Rate My Professor Nick Zdenkowski

Dr Nick Zdenkowski is a Conjoint Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He earned a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Newcastle in 2005, a Graduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine in 2010, Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in 2012, a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Newcastle in 2014, and a PhD from the University of Sydney in 2014 on supporting decision-making for women with breast cancer. His early career included basic physician training at Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service (2008-2010) and advanced training in medical oncology at Calvary Mater Newcastle (2010-2013).

Dr Zdenkowski progressed to Clinical Research Fellow at Breast Cancer Trials (2013-2016), Conjoint Lecturer at the University of Newcastle (since 2015), and Clinical Research Fellow at Hunter New England Local Health District (since 2016), advancing to his current senior lecturer role. He maintains clinical practice as a medical oncologist at Maitland Private Hospital, Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, and The Breast and Endocrine Centre, Gateshead. He chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee and serves as Medical Adviser for Breast Cancer Trials, acts as principal investigator on several clinical trials, Australian coordinating investigator for the international PALLAS study, and sits on its international steering committee and the Hunter Cancer Research Alliance Implementation Flagship Steering Committee.

His research focuses on breast cancer, encompassing chemotherapy, clinical trials, decision-making, neoadjuvant systemic therapy, endocrine therapy, and supportive care. Key publications include 'Palbociclib with adjuvant endocrine therapy in early breast cancer (PALLAS): interim analysis of a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 study' in The Lancet Oncology (2021), 'A systematic review of decision aids for patients making a decision about treatment for early breast cancer' in The Breast (2016), 'Postoperative radiotherapy omission in selected patients with early breast cancer following preoperative breast MRI (PROSPECT): primary results' in The Lancet (2024), and 'Supportive care of women with breast cancer: key concerns and practical solutions' in The Medical Journal of Australia (2016). With 23 peer-reviewed publications, 24 conference abstracts, and over 1,800 Google Scholar citations, he advances research implementation in clinical practice. He received the 2017 High Value Healthcare - Patients as Partners award from Hunter New England Health LHD.