wide range of wards and services, their impact is truly remarkable. From regular shifts to on-call support, their contribution is invaluable to our patients, staff, and community.

This week we hosted our annual Volunteer Appreciation Day, bringing everyone together for a special morning tea to celebrate outstanding Years of Service milestones, recognising volunteers for 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service plus Lifetime Awards for 30+ years of service.

A special congratulations to some of our longest serving volunteers:

👏 June Irwin – 46 years
👏 Jan Pocklington – 45 years
👏 Penelope Goodley – 42 years
👏 Arthur Mooreland – 39 years
👏 Anne Green – 38 years
👏 Nancy Marsden – 32 years

Thank you to every one of our volunteers for your compassion, generosity, and incredible commitment. You make a difference every single day.

20/05/2026

🚑 TOMORROW’S MEDICINE TODAY – HIGH STAKES MEDICINE🚑

50,000 people watching.
A patient crashing.
No time to think twice.

This is the kind of pressure Dr Geoff Healy works in.

In the latest episode of Tomorrow’s Medicine Today, Dr Healy takes listeners inside the world of trauma and retrieval medicine, where critical life-saving decisions are made in seconds.

From major accidents and roadside resuscitations to advanced life support delivered outside the hospital, he shares what really happens when emergency medicine is pushed to its limits.

Based at Royal North Shore Hospital, Dr Geoff Healy gives a rare look into one of the most intense areas of medicine.

🎧 Listen now on the NSLHD website: https://bit.ly/4wFHIYq or on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4wKkIaU

18/05/2026

✨HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, BIPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA (IDAHOBIT) ✨

Staff and teams at Royal North Shore Hospital marked IDAHOBIT with a stall on site, sharing resources, conversations and support to recognise and celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities. The day is an important reminder that inclusive, respectful healthcare matters for everyone, and that safe care starts with listening and understanding.

At Northern Sydney Local Health District, we are committed to providing care where people feel seen, respected and safe, regardless of who they are or who they love.

We also want to hear from you. We are also inviting LGBTIQ+ patients to share their experiences through our LGBTIQ+ Patient Experience Survey. Your feedback helps us improve care for patients, families and communities across our hospitals and services: https://bit.ly/4eTfDX7

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

18/05/2026

✨MIDWIVES MAKING A DIFFERENCE ACROSS NSLHD ✨

Midwives across Northern Sydney Local Health District are supporting families through birth, leading research, mentoring students, and helping shape the future of maternity care.

To mark International Day of the Midwife, staff reflected on the moments and experiences that continue to drive their work.

For David Antcliff, Midwife Educator at Royal North Shore Hospital, midwifery began during a student placement at the Royal Hospital for Women and was shaped by caring for his father during cancer treatment.

“I was drawn to a model of care that recognises pregnancy and birth as a normal physiological process and celebrates the beginning of new life,” he said.

David now leads the Mentoring in Midwifery Program across NSLHD while undertaking PhD research through the University of Technology Sydney, focusing on structured mentorship for midwives and students.

Research midwife Nikta Poulad is working on the OLI study, which aims to better predict postpartum haemorrhage before it becomes critical.

“If we can identify it earlier and intervene sooner, we can potentially reduce maternal morbidity and even mortality,” she said.

She has spent the past eight months in a full-time research role contributing to safer, evidence-based maternity care and improved clinical decision-making.

Student midwife Jamie Campbell highlighted the importance of visibility in the profession.

“The more people see male midwives just doing the job well, the more normal it becomes,” he said. “Most people just care that you’re kind, competent and genuinely there for them.”

17/05/2026

MAJOR INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT CARDIAC RESEARCH

Heart Research Australia has committed $1.12 million to advance heart research at Heart Research Australia in 2026, backing a mix of new and continuing projects across the campus at Royal North Shore Hospital.

The funding will support 10 new research grants and continue six existing projects, strengthening both clinical and laboratory-based cardiovascular research.

