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Heather Saxena EPIDEMIOLOGIST Professor Mary-Louise
McLaws , described as a “ superstar ” whose work saved thousands of lives , has died after being diagnosed with brain cancer 18 months ago .
She was already regarded as a global leader in her field before the COVID-19 pandemic made her a household name through her frequent media appearances to explain the emergence of new variants , diagnostic tests , vaccines and infection control measures .
She also developed the COVID-19 surveillance system for healthcare-associated infections in NSW and was a member of the WHO expert advisory panel on responding to COVID-19 .
She originally announced her diagnosis on Twitter , where she was a prolific science communicator . At the time , she said she knew her cancer would kill her .
“ I accept the fact that , when I go , I go ,” she said .
“ Sometimes , you just get the miserable diagnosis . And you can ’ t stop it sometimes .”
A constant during the pandemic , Professor McLaws offered a reassuring voice to help Australians through the maelstrom of COVID-19 . But it was her turn to be supported when she revealed her diagnosis .
“ Now , all of a sudden , the Australian community ’ s caring for me ,” she told ABC News .
Professor McLaws ’ statement that a sudden headache the previous week was the result of a brain tumour led to an outpouring of support from the medical community and gratitude for her work during the pandemic .
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Louie Douvis / Fairfax |
particularly epidemiology and infection prevention ”.
The author of some 180 scientific papers , she was professor of epidemiology at UNSW Sydney , the institution she joined as a PhD student .
UNSW Sydney chancellor David Gonski said her co-workers would mourn a colleague “ who was locally grown and became a superstar ”.
Professor McLaws said she had an “ absolutely gorgeous ” family , friends and colleagues who were helping her celebrate the award with a morning tea .
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‘ Her legacy will serve as an inspiration to future generations of epidemiologists .’ |
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— Ryan Parks |
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NSW Minister for Health Ryan Parks lauded Professor McLaws as a “ pre-eminent voice and mind ” who had dedicated her working life to population health .
“ She was never afraid to question and scrutinise decisions in the interest of achieving the best health outcomes for our community ,” he said in a statement .
“ I had the honour to have met Mary-Louise on several occasions , and I valued her counsel . “ Her legacy will serve as an inspiration to future generations of epidemiologists .” Professor McLaws is survived by her husband ,
Richard , and her children , Zia and Zachary .
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“ It ’ s a type of brain cancer that chooses to come along ; it doesn ’ t find its way there from another part of your body ,” she said .
“ I ’ m very lucky that mine was removed . I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy , and for the moment , … my cancer is not there . “[ But ] you have to be very easy going about it . Asked by the ABC ’ s Virginia Trioli whether
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the illness would end her life , she said : “ Oh , absolutely , Virginia . That ’ s exactly what this type of cancer tells you .
“ I assume that I will die . I don ’ t know when , and I ’ m just enjoying life and friends , and I think that ’ s what you have to do .”
Professor McLaws was awarded her AO for “ distinguished service to medical research ,
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