A/Prof Michael Penniment AM is an experienced, detail-oriented radiation oncologist who brings a compassionate, patient-centred approach to his practice. He is committed to ensuring rural and regional cancer patients receive access to the best possible cancer treatment.
Biography
A/Prof Michael Penniment AM is a senior radiation oncologist consulting at Icon Cancer Centre Windsor Gardens. In 1986 he completed his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the University of Adelaide and in 1995, became a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR). He completed specialist oncology training in Brisbane, Queensland prior to becoming a founder of the North Queensland Oncology service in Townsville.
In 1996 A/Prof Penniment returned to Adelaide as a consultant radiation oncologist and completed his MBA at the University of Adelaide, receiving the honour of mace-bearer as the highest candidate of the professions. With an active interest in the provision of radiation oncology services in rural and remote areas, he established Darwin’s Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre (AWCCC) in 2010 and remains as Director. In addition to his role at Icon and AWCCC, A/Prof Penniment is the Director of Radiation Oncology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Lyell McEwin Hospital.
Throughout his career, A/Prof Penniment has maintained an active interest in research, quality improvement and governance, holding key positions including Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee (2003-2010) and Faculty Board member (2006-2011) at the RANZCR. He is the current lead for the RANZCR Particle Therapy Group and member of several leading cancer trial groups including the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and Trans Tasman Oncology Group (TROG). In 2014 he was awarded the Best of ASTRO (USA) and Trial Excellence Award (TROG) for his work on a palliative oesophageal trial evaluating the efficacy of radiation therapy versus combined therapy treatment to decrease swallowing complications experienced by advanced oesophageal cancer patients.
A/Prof Penniment is the Director of the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and has been inducted on the Board of the Asia-Oceania Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG-AO). He is involved in a number of Australian and international research projects, with a focus on planning and developing new radiation therapy facilities and improving indigenous cancer care and quality of life during cancer treatment. His clinical experience covers a broad range of solid tumour malignancies, with a special interest in breast cancer, head and neck cancer, upper gastrointestinal cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancers.
In January 2021, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to medicine, and to radiation oncology.