Appointing Peter Mac’s new Chief Medical Officer
02 October 2024
Medical Oncologist and Nuclear Medicine Physician Dr Dishan Herath has been selected as Peter Mac’s next Chief Medical Officer.
Dr Herath – or Dish, as he is known – will commence in the role from 28 October.
Chief Operating Officer and Acting Chief Executive Karen Fox said Dr Herath’s appointment followed an extensive and international search.
“Every day, Dish illustrates his commitment to Peter Mac’s values of Compassion, Excellence and Innovation," Ms Fox says.
"Over recent months, as Acting Executive Director, Digital Healthcare Innovation, he has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to get to the nub of an issue in order to resolve it.
“He is a widely respected and well-liked medical leader with strong credentials across many disciplines."
He was formerly Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) at Peter Mac and has been instrumental in the introduction and continual adaptation of the Epic Electronic Medical Record across Parkville Precinct health services.
Dr Herath’s clinical research experience includes site principal investigator responsibilities for Phase II and Phase III clinical trials and sub-investigator roles on Phase I, II and III clinical trials.
He has multiple publications in the fields of medical oncology, nuclear medicine and artificial intelligence, and is a Royal Australasian College of Physicians examiner.
Ms Fox also took the opportunity to thank Associate Professor Sonia Fullerton for stepping into the role of Acting Chief Medical Officer over a substantial length of time.
“We are all extremely grateful to Sonia for her great work, dedication and understanding throughout this time and we look forward to continuing to work with her as Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Palliative Care Physician,” Ms Fox said.
Dr Herath succeeds former Peter Mac Chief Medical Officer Dr David Speakman OAM, who served in the role from 2013 to 2023.