In a commitment to advancing the education and professional development of nurses in the haematology field, the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation, in collaboration with Jazz Pharmaceuticals, proudly offered eight nursing professionals travel scholarships to attend the 2024 Blood Conference in Brisbane. This annual conference, hosted by the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ), brings together experts, clinicians, and researchers in the haematology and bone marrow transplant (BMT) sectors to share knowledge, discuss advancements, and collaborate on patient care.

The scholarships provided invaluable opportunities for these nurses to not only enhance their expertise but also contribute to improving the quality of care for haematology patients. Below, we explore the impactful experiences shared by the scholarship recipients, each highlighting the significance of their participation in the conference.

Amy Keating: Inspired by the Haematology Community

Amy Keating, a Haematology Clinical Nurse Consultant at Gold Coast University Hospital, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, stating that the scholarship allowed her to connect with fellow clinicians in the haematology field. “Receiving a scholarship from Arrow to support my attendance at ‘Blood 2024’ is extremely valuable. I am able to connect with fellow clinicians in the field of haematology, share knowledge and learn from each other. Working in the field of haematology is a truly unique speciality of which we are all so passionate about,” she shared.  For Amy, the Blood 2024 conference was an essential space to share and learn from the collective passion and expertise of haematology professionals. She particularly enjoyed the ability to share achievements and encourage each other in their endeavours within this unique community. Key discussions around topics like chemo brain, ICANs, shared care models, and mucositis management proved to be immensely valuable for Amy, allowing her to apply this new knowledge directly to her clinical practice.

Hope Finlen: Sharing Knowledge and Shaping Future Care

As a Haematology Clinical Nurse Consultant at Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH), Hope Finlen is dedicated to guiding patients through their treatment journeys. She is passionate about role modeling best practices for colleagues, offering education, mentoring, and coaching to help others grow. Hope says, “Attending Blood 2024 will provide me with the most up to date knowledge, so I can pass it on to patients and fellow colleagues.” At the conference Hope gained valuable insights into haematological malignancies, treatment strategies, the management of side effects, and advancements in CAR-T therapy. Since returning, she has shared this knowledge by presenting to the haematology team and nursing staff. Networking with other professionals also proved invaluable, especially as she plans to implement a nurse-led survivorship clinic. “The conference was a great chance to network and discover what other nurses in similar roles are doing both nationally and internationally. I found this so helpful,” Hope noted. She is excited to incorporate new knowledge, especially around survivorship, in the establishment of her clinics and in her work at GCUH.

Jacqueline Jagger: Sharing Research and Advancing Care Models

Jacqueline Jagger, a Haematology Nurse Practitioner at Gosford Hospital, was particularly excited about presenting her feasibility study to colleagues across Australia at Blood 2024. “I was fortunate to receive a scholarship donation to enable my attendance at Blood 2024 in Brisbane – without funding, I would have been unable to attend having self-funded a number of events throughout the year,” she shared. Her study, which focuses on a self-administration model of care for subcutaneous bortezomib, offers an innovative approach to chemotherapy delivery and has the potential to reduce financial and time burdens and promote self-management for patients. Jacqueline shared that the conference was an incredible platform to present her research, learn from others, and deepen her understanding of how evolving treatment modalities can be applied to patient care. “The annual scientific conference was a fabulous opportunity to hear from experts in haematology share their research and clinical expertise which will assist in informing my daily practice,” she said.

Julija Sipavicius: Advancing BMT Practice with Expertise and Collaboration

For Julija Sipavicius, a BMT Nurse Practitioner at Royal North Shore Hospital, attending the Blood 2024 conference was an opportunity to stay at the forefront of clinical practice. She was able to present two abstracts and gain insights into the latest developments in CAR-T therapy and bone marrow transplantation, especially regarding older patients. “I want to thank the Arrow foundation for the generous scholarship to assist in my attendance at the 2024 Annual Blood meeting,” Julija said. “I appreciate the opportunity to not only have presented two abstracts at the meeting, but also to learn about up-to-date clinical practice in the CAR-T and BMT space from national and international colleagues.” Julija also valued the opportunity to network with multidisciplinary colleagues and found the practical advice on patient care from her CAR-T nursing peers especially beneficial. One of the highlights for Julija was the Carl de Gruchy Oration, presented by Professor Paula Marlton. She described it as both interesting from a historical and educational perspective, and highly relevant to her clinical practice.

