The VCCC Alliance Board is delighted to announce that Associate Professor David Kok BMedSci, MBBS, GradCertLing, MEd, FRANZCR, has been appointed as the new Chair of the VCCC Alliance Cancer Education and Training Advisory Committee (CETAC).
Excellence in cancer education is a foundational pillar of the VCCC Alliance’s work and a key enabler of world-class patient outcomes that the VCCC Alliance fosters. In this role, Associate Professor Kok will lead one of the four committees appointed by the VCCC Alliance Board – overseeing a comprehensive education and training strategy that supports a highly skilled clinical, research and education workforce.
Professor Grant McArthur, Executive Director of the VCCC Alliance, said Associate Professor Kok’s professional achievements and deep passion for education make him an exceptional appointee.
“David has already contributed significantly to the VCCC Alliance through multiple roles including co-convenor of the highly successful Master of Cancer Sciences and Co-chair of the Digital Oncology Learning Hub program,” he said.
“He is highly motivated, and a dynamic and creative educator with a strong future vision. I’m extremely excited to welcome him to this role, and I look forward to working with him as he guides us to even greater success in our educational programming.”
Associate Professor Kok, who is Campus Director and Head of Radiation Oncology Service at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Monash Campus and Associate Director of Radiation Oncology (Education) at Peter Mac Parkville, says he wants to deliver cutting-edge educational programs of a standard that does not currently exist in the healthcare sector.
“The collaborative nature of the VCCC Alliance means it is uniquely positioned to deliver world-class educational programs by bringing together the already internationally-renowned expertise of the ten partners. It also enables an innovative education agenda that will provide unparalleled experiences for learners while simultaneously ensuring the knowledge can be shared broadly and equitably," he said.
"This is game-changing and why the VCCC Alliance has so rapidly impacted cancer education in this state. I’m really excited about what more we can do.”
Associate Professor Kok takes the reins from Associate Professor Kylie Mason, who recently completed her four-year tenure. Professor Mason oversaw an extraordinary period of growth for the VCCC Alliance’s education offering, which – despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic – delivered an ambitious program of work and went above and beyond to achieve new levels of attendance and participation.
“We are greatly indebted to Kylie for her exceptional contributions during her tenure as Chair. She has established strong foundations for future growth,” said Professor Linda Kristjanson AO, Chair of the VCCC Alliance. “As Chair of CETAC from June 2018 to June 2022, she led the committee with assurance and collegiality, working closely with our Head of Education, Michelle Barrett, to cement the alliance as a clear leader in cancer education in Victoria and beyond.”
Find out more about the VCCC Alliance Education and Training program.