Key work includes:

Dr Chi-Chia Liu, optimising pacemakers for better patient outcomes
Associate Professor Rebecca Kozor, improving simpler monitoring for genetic heart disease
Professor Helge Rasmussen, repurposing an existing medication to treat pre-eclampsia during pregnancy

The package also includes scholarships for four PhD candidates, helping build the next generation of cardiovascular researchers.

NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri said the investment goes beyond funding, giving researchers the ability to ask bigger questions and improve outcomes for patients.

Full list of recipients: Heart Research Australia 2026 grant recipients: https://heartresearch.com.au/2026-grant-recipients/

15/05/2026

FUNDS TO DELIVER GAME-CHANGING APPROACH TO CANCER SCREENING AND TREATMENT

Health researchers at Royal North Shore Hospital and the Kolling Institute will lead a major advancement in cancer care following a $3.75 million Translational Program Grant from the Cancer Institute NSW.
The funding will support the testing and implementation of liquid biopsy technology into routine cancer diagnosis and treatment. Liquid biopsies use a simple blood test to detect and monitor cancer by identifying tumour DNA in the bloodstream, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional surgical biopsies.

Clinician researcher Professor Anthony Gill said the technique has the potential to transform cancer care by helping detect cancer earlier, monitor treatment response, and identify whether disease has returned.
“This technology can pick up small amounts of DNA shed by cancer in the blood, providing crucial information to guide treatment,” he said.

The approach is also expected to significantly improve access to care for rural and remote patients, who often travel long distances for invasive testing.

“Patients from rural and isolated communities often travel hundreds of kilometres for biopsies. With this technique, a simple blood test can be taken closer to home,” Professor Gill said.

RNSH oncologist Professor Nick Pavlakis said liquid biopsies represent a combination of tests used at different stages of cancer care, from screening to monitoring recurrence and treatment response.

The initiative is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of precision cancer medicine across NSW.

14/05/2026

* Check out the bumper Kolling Institute newsletter - profiling the latest impactful research at Royal North Shore Hospital. *

It's an insight into the talented investigators behind the scenes, and their exciting progress to improve the care we all receive.

Our researchers are driving investigations into new cancer therapies, diabetes, and painful, musculoskeletal conditions, and crucially, developing new life-changing models of care.

Flip through our flipping book for all the details: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/867826688
Northern Sydney Local Health District University of Sydney NORTH Foundation

Kolling Institute NEWS May 2026

14/05/2026

✨FROM FAN TO FIRST RESPONDER: RNSH DOCTOR AT KINGS FINAL ✨

A Royal North Shore Hospital emergency specialist has helped save a man’s life after a cardiac arrest at the Sydney Kings NBL Championship Final at Qudos Bank Arena.

Dr Chris Partyka was attending the game with his family on Easter Sunday when a spectator collapsed nearby. Recognising the signs of cardiac arrest, he immediately ran to assist, joining St John Ambulance crews already providing CPR.

“I left my family, ran down to the lower level and met the team as they were bringing the gentleman out of the arena,” he said.

Working alongside NSW Ambulance paramedics, Dr Partyka helped continue critical resuscitation efforts and was later asked to accompany the patient to Westmead Hospital, continuing care during transport.

He said the experience reflected the importance of rapid action in cardiac arrest situations, where early CPR can significantly improve survival outcomes.

“In NSW, only around one in ten people survive a cardiac arrest in the community. Acting early can double a person’s chance of survival,” he said.

The patient has since survived.

Dr Partyka also encouraged clinicians and the public to consider becoming GoodSAM responders, a smartphone app that alerts nearby trained volunteers when someone needs immediate CPR before paramedics arrive.

“Being able to step in early can make all the difference,” he said.

13/05/2026

CELEBRATING ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY

Administrative professionals across Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) were recognised at the 2026 Administrative Professionals Day Awards, celebrating their vital contribution to healthcare and patient care.

