Gail O'Brien AO

Short Black with Sandra Sully

Gail O’Brien AO has been a health professional for 40 years. Originally trained as a physiotherapist, she is now executive director of the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse centre in Sydney where she also works as a patient advocate.

Gail’s husband, renowned head and neck surgeon Chris O’Brien, had a dream of opening Australia’s first fully-integrated and comprehensive cancer centre. Gail played an integral part in realising his vision after his death from brain cancer in 2009, and last year Chris O’Brien Lifehouse celebrated its 10th anniversary.

In a frank and honest conversation, Gail discusses her work carrying on Chris’ legacy, and providing advocacy in a hospital setting while dealing with her own grief and loss, not only of Chris but also her son Adam, who tragically died in his sleep less than two years later.

You can find out more about Gail here - https://www.gailobrien.com.au/and about Chris O’Brien Lifehouse here - https://www.mylifehouse.org.au/

This episode of Short Black is dedicated to Virginia (Ginny) Bellman, who sadly lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2023.

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