Phyllis Butow

Current role

Professor Emeritus, School of Psychology, University of Sydney. Founding Director of the Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG) and Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Medicine (CeMPED), University of Sydney.

Expertise

Professor Butow is a distinguished figure in the field of Psycho-oncology with over 35 years of experience in research and practice. Her research interests cover a wide spectrum within Health Psychology, encompassing doctor-patient communication, psychosocial factors in cancer, impact of genetic testing, and development of guidelines for communicating risk and prognosis in breast cancer. Notably, she has published extensively, with 5 books, 7 edited books, 25 book chapters, 4 guidelines, and 690 journal articles, including publications in prestigious journals like The Lancet and Journal of Clinical Oncology. Her accolades include an Order of Australia (AO), being named the 2012 NSW Cancer Researcher of the Year, and receiving the 2011 Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) Tom Reeve Award. She has led impactful multi-centre studies, evaluating psycho-oncology and communication interventions, many of which have become integral to routine clinical practice. Her influence extends globally through collaborations on international grants and presentations at major conferences. Ultimately, Professor Butow’s experience and contributions to groundbreaking research has positioned her as a pivotal figure in the field of psycho-oncology.