Held nationally on the first Friday of May, the day acknowledges the essential role administrative staff play in keeping services running smoothly and supporting clinical teams across all settings. The NSLHD event brought staff together across the district to recognise achievements, celebrate award recipients and thank teams for their ongoing dedication.

This year’s hybrid event was hosted at Royal North Shore Hospital’s Kolling Auditorium, with staff joining in person and online. The program also featured updates on the upcoming Single Digital Patient Record rollout and practical strategies to support workplace wellbeing and manage stress.

Administrative professionals are central to ensuring health services remain organised, efficient and responsive to patient needs.

NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri thanked staff for their commitment, saying:

“Your work plays a key role in ensuring our services are organised, efficient and productive.”

Congratulations to the 2026 award recipients across the district:

Royal North Shore Hospital – Elizabeth Morrison
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital – Vicki-Lynn Swain
Ryde Hospital – Elizabeth Fulton
Mona Vale Hospital – Kerim Alliu
Primary and Community Health – Stacey Spelman
Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol – Akshaya Loganathan
Northern Beaches Hospital – Holly Teu
District-wide Services – Samantha Lee
Chief Executive Award – Kokila Patel
Bronwyn Scully Young Emerging Leader Award – Katelyn Cusack

12/05/2026

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY 💙

Today, we recognise and celebrate the skill, compassion and dedication our nurses bring to patients, families and colleagues every single day.

Please see this special message from Chief Executive Anthony Schembri and Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery Claire Harris.

Thank you for everything you do to care for our community, support one another and make a difference every day. Happy International Nurses Day.

09/05/2026

HUMAN EXPERIENCE WEEK AT RNSH: GATHERING OF KINDNESS ARTWORKS

As part of Human Experience Week at RNSH, we unveiled three artworks born from our Gathering of Kindness week, where patients, visitors and staff came together to paint and share moments of connection.

These pieces were lovingly brought together by our Art Therapist and will now be permanently displayed within the hospital.

Staff and visitors are also invited to help name each artwork, creating a shared legacy of kindness and belonging.

08/05/2026

NSLHD News 🙌

The latest edition of our district newsletter is out now! Read all about:

• Northern Beaches Hospital transitions to NSLHD
• Administrative Professionals Day
• Celebrating International Day of The Midwife
• Funds to deliver game-changing approach to cancer screening
• NSLHD hospitals driving greener care

Click the link here to view:

NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD News NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT Northern beaches hospital transitions to nslhd PAGE 4 celebrating

06/05/2026

TOMORROW’S MEDICINE TODAY: LIFE AFTER TRAUMA

Surviving trauma is only the beginning.

In this episode, Professor James Elliott is joined by Professor Brian Burns to explore what recovery really looks like after serious injury, from acute hospital care through to the often complex return to everyday life.

They also discuss how factors such as va**ng and social media exposure can influence injury risk and contribute to presentations in trauma care.

If survival is the goal, recovery is the journey.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/4tTaF15 or on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4upNVFP

05/05/2026

🩷💜 CELEBRATING OUR MIDWIVES 🩷💜

Royal North Shore Hospital marked International Day of the Midwife with a special celebration recognising the incredible work of our midwives.

With speeches, raffle draws and a stunning cake made by Laura Dangerfield, Acting Deputy Director of Nursing and Midwifery, the event brought staff together in appreciation of the care, skill and dedication midwives bring every day.

To all of our midwives, thank you for the difference you make to women, babies and families.

05/05/2026

✨INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE MIDWIFE ✨

On International Day of the Midwife, Claire Harris, Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery, Northern Sydney Local Health District, shares a message in recognition of midwives across our community.

This year’s theme, One Million More Midwives, highlights the global need to grow and support the midwifery workforce.

To all midwives across our district, thank you. Your care, skill and compassion support women, babies and families every day, and make a lasting difference.

Watch the video below to hear Claire’s message.