IN A deeply moving gesture recognising decades of service and innovation in cancer treatment, the GenesisCare Cancer Centre in Hervey Bay has officially been named in honour of Professor Bryan Burmeister, one of Australia’s most respected figures in radiation oncology.
Professor Burmeister, who retired recently after a distinguished career spanning continents and countless clinical trials, was informed of the honour during a retirement celebration several months ago.
The announcement was made by Dr. Marie Burke, GenesisCare's Medical Director for Queensland.
‘I was completely surprised,’ Professor Burmeister said of the naming. ‘It was incredibly humbling and deeply meaningful’.
Originally trained in South Africa, Professor Burmeister transitioned into radiation oncology after initially showing an interest in surgery.
Drawn by the scientific and technological aspects of radiation medicine, he began specialising in oncology in 1981.
Since then, he has played a key role in pioneering cancer treatments, advancing clinical trials, and delivering care that has saved or extended the lives of thousands of patients.
‘When I started training, the survival rate for major cancers was around 40%,’ he said. ‘Now, it’s flipped and more than 60% of patients survive.
That progress has been extraordinary, and it keeps getting better’.
A staunch advocate for clinical research, Professor Burmeister has contributed to numerous trials, some successful, some not, but all vital to the evolution of cancer care.
He has lectured and presented his work across the globe, having spoken on six continents.
Professor Burmeister has been actively involved in academic and research leadership throughout his career.
Since 1997, he has served on the staff of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Queensland, where he has been dedicated to teaching and supervising research.
He has been an investigator on more than 25 clinical research projects, authored over 150 peer-reviewed journal papers, and presented more than 30 proffered papers at scientific and medical conferences.
His significant contribution to the professional community includes holding high-profile roles such as President of the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group from 2007 to 2012, Deputy Chair of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee of the Cancer Council Queensland from 2008 to 2015, Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Melanoma Trials Group from 2014 to 2017 and Deputy Chair of the Wide Bay Hospital and health Service Board from 2017 to 2021.
He has also served on numerous grant review panels and is a frequent manuscript reviewer for major oncology journals.
Throughout his career, Professor Burmeister has emphasised the importance of optimism and compassion in oncology.
‘You have many failures, people who don’t survive,’ he said. ‘But then you have the spectacular successes, patients written off by others, who respond and go on to live amazing lives. Those moments keep you going’.
He also reflected on the future of cancer treatment, highlighting the transformative potential of AI and immunotherapy.
‘AI is revolutionising how we predict radiation doses and personalise treatment. And immunotherapy, particularly when combined with radiation, is unlocking powerful new ways for the body to fight cancer itself’.
Although officially retired, Professor Burmeister still contributes to the field through locum work in both Hervey Bay and Bundaberg. He continues to support the Fraser Coast region through his association with GenesisCare Fraser Coast and the Hervey Bay Hospital. He now splits his time between his home near Maryborough and a love for fishing, gardening, and restoring old furniture.
A lifelong learner and self-confessed curious mind, he laughs as he recalls being fascinated by ants as a child, breaking open nests to study how they lived.
‘Curiosity has always driven me,’ he said.
‘I still spend time googling things I come across, when I’m sitting in waiting rooms’.
The naming of the GenesisCare Cancer Centre after Professor Burmeister is not only a tribute to his lifetime of achievements but a reminder of the impact one dedicated individual can have on a community, a profession, and patients around the world.
