Biography

Alexandra (who prefers to be called Sandie) is jointly-appointed as Professor of Clinical Nursing, University of Queensland and Mater Health Services. She has practised extensively in acute cancer care, including chemotherapy administration, in rural and metropolitan settings. Her PhD investigated sociocultural issues related to breast cancer and while she mostly now undertakes intervention research, she maintains an interest in the sociological as well as clinical aspects of cancer care. Sandie’s current funded research has two streams. The first stream focuses upon issues related to the long term outcomes of cancer treatments, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The second stream concentrates on collaborative interventions to assess and manage the toxicities of acute cancer treatments.

Current research

Sandie's research program focuses on the prevention, assessment and management of the short and long-term toxicities of cancer therapy, particularly chemotherapy. She has a particular interest in women's wellness during and after breast cancer therapy and is currently Co-Director of the Women's Wellness after Cancer Program based in the Menzies Institute of Health, Queensland. Her other research field interest is geriatric oncology. In both fields she investigates a range of multimodal interventions (diet, exercise, sleep and stress management) to enhance cancer patient outcomes.

Teaching

Sandie lectures in all content areas related to cancer care.

Postgraduate supervision

Sandie supervises students from nursing, medicine, dietetics and exercise science with a focus on cancer patient outcomes.

Areas of expertise:

  • Cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Wellness promotion during and after cancer
  • Geriatric oncology

Committees/Professional groups/Services

  • Associate Editor, European Journal of Oncology Nursing
  • Executive Committee Member, Exercise Oncology Group, Clinical Oncology Society of Australia

Researcher biography

Alexandra is jointly-appointed as Professor of Clinical Nursing, University of Queensland and Mater Health Services. She has practised extensively in acute cancer care, including chemotherapy administration, in rural and metropolitan settings. Her PhD investigated sociocultural issues related to breast cancer and while she mostly now undertakes intervention research, she maintains an interest in the sociological as well as clinical aspects of cancer care. Sandie's current funded research has two streams. The first stream focuses upon issues related to the long term outcomes of cancer treatments, using mixed methods. The second stream concentrates on collaborative interventions to assess and manage the toxicities of acute cancer treatments.