Page 28 - ANZCP Gazette AUG 2023

Rarely do people today wish to serve their community tirelessly for over 30 years. Jane Ottens is the exception, starting perfusion in 1986 she has served perfusion and the cardiac surgical community with great impact her entire career.
Jane started at the Royal Adelaide Hospital on the 1st of April 1986, in what was to be a 5 year rocket ship from trainee to establishing her first solo unit in 1991. Times have changed in perfusion training since 1986, however Jane’s logbook shows us her first case behind the pump, hopefully not by herself, was only 14 days later! She worked hard during these early years to become an extremely confident and clinically excellent perfusionist. In the early 1990’s however everything changed, The College, then the Australasian Society of Cardiovascular Perfusion, introduced a formal education program and many perfusionists were able to be grandfathered into our CCP program due to their years of experience. Jane just missed out and had to sit the formal exams, which she passed easily, to be one of the original examined CCPs in the Society. During this period, she had already started to serve our profession becoming Secretary in only her 3rd year ion the Profession (1988-1991). Her clinical career, now spanning more than 3 decades has seen her establish 4 perfusion units in South Australia. Jane was head hunted in late 1990 to set up the first private cardiac surgical nit in SA by Mr Iain Ross, which commenced in early 1991, to be followed a year later by the establishment of the second public unit at Flinders Medical Centre. To make a trilogy of units in 3 years, Cardiac Surgery commenced at the Woman’s and Children’s Hospital in 1993 as well, headed by Jane. Over her clinical career Jane has perfused more than 10,000 cases and been involved in the training of numerous perfusionists at both Ashford and Flinders. She has never been afraid to take on any clinical challenge, not too confident not to seek support and guidance from colleagues from around the world happy to support Jane in any possible clinical endeavour.
Jane’s contributions to our field run far deeper than her clinical exploits, to our College she has been a long standing servant, from her early role as Secretary, Jane has held and represented the College in so many ways, this synopsis will no doubt miss something! Her Service rolls have included:
• ASCVP Treasurer (1988-1991)
• ASVCP Executive, Vice President, Secretary (1991-2007) • ABCP Chair (2000-2005)
• ANZCP Simulation Subcommittee (2008- present)
• ANZCP President (2011-2015)
• ANZCP Editorial Committee (2011-2022)
• ANZCP Secretary (2011-2022)
• She has also served AmSECT, the ICEBP and PIRS
From my perspective I think Jane’s greatest contribution to our profession has been her ongoing participation in training and educating perfusionists. She has strived to see perfusionists gain a meaningful qualification working on the Board of Perfusion for 5 years as Chair to see introduction firstly of a formal Diploma of Perfusion, and later our first Masters programme at Swinburne University. All foundational steps that see our current trainees studying at MUSC in the USA for their Masters of Extracorporeal Technology, the educational component for perfusion certification in the region. During her career she has also served as an examiner for our education programs and has stepped up and provides her experience and expertise with Arthur Preovolos and Darryl McMillan in running simulation experiences, most recently at the Cairns 3 Society Meeting.
Jane has always been prepared to work hard and has been a strong advocate of the “yes” I can do that, or I will have a go. This has seen Jane present perfusion research and educational content around the world, publish seminal papers in our field and participate and organise in more than 40 perfusion meetings.
All of this has been done whilst having a life outside the pump room. Jane is a wonderful wife to Andrew, and has two great children, well adults now, Charlie and Olivia. She has many skills that her perfusion family may not be aware of, however Jane is an excellent artist and fantastic cook, bringing joy and fulfilment to her many friends.
On behalf of our perfusion community, Jane, I thank you and congratulate you on your incredible career and journey of service to perfusion in Australia, New Zealand, and the world.
JANE OTTENS – LIFE FELLOWSHIP
26 SEPTEMBER 2023 3SCTS SPECIAL EDITION | www.anzcp.org