Jane Skeen
{{Short description|New Zealand cancer researcher}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Jane Skeen
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=100%}}
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| caption = Skeen in 2023
| birth_date = {{#statements:P569}}
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| death_date = {{#statements:P570}}
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| fields = Paediatric oncology
| workplaces = Starship Children's Hospital
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| alma_mater = University of Auckland
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Jane Elizabeth Skeen {{Post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM}} is a New Zealand paediatric oncologist who worked at Starship Blood and Cancer Centre at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland. In 2023, Skeen was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to children with cancer. She is an honorary life member of the Child Cancer Foundation, and a life member of the Australia and New Zealand Children's Haematology and Oncology Group.
Academic career
Skeen qualified in medicine at the University of Auckland, and specialised in paediatric oncology from 1979. She was appointed to a position as paediatric oncologist in 1981, and retired in 2022.
Skeen was the health professional representative on the Child Cancer Foundation Board for 33 years.{{Cite news |last=Mayron |first=Sapeer |date=31 Dec 2022 |title=New Year Honour for Dr Jane Skeen, the paediatric oncologist loved by hundreds of families |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130838142/new-year-honour-for-dr-jane-skeen-the-paediatric-oncologist-loved-by-hundreds-of-families |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}} During her career, child cancer survival rates increased such that research was needed into late effects of child cancer treatment.{{Cite news |last=Walsh|first=Rebecca|date=2024-09-26 |title=Child cancer success leaves problems |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/child-cancer-success-leaves-problems/IWQRBRUHQVJM6L3LQHRIZ6C3EU/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} Skeen was also involved in the establishment of child palliative care as a discipline, and taught in a teaching programme to improve paediatric palliative care.{{Cite web |last=Nealon |first=Kelly |date=2024-08-12 |title=New programme to improve end-of-life care for children |url=https://insidegovernment.co.nz/new-programme-to-improve-end-of-life-care-for-children/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Inside Government NZ |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Making living better for dying children - The University of Auckland |url=https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2024/08/08/making-living-better-for-dying-children.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.auckland.ac.nz}}{{Cite web |date=2022-04-19 |title=In appreciation of Dr Jane Skeen |url=https://childcancer.org.nz/news/dr-jane-skeen/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Child Cancer Foundation |language=en-nz}}
Skeen was Chair of the National Child Cancer Network Pacific Child Cancer working group, which was established in 2007 to try to address poor survival rates for child cancer in the region due to treatment availability. Skeen led annual visits of a team from Starship Hospital to Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu.{{Cite news |date=2017-05-29 |title=Child cancer initiatives seeing results in Pacific |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/331842/child-cancer-initiatives-seeing-results-in-pacific |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}{{Cite news |last=Fruean|first=Adel |title=New Zealand medical specialists review cancer cases |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/42260 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Samoa Observer |language=en}}
Honours and awards
In the 2023 New Year Honours, Skeen was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children with cancer.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-31 |title=New Year Honours List 2023 - Citations for Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/ny2023-mnzm |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.dpmc.govt.nz |language=en}}
In 2001 Skeen was awarded an Honorary Life Membership for the Child Cancer Foundation.
Skeen was awarded life membership of the Australia and New Zealand Children's Haematology and Oncology Group, for providing "exceptional oncology care" and for her "pioneering role in the development and achievements of the Pacific Working Group".{{Cite web |title=Membership - Australian & New Zealand Children's Haematology/Oncology Group |url=https://anzchog.org/about-us/membership/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=ANZCHOG}}
Selected works
{{scholia}}
- {{CiteQ|Q24337027}}
- {{CiteQ|Q38328550}}
- {{CiteQ|Q55951903}}
- {{CiteQ|Q36621758}}
- {{CiteQ|Q55262812|doi-access=free}}
- {{CiteQ|Q40489254}}
References
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Category:New Zealand oncologists
Category:University of Auckland alumni
Category:New Zealand paediatricians
Category:Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit