Dr Louise Hanna elected as Medical Director for Education and Training, Clinical Oncology
We’re pleased to announce that Dr Louise Hanna has been elected as incoming Medical Director for Education and Training, Clinical Oncology (MDETCO). Dr Hanna will officially start from 1 September 2023, when she will take over from the current MDETCO, Dr Rachel Cooper.
Dr Hanna’s goal during her three-year term until 2026 will be to grow and support our non-surgical cancer workforce in innovative ways, ensuring the high-quality standards we have are sustained. She will lead on and take responsibility for all aspects of specialty training work and related matters of the Faculty, including FRCR examinations and delivering the curriculum.
Dr Hanna is a consultant in gynaecological clinical oncology at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. She completed her medical training at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford.
Dr Hanna said: “I’m honoured to be taking on the role of Medical Director for Education and Training, Clinical Oncology. The future of our patients’ care within clinical oncology lies with our doctors in training, their trainers and all those within their training schemes. The last three years have been extraordinary and as a practicing clinician and trainer, I’m aware of the current challenges that we face together.
“I’m looking forward to working with our Fellows and members, and the RCR leadership team to support clinical oncology education and training. My current priorities include recruitment and retention, rolling out the new part 2B examination format, the implementation of the new curriculum and supporting fairer outcomes.”
Dr Hanna trained in clinical oncology at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff and became a consultant in 2001. She has been involved with the RCR in education and training since first being appointed as the trainee representative for Wales.
Dr Hanna is a member of the CO Specialty Training Board and has worked on the RCR Curriculum Committee, as clinical lead for quality, and more recently alongside Dr Karen Tipples as the clinical lead for clinical oncology National Recruitment. Dr Hanna has experience as Associate Dean (Quality) within Health Education and Improvement Wales and as Assistant Medical Director for Education and Training in Velindre University NHS Trust. She was also the lead editor for the textbook Practical Clinical Oncology (Cambridge University Press).
Dr Tom Roques, Vice-President, Clinical Oncology, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Louise to the RCR Officer team. She brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the role and will be a great leader for the oncologists of the future."