Dr. Anthony McCartney
Anthony John McCartney
Prof Anthony John McCartney (Right) at AMA-Awards with Dr Tim Keenan (Left)
“In the early 90’s, Dr. Anthony McCartney, a practicing Gynecologist, invented a tubular device that would revolutionise delicate surgery in his field. The main motivation being the simplification of laparoscopic techniques, and the enhancement of recovery from invasive surgery…”
MBBS(UWA), Fellow Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists(UK), Fellow Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Certified Gynaecologic Oncologist.
Gynaecologic Cancer Surgeon, Head Western Australian Gynaecologic Cancer Service at King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women (KEMH) and St.John of God Hospital Subiaco. Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Notre Dame, Australia.
Dr McCartney was the first trained gynaecologic cancer surgeon in Western Australia, and with Dr Victor White set up the first dedicated gynaecologic cancer service for women in Western Australia at KEMH on his return from training in New York in 1976. He was the first to introduce major tumour reductive surgery in the management of advanced ovarian cancer. He also fostered the introduction of multidisciplinary clinics with Radiation and Medical Oncologists, as well as weekly collaborative Radiology and Pathology based Tumour Board Meetings in the management of women with gynaecologic cancers.
On the service, Dr McCartney was later joined by Dr Ian Hammond and then by Dr Yee Leung, both former trainees as gynaecologic oncologists. As well as teaching medical students, Dr McCartney has spent countless hours teaching Residents and Registrars gynaecologic surgery. In 1989 a training program in Gynaecologic Cancer Surgery was established at KEMH and St. John of God Hospital in Subiaco where trainees from the UK, Europe and throughout Australia are trained each year, now in conjunction with the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
From the early 1990’s, Dr McCartney began a pioneering interest in Laparoscopic Surgery and its application to the management of gynaecologic cancer. He published extensively on new techniques and presented both nationally and internationally on the results, which show reduced pain and other complications, as well as reduced hospital stay and early return to normal activity when compared to traditional open surgery. The techniques are now widely and increasingly practiced throughout Australia and internationally.
Dr McCartney retired from King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women at the end of 2007 after thirty one years of service. However, he continues to practice Gynaecologic Cancer Surgery as Head of Gynaecologic Oncology at the new cancer centre at St. John of God Hospital Subiaco. In 2007 he was appointed to the post of inaugural Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Notre Dame University, and in 2008 he was the recipient of a Hippocratic Award, given by the Western Australian Branch of the AMA, for services in gynaecologic cancer surgery to the women of Western Australia. He also received a special award from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for Services to Gynaecology and Treatment of Cancer in Women.
Professor Tony McCartney passed away on the 22nd October 2011.
Professional experience
- Gynaecologic Oncologist, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, 1976 to 2007
- Head of Western Australian Gynaecologic Cancer Service, 1990 to 2007.
- Gynaecologic Oncologist, St.John of God Hospital, Subiaco, 1978- present, Head of Gynaecologic Oncology.