Kim Alexander, Exercise and Cancer Group Exec
Kim Alexander is the Nursing Rep on COSA’s Exercise and Cancer Group Executive. Kim is a Professor of Cancer Nursing at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Cancer Care Services at Metro North Health, Queensland Health. She leads the Cancer Survivorship Program at QUT’s Cancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre and is the Co-Chair of the Queensland Collaborative for Cancer Survivorship.
Kim first joined COSA in 2011 and is a self-described itinerant member. She said, “I have belonged to a number of organisations, such as the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA), Human Genetics Society of Australasia, Australian Epidemiological Association to name a few, but COSA is the only one that’s multidisciplinary with a focus on clinical translation in oncology.”
“Different perspectives are important in oncology, I try not to be siloed,” Kim said. “I like the multidisciplinary presence at COSA’s [scientific meetings] and I am interested in many of the COSA Groups. I like to position myself and my research in a transdisciplinary state.”
Kim oversees the oncology nursing curriculum at QUT, and she is currently working on a supportive care project with exercise physiologists at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. “From a holistic care perspective exercise in cancer care is something we could do better. We have been having a lot of discussions around the practicalities of the ‘when’, ‘where’ and ‘how’ of implementing exercise in evidence-based care.”
"... We have been having a lot of discussions around the practicalities of the ‘when’, ‘where’ and ‘how’ of implementing exercise in evidence-based care.”
Kim is a past-President of the CNSA and has been on the CNSA Board for a number of years and previously Chaired their Research Committee. “Volunteering for our professional bodies is a great way to keep connected with the diversity of clinical and research activity occurring across Australia,” she said.
“I am now keen to be more active in COSA. I have a background in cancer epidemiology, and in cancer nursing, and I am particularly interested in using genetics to predict the symptoms and side-effects of cancer treatment.”
“You’ll find I get most animated when talking about the interface of bench science and real-world application for people affected by cancer.”
Kim has two very young children, so she doesn’t have a lot of free time. But when she can she enjoys running and board games. Favourite games include Agricola, a farming game, and Wiz-War which involves casting spells to beat your opponents.
