In this latest update, we are excited to spotlight Lisa Turner and Lorna Beattie. Lisa and Lorna have collectively been managing the Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgery clinical trials for almost 20 years. They both have a nursing background in Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgery including intensive care and post operative management. In the early years they did not expect research to be their area of interest however, with time, they have become incredible advocates for research and thoroughly enjoy their work.
The Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgery departments participate in a combination of local, national and international clinical trials, including device and drug trials, databases and tissue biobanks which cover a range of surgical techniques.
They also participate in providing data to national governing bodies, for example ANZSCTS (Australia and New Zealand Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons). They perform regular audits to ensure adherence to predetermined unit KPI’s and to ensure patient outcome deviations are detected and addressed.
Their collaborative efforts extend beyond the unit, fostering close ties with institutions such as The Baird Institute, The University of Sydney, The Charles Perkins Centre, the Heart Research Institute, and numerous others within the Sydney Local Health District and nationally.
Lisa and Lorna state that their jobs “are the glue that pull all of these many facets of research into a well-oiled research unit comprising of two very intricate surgical departments”. They are also well-regarded senior nurses offering support and education to the multidisciplinary teams.
You will find a comprehensive list of the current Cardiothoracic and Vascular clinical trials that Lisa and Lorna manage here on our Clinical Trials information section of the website.
