Prof McLean honoured with prestigious award

Estimated to have looked at close to a million slides over her decades-long career, Catriona has been our Director of Anatomical Pathology since 2005, where she undertakes a pathology load including brain tumour and epilepsy biopsies. 

It's Catriona's enduring dedication to neuropathology that this award recognises, a speciality that studies diseases of the nervous system. In this work she provides diagnoses for brain tumours, epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, muscular dystrophies and myopathies, to name a few.

“This is a complex area of pathology requiring years of experience and constant attention to and application of new diagnostic developments. Needless to say, an accurate diagnosis aids all aspects of patient care and management,” said Catriona.

There are currently no paid neuropathology positions in Victoria meaning Catriona conducts this work voluntarily. Unable to ignore its importance, she has continued to study and hone her now unique knowledge to offer accurate diagnoses to her colleagues and patients.

“Many of these diseases are common and some remain incurable, and without associated research with accurate diagnoses progress will be limited."

In addition to her role at Alfred Health, Catriona is the pathologist to the Victorian Melanoma Unit, Director of the Victorian Brain Bank at the Florey, Director of the Victorian Neuromuscular Services, honorary neuropathologist for the ANZ CLD registry, and works with countless organisations, universities and international institutions. 

She has published over 500 papers and is widely cited all over the world, placing her in the top two percent on international rankings.

“I hope more than anything that I have helped patients and their families and inspired other doctors and scientists to continue this important work and lobby for state support.”

Congratulations, Catriona, on this achievement and decades of brilliant work.