Speakers

Dr. Christodouleas is a radiation oncologist who specializes in the treatment of prostate and bladder cancers. His clinical interest is in the use of new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies and how these can be used to improve cancer cure rates and decrease side effects of treatments. He is a nationally recognized authority on the use of image-guided proton therapy and intensity modulated x-ray therapy.

Dr. Christodouleas has written extensively about ways to optimize cancer control and quality of life for patients with cancer and has published primary research, reviews, and editorials in a variety of journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, Cancer, and The International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. He has authored over 20 book chapters on the care of cancer patients and is co-editor of one of the leading textbooks in radiation oncology. He has served as the University of Pennsylvania’s Primary Investigator to the Proton Collaborative Group and as a reviewer for the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network, Clinical Cancer Research, The International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, and Practical Radiation Oncology.

Associate Professor Andrew Davidson is an academic neurosurgeon in Melbourne, Australia, specialising in the management of complex brain tumours and vascular malformations.

A/Prof Davidson is an Australian-trained neurosurgeon who has studied and worked in QLD, NSW, and VIC. He moved his practice to Melbourne in 2021, having previously worked at Macquarie Neurosurgery – Sydney’s leading academic neurosurgery group – for 13 years.

Dr Davidson works at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and Melbourne Private Hospital. He is the neurosurgical lead for the Victorian Gamma Knife Centre at Peter Mac.

A/Prof Davidson also has an appointment as Clinical Associate Professor in the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology at University of Melbourne and remains an Honorary Associate Professor at Macquarie University in Sydney.

Associate Professor Davidson also holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Australian Navy. LCDR Davidson has undertaken operation service in Bougainville and East Timor, and in 2021 completed a deployment to the Combined Joint Task Force – OIR Role 3 Hospital in the Middle East, where he was awarded the ADF Operational Service Medal.

Dr Neda Haghighi is an experienced radiation oncologist at Icon Cancer Centre Richmond and Icon Cancer Centre Holmesglen. She has superior knowledge in the management and treatment of brain and spinal tumours and has completed an extended fellowship in intracranial and extracranial stereotactic radiation therapy.

Dr Haghighi maintains a strong interest in clinical research relating to stereotactic treatment of CNS conditions and oligometastatic disease. She is the primary investigator; co-investigator and trial management committee member of several clinical trials in the field of CNS-related malignancies at Icon Cancer Centre and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

She is an active member of  Trans Tasmanian Radiation Oncology Group (TROG), Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology (COGNO) and International Society of Radiosurgery (ISRS) and is a committee member on several CNS-related interest groups. She has a special interest in radiosurgery for the treatment of benign base of skull conditions as well as functional neurological disorders. 

Dr Haghighi has published journal articles relating to stereotactic radiotherapy and has been an invited speaker at conferences and meetings relating to intracranial conditions and radiosurgery. She has written several of the departmental protocols relating to stereotactic radiation therapy treatment of benign and malignant conditions.