The late Professor Christopher J. O’Brien, AO MB BS MS FRACS

Chris O’Brien graduated in medicine from the University of Sydney in 1976 and then completed his residency and surgical training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He decided to specialise in head and neck surgery and undertook clinical fellowships in that discipline in England and the USA, returning  to Australia in 1987 to join the staff of RPAH as a consultant head and neck surgeon. There he contributed to the expansion of the clinical service and also established a comprehensive head and neck database which is now the largest in Australasia and one of the largest in the world.

He also established a basic research program and an international  fellowship program under the umbrella of the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute which he founded in 2002.

Professor O’Brien had two postgraduate degrees from the University of Sydney – a Masters of Surgery for basic research in microvascular surgery and a Doctorate in Medicine for his work on the management of metastatic cancer in the neck.

He was the author of over one hundred scientific papers and 17 book chapters and he has been honoured with invitations to many countries and institutions as a visiting professor and guest lecturer, including invitations to give numerous prestigious named lectures including the Hayes Martin Lecture in Washington in 2004, the Eugene Myers International Lecture in Los Angeles 2005, the inaugural Jatin P Shah Lecture in Prague2006 and the Semon Lecture in London 2006. He was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in recognition of his contribution to the training of young British surgeons.

In 1998 he founded the Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Society was president in 2004. The Society continues to flourish and will hold its 12th Annual Scientific Meeting in 2010. The Society also offers The Chris O'Brien Travelling Fellowship.

He was also a member of the American Head and Neck Society and was the first non-American to be invited to join its Council.

In 2003 Professor O’Brien became Director of the Sydney Cancer Centre, based at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the University of Sydney, while maintaining all of his clinical, teaching and research responsibilities. Over recent years he developed a proposal to transform the Sydney Cancer Centre into a comprehensive cancer centre and that project is moving forward with great momentum.

Chris O’Brien was widely known to the people of Australia for his many appearances over the last 12 years on the reality TV program RPA and on Australia Day 2005 he was made a Member the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to medicine. He was a devoted husband and father with many interests including running, skiing, reading and playing guitar.

Unfortunately, in November 2006 he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour necessitating three operations, radiotherapy and months of chemotherapy. He stepped down from all of his clinical and administrative positions at the time of his diagnosis in order to concentrate on his recovery.

Professor O'Brien died at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Thursday June 4 2009, losing his three-year battle with brain cancer.

To make a donation to the Chris O'Brien Capital Appeal or leave a condolence message please visit http://www.lifehouserpa.org.au/index.aspx.

Professor O'Brien in the media

The fight of his life, SMH News Review
Click here to read an article published in The Sydney Morning Herald on 20 September 2008.

Mornings with Margaret Throsby, ABC Classic FM Radio
Click here to listen to Professor O'Brien's interview on 1 April 2008 with Margaret Throsby and to hear some of his favourite music.

Cancer survivor plans pioneering treatment centre: ABC Radio, The World Today
Click here to read a transcript of Professor O'Brien's interview on The World Today on 25 February 2008.

Living with cancer, a surgeon's story: The Australian
Click here to read an article published in The Australian newspaper on 25 February 2008 about Professor O'Brien.

Channel Ten, David & Kim
Click here to see a short video with Professor Chris O'Brien and Dr Charles Teo filmed in August 2007.

Never say die: Chris O'Brien's story: Channel Nine's 60 Minutes program
Click here to read about Professor O'Brien's interview on Channel Nine's 60 Minutes program in April 2007.