The ‘big reason’ behind a Royal Children’s Hospital legend’s fight to keep kids alive
One of the legends in the history of the Royal Children’s Hospital says living through the Holocaust as a child inspired him to fight to keep kids alive.
Professor Henry Ekert was born in Poland, and lived through the horrors of WWII as a young child.
He told Neil Mitchell the experience was “one of the big reasons” he followed the career path he did.
“During the war I was just a victim — I couldn’t fight back, I couldn’t do anything — but here was a scourge on children and I could do something about it,” he said.
Professor Ekert went on to become a paediatric haematology and oncology specialist, and director of the division of medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
He’s been part of an incredibly successful effort to drive down death rates among kids with cancer.
When he started working, the survival rate for childhood leukemia was about five per cent.
Now it’s between 90 and 95 per cent.
“I am very proud of that hospital I think it’s outstandingly good,” he said of the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Press PLAY below to hear Professor Ekert telling Neil Mitchell about his journey + what makes the Royal Children’s Hospital so special
Image (right): Royal Children’s Hospital