This week it was the turn of Dr. Helen Kavnoudias to tell us a little about herself and her vocation. 
Our photo shows her relaxing with President Ian before her talk.
She grew up in Collingwood and Dandenong, the daughter of Greek immigrants, and related stories of hardships that the family had endured in their native Lemnos, and of the relevance of Lemnos in the First World War. She paid tribute to her grandmother, who taught her independence and the work ethic, and to A.B. Facey’s “A Fortunate Life” which she found to be inspirational. As an aside, she mentioned her family’s restaurant “Pastroudis” in Alexandria, which was famous for its cakes and sweets.
She originally had a Medical Science Degree, and her life was changed in 1983 when she became a Rotary Foundation Scholar at St Andrews University to undertake a PhD on myeloid leukaemia.
She also met her husband Dimitrios, who was a student there. Interaction with other post-graduate students and staff broadened her horizons and stimulated her interests. She spoke highly of the support she received from Rotary and the families involved.
Helen has worked at the Alfred Hospital for 16 years, and is currently Director of the Radiology Research Unit, where radiological treatment of malignant tumors is undertaken. Ablative therapy is used to kill off malignant cells in the pancreas and prostate, in cases unsuitable for surgery, using voltages up to 2,000 volts. Placement of the electrodes is critical, so that surrounding tissue is not damaged. Results are gradually improving as the technology slowly advances.
She fielded some technological questions from the floor, and rounded of her talk by treating us each to a Greek Baklava, to complement our coffee.
Thanks Helen for your enlightening exposé: we all feel we now know you a bit better. And how gratifying it is for us to see the positive results of Rotary Foundation Scholarships!
Dr Helen Kavnoudias •Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 1986–1989 Dept of Biology and Medical Sciences University of St Andrews, Scotland •Bachelor of Medical Science 1979–1982 Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology/University of Melbourne
Our photo shows her relaxing with President Ian before her talk.She grew up in Collingwood and Dandenong, the daughter of Greek immigrants, and related stories of hardships that the family had endured in their native Lemnos, and of the relevance of Lemnos in the First World War. She paid tribute to her grandmother, who taught her independence and the work ethic, and to A.B. Facey’s “A Fortunate Life” which she found to be inspirational. As an aside, she mentioned her family’s restaurant “Pastroudis” in Alexandria, which was famous for its cakes and sweets.
She originally had a Medical Science Degree, and her life was changed in 1983 when she became a Rotary Foundation Scholar at St Andrews University to undertake a PhD on myeloid leukaemia.
She also met her husband Dimitrios, who was a student there. Interaction with other post-graduate students and staff broadened her horizons and stimulated her interests. She spoke highly of the support she received from Rotary and the families involved.
Helen has worked at the Alfred Hospital for 16 years, and is currently Director of the Radiology Research Unit, where radiological treatment of malignant tumors is undertaken. Ablative therapy is used to kill off malignant cells in the pancreas and prostate, in cases unsuitable for surgery, using voltages up to 2,000 volts. Placement of the electrodes is critical, so that surrounding tissue is not damaged. Results are gradually improving as the technology slowly advances. She fielded some technological questions from the floor, and rounded of her talk by treating us each to a Greek Baklava, to complement our coffee.
Thanks Helen for your enlightening exposé: we all feel we now know you a bit better. And how gratifying it is for us to see the positive results of Rotary Foundation Scholarships!
Dr Helen Kavnoudias •Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 1986–1989 Dept of Biology and Medical Sciences University of St Andrews, Scotland •Bachelor of Medical Science 1979–1982 Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology/University of Melbourne