Kathryn Uren: Building Support Networks and Ideas

Kathryn Uren, who works in Clinical Education at Barwon Health Geelong, valued the opportunity to attend Blood 2024 and bring back the latest updates in haematology nursing to share with her colleagues. “The Arrow travel scholarship has meant that I am able to attend Blood 2024 to continue my professional development and learning. The area of haematology nursing changes rapidly and Blood is an opportunity to get up-to-date knowledge and bring this knowledge home to help shape best practice care within the local organisation,” Kathryn explained. The conference also offered Kathryn the chance to network, exchange ideas, discuss collaborative initiatives, and develop a support network of nurses from different health care facilities across Australia. “As I am relatively new to my role, it opened up a network of support outside of my organisation,” she added. Kathryn was particularly inspired by the passion of first-time nurse presenters, whose work has motivated her to pursue new projects within her own organization. “It was incredibly motivating and I came home with a spring in my step and ideas to get projects happening within my organisation.”

Olivia Edwards: Fostering Connections and Inspiring Change

Olivia Edwards, a Haematology Nurse since 2007, reflected on how attending Blood 2024 was an awe-inspiring experience. “I am incredibly thankful to Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation, for helping to make it a reality for me to attend,” Olivia said. She was particularly struck by the wealth of information shared, especially regarding transplant late effects prevention and screening, as well as innovative ways to improve health equity in post-transplant care. Olivia anticipates this knowledge will be invaluable as she transitions into her new role as BMT Care Coordinator at the Calvary Mater Hospital Newcastle. Her favourite part of the conference was the inspiring Ruth Sanger and Carl de Gruchy Orations. “I have truly walked away thinking ‘my gosh we are so blessed with the haematology network that exists’. I am absolutely in awe of the brain power of all the professions spread across any haematology service – from nursing to medicine, pharmacy, and pathology (and the list goes on!). It truly is an honour to work both indirectly and directly with such people. Whilst it is overwhelming to witness such a wealth of information all in one place, it is also incredibly inspiring,” she said.

Teresa Garcia: Enhancing Care for BMT Survivors

Teresa Garcia, a Clinical Nurse Consultant at Royal Melbourne Hospital, shared how the scholarship allowed her to attend the Blood 2024 conference, where she enhanced her skills in caring for allogeneic BMT survivors and transitioning pediatric transplant patients to adult services. “The Travel scholarship I received from Arrow and Jazz Pharmaceuticals to attend the Blood Conference in Brisbane this year is a great opportunity for ongoing professional development – learning from experts and leaders in the field of Haematology/BMT,” Teresa explained. She also benefited from engaging with colleagues from various health centers. “Meeting peers and new people with similar interests and learning about their experiences made me reflect on our own practice and the resources available to our patients,” she shared. Teresa also appreciated the opportunity to present her abstract and receive feedback on her work, which honed her public speaking skills and sparked new ideas for her work in BMT survivorship care. “Attending Blood 2024 in Brisbane has been an enriching and wonderful experience. Thank you again Arrow for your amazing work, dedication and ongoing support to BMT patients and healthcare professionals,” Teresa said.

Victoria Okey: Building Connections and Knowledge

Victoria Okey, a Registered Nurse in the Day Chemotherapy Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital, was excited for the opportunity to attend the Blood 2024 conference. “I am honoured to have received a scholarship to attend the BLOOD 2024 conference in Brisbane. I hold a great desire to learn more in the field of haematology nursing and see this conference as an incredible opportunity to do so,” Victoria said. The conference exceeded her expectations, allowing her to deepen her understanding of emerging treatments and best practices in haematology. “This scholarship has provided me the opportunity to learn from so many inspiring people in the field of haematology as well as the benefit of networking opportunities,” she shared. By connecting with other haematology professionals and attending presentations, Victoria was able to bring back new ideas to enhance patient care at her unit. Victoria is grateful for the scholarship, saying, “This experience has allowed me to provide better care for my patients. I am deeply grateful for this support and motivated to make positive improvements for my patients.”

A Legacy of Support and Learning

Through the generosity of the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, these eight nurses were able to attend the 2024 HSANZ Blood Conference and return to their respective hospitals with invaluable knowledge. The scholarships are more than just financial support—they are an investment in the future of haematology nursing, and, most importantly, better patient outcomes. We extend our thanks to Jazz Pharmaceuticals for sponsoring these scholarships, and express our gratitude to the amazing healthcare professionals in the field of haematology, who consistently strive to develop, improve and enhance patient care.