Page 29 - ANZCP Gazette AUG 2023

Ali is a 60’s child and enjoyed her childhood growing up as a tom boy exploring the Kentish countryside with her brother and cousins. Ali trained to be a ballet dancer and attended the Royal Ballet School. Ali also loved sport and considered doing Marine Biology but hated seaweed around her legs and cold English seas. