In 2011 he was appointed to the Order of Australia for service to medical oncology as a clinician, researcher, administrator and mentor, and to the community through leadership roles with cancer control organisations.[7]
His main research interests are new anticancer drug studies, symptom control, bio-ethics and psycho-oncology.[8] He has authored more than 200 journal articles, 19 book chapters and two books as well as co-editing two books.[9]
After finishing his medical oncology training Olver worked for six years at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute where he jointly developed the oncology clinic at Bendigo Base Hospital.[14]
He moved to Adelaide in 1991 as Director of Medical Oncology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he worked to establish a comprehensive multi-disciplinary cancer centre, becoming the Clinical Director in 1993.[16] In 2001, he became the first Cancer Council SA Professor of Cancer Care at the University of Adelaide where he is currently an adjunct professor in the Department of Medicine.[17]
While in Adelaide he initiated a number of programs to improve cancer care in rural and remote areas and for Indigenous people. He established the first medical oncology clinic in Alice Springs and pioneered a telemedicine link for multidisciplinary cancer care between Adelaide and Darwin[18] which provided benefits for both local patients and clinicians.[19] He has also led research into culturally appropriate approaches to the treatment and care of Indigenous Australians diagnosed with cancer.[20]
Ian Olver was elected chair of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia from 2004 to 2006.[21]
In addition to these positions he was chair of the board of directors of the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre[23] and serves on a number of advisory committees including the advisory board of Cancer Australia,[24] and the Health Ethics and Prevention and Community Health Committees of the National Health and Medical Research Council.[25][26]
Olver also supports cancer care in India through his association with the Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore, through the Australian Friends of Vellore group.[27] He trained the first medical oncologist for the hospital and is president of the Australian Friends of Vellore.[28]
He is also interested in spiritual matters and has a Certificate of Ministry (Lay Preaching) from the Adelaide College of Divinity.[29]
Honours and recognition
2011: Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to medical oncology as a clinician, researcher, administrator and mentor, and to the community through leadership roles with cancer control organisations[30][31]
2008: Received the Cancer Achievement Award from the Medical Oncology Group of Australia which is awarded a scientist, clinician or health care professional that has made an outstanding contribution to the control of cancer in Australia.[32]
Authorship
Conquering Cancer: Your Guide to Treatment and Research.(1998)[33]
^"Ian Olver". The University of Adelaide. 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
^Olver, I N; S Selva-Nayagam (2000). "Evaluation of a telemedicine link between Darwin and Adelaide to facilitate cancer management". Telemed J. 6 (2): 213–8. doi:10.1089/107830200415144. PMID10957733.
^Olver, I N; Selva-Nayagam S; Fried O; Davy M; Barton MB (2005). ". "Some of us know some things and some of us know others" – Reducing the impact of cancer care on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities". Cancer Forum. 29 (1): 10–13.
^Robotin, Monica (6 January 2010). Monica Robotin; Ian N. Olver; Afaf Girgis (eds.). When Cancer Crosses Disciplines: A Physician's Handbook. Imperial College Press.
^Olver, Ian (2010). Ian Olver (ed.). The MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship (1 ed.). Springer. ISBN978-1-4419-1224-4.
