“If you have a dream, you will get there. It takes hard work and commitment. Find your inspiration and go for it,” was the reply when we asked Cheryl-Ann Hawkins what advice she would give to current Emmanuel students.
Cheryl-Ann is no stranger to hard work herself. Omnia Vincit Labor - a Latin phrase meaning “Work conquers all” - was the motto of St Ann’s College. After leaving St Ann’s Cheryl-Ann went on to study nursing at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital. “I wasn’t particularly academic at school. It wasn’t until I went to Uni that I really became aware of my capabilities,” said Cheryl-Ann.
After developing an interest in oncology (the study of cancer) Cheryl–Ann completed further study at La Trobe University (Post Graduate Diploma, Advanced Nursing - Oncology/Palliative Care 1996). She went on to study a Master degree in Health Services Management (La Trobe University) and Oncology Research at the University of Melbourne (Graduate Certificate, Oncology Research 2012).
Cheryl-Ann has now worked in the oncology field for 25 years and is currently the Monash Health Operations Manager for oncology clinical trials. Negotiating with large pharmaceutical organisations, budgets, managing staff and managing the program for new drug trial testing in humans, are a large part of her role. “The trials that are being completed at Monash are at the forefront of world-wide cancer research - we’ve had some amazing breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer over the past 5 years, particularly in immunotherapy”. Cheryl-Ann highlights recent efforts of a trial whereby patients receive oncolytic immunotherapies that harness the power of specific viruses to preferentially infect and kill cancer cells. “A lot of patients come in with a lot of hope. It’s easy to find patients who have no treatment options or who are looking for new treatment options to treat their cancer”.
Cheryl-Ann also is a lecturer with Monash Partners/Monash University educating and certifying medical staff, scientists and health care workers who work or aspire to work in clinical research involving humans. She is also the Australian Ambassador for the Society of Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) - a global organisation leading the way to improve the efficacy of clinical trials at site level.
Staying in touch with St Ann’s friends is a given for Cheryl-Ann, “I think because it was an all-girls school we were especially close. There are ten of us who always catch up each year for a girl’s weekend away. Also at my daughter’s primary school in Sandringham, there were seven of us who went to St Ann’s, so I do see ex-St Ann’s students regularly.”
