The Alfred Foundation

It was a Monday morning when The Alfred’s mobile Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) team received the call. A man had collapsed at a gym in Melbourne. No pulse. No heartbeat. No time to get him to hospital. The mobile ECPR team grabbed the portable Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) heart-lung machine, boarded the response vehicle and raced across the city, bringing this lifesaving procedure direct to Hugh. Today, Hugh is home. Sharing moments with wife Meridee that she feared she had lost forever. Read Hugh's story: https://lnkd.in/gm2wDrfp

Victorian cancer patients will soon have access to one of the most advanced imaging technologies available globally, with The Alfred becoming the first public hospital in the state to install a total-body Quadra PET scanner – the fastest and most precise of its kind. The scanner, which is housed in the Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre’s soon-to-be-opened Theranostics Service, will transform outcomes for patients across Victoria, said Prof Mark Shackleton (pictured), Director Oncology at The Alfred.

We were rapt to be joined by some of our wonderful supporters at this year's annual Alfred Health Nurses Lunch at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. Jenni, Anthony and Andrew (centre from left) are all passionate about supporting our Alfred Health nursing workforce while also being dedicated to the future of the hospital by remembering The Alfred with a gift in Will. To find out more about supporting The Alfred with a gift in your Will or to talk about ways to support our nurses, please contact Sue or Feygl on (03) 9076 3222.

One of our leaders in the Skin Bioengineering Laboratory, within the Victorian Adult Burns Service (VABS) at The Alfred, got a firsthand glimpse of what firefighters experience recently. Associate Professor Shiva Akbarzadeh attended the Immersion Program at the Fire Rescue Victoria Academy with other guests. The invitation to take part was a huge honour for The Alfred team - an extension of the wonderful partnership between VABS and the Fire Fighters Charity Fund, whose extraordinary support has helped expand the manufacturing capacities at The Alfred. For all partnership inquiries, please phone The Alfred Foundation philanthropy team on 9076 3222.

More than $3000 was raised for the Burns Unit at The Alfred thanks to the efforts of Natimuk and District Field & Game Club and CFA (Country Fire Authority) District 17 at its annual clay pigeon event. Coordinator Dale Russell, a life member of both groups, recently toured the burns unit with Dr Tam Quinn (pictured), said it was an “honour” to visit. “It highlighted to me the dedication and wonderful care that The Alfred provides to our community,” he said. Mr Russell said he was “blown away” by the donations, which were much higher than in the past. The event has been running since 2001 and is closing in on a total of $30,000 over its lifetime.

More than $250,000 has been raised for the Alfred Health Nurses Fund through the annual Alfred Health Nurses Lunch. Over 200 guests gathered at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club to celebrate and support our the Alfred Health nursing workforce. Our sincere thanks to all sponsors, donors and supporters whose contributions enable our nurses to excel. The Alfred Health Nurses Fund was launched in September 2024 to provide scholarships for nurses across clinical practice, research, informatics, education, and management. To support the fund, please visit https://lnkd.in/gEXHt69d

Our latest Impossible newsletter, showcasing some of the most exciting developments that are coming through The Alfred Foundation, is out now! Highlights in this edition include an in-depth look at how bioengineered skin is potentially altering treatment of patients with complex major burns, and how arguably the most convenient radiotherapy treatment option in the world is now available to some prostate cancer patients in Gippsland. We also have an update on the ongoing developments of the silicosis trial - a world-first trial which is aiming to halt progression of the deadly lung disease. All of these advancements are only possible thanks to the support of donors and support from the wider community. You can read and download Impossible here: https://lnkd.in/eCURJskk

There were smiling faces aplenty at the Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre this week as patients received a heartwarming boost from the community. As part of a fundraising and awareness-raising campaign at Overnewton Anglican Community College in Keilor, senior school students handwrote messages on hundreds of daffodils, as seen in the photos. These were then presented to patients as they attended the centre for treatment and classes. Minderoo Foundation Wellness Centre Manager Nicole Jackson said participants “loved the surprise flower messages”. Thank you to everyone involved for this initiative! Pictured are Cancer Specialist Nurses with some of the messages in the PFMCC, members of the Mind Body Program with the flowers, and some of the messages written by senior students.

Congratulations to a long-term Alfred supporter, Bruce Davey, as he recently celebrated his 100th birthday! The Alfred Foundation staff visited Bruce for the special occasion, who was pleased to share his congratulatory letters from country and world leaders and to enjoy birthday cake with the team. Inspired by the wonderful work of The Alfred, and having been a patient on more than one occasion, Bruce has been inspired to leave a gift in his Will to The Alfred. If you also would like to find out more about supporting The Alfred with a gift in your Will, please contact the Gifts in Wills team at The Alfred on (03) 9079 3222.

Confronting and engaging, hundreds of Victorian teenagers and young adults (aged 16 to 25) are gaining great insight into the consequences of risk-taking behaviour from a program at The Alfred. The P.A.R.T.Y (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth) ON Program has been running since 2009 and supported by The Highland Foundation since early 2023. In the past 2.5 years, about 700 people have attended the program, including about 80 at the most recent event in August. Oscar Mugerwa was one of the presenters last month, having a great impact on the audience. The uni student and basketballer speaks about his decision to drive home after drinking - only to wake up in hospital with multiple severe injuries to his lower body. His speech was described as "very powerful" and "moving", while people also heard from experienced Alfred Health clinicians, walk-through tours and interactive demonstrations. For information or to book tickets to attend the next event on December 2, visit https://lnkd.in/eh7j_MG2