Recent News

Lakeside Private Hospital is delighted to announce that A/Prof Elisabeth Elder was recently appointed President of The Australasian Society for Breast Disease (ASBD)

Her appointment adds to an already impressive resume. A/Prof Elder is Chair of the oncoplastic committee of the Breast Surgeons of Australia & NZ, clinical lead for the Australian Breast Device Registry, a Council Member of Breast Surgeons International and heads research at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute.

The Australasian Society for Breast Disease (ASBD)…

… understanding and cooperating in the prevention, detection, diagnosis and management of breast disease.

Established in 1997, the Australasian Society for Breast Disease (ASBD) was formed to provide a multidisciplinary forum for discussion on the prevention, detection, diagnosis and management of breast disease and research into this area of medicine. It’s founding was based on the concept that a multidisciplinary approach to breast disease provides the best outcome for patients.

The ASBD now participates and collaborates extensively in international activities relevant to improving the management of breast disease. Not only does the ASBD include surgeons, oncologists, radiation specialists and breast physicians who deal with breast disease, but in 2016 membership was broadened to include nursing staff and allied health professionals with a primary focus on improving the holistic management of breast cancer and other breast disease.

“I look forward to continuing the excellent work ASBD has achieved over the years,” explained A/Prof Elder. “Our aim has always been to bring together individuals throughout Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Rim countries with the purpose of promoting better knowledge of biology, medicine and human sciences related to the breast. As we continue to achieve this, we are determined to advance multidisciplinary understanding and cooperation in the prevention, detection, diagnosis and management of breast disease.”

Measuring outcomes that matter to patients

In her role as President, A/Prof Elder will focus on a number of the key issues that she believes crucial to managing breast disease. The main aim of ASBD is to provide high quality education and a forum for multidisciplinary discussion. Her primary focus is on the promotion and refinement of oncoplastic surgery to achieve improved and measureable patient-level outcomes. “With the great improvements that have been made to patient survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer, it has become even more important that women of all ages are given the opportunity that oncoplastic surgery can often provide; tohave removal of their breast cancerand to have breasts after surgery that allow them to retain their body-image and sense of femininity. So many women expect that will be lost, but in many cases, refinements to cancer surgery are allowing us to offer them these options, “ said A/Prof Elder.

Another issue for which she has a particular passion is value-based health care and the introduction of electronic health records.“Value based health care is a concept of restructuring care delivery around outcomes and promoting superior outcomes with financial incentives,” she explains. “In an ideal world, this will lead to improved quality, curb inefficiencies and lower costs. The patient’s experience is set in relation to the cost of delivering those outcomes. However, one of the critical missing pieces in many current health care systems is reliable and validated outcome measurements. With the introduction of electronic health records we gather more data than ever before, but little attention has been given to measuring and analysing outcomes that really matter to patients.”

Another of A/Prof Elder’s tasks will be preparing for ASBD’s 12th Scientific Meeting which will be held from 10th to 12th October 2019 at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The theme of the conference is “Precision, Innovation and the Future”. You can visit the conference website at www.asbd2019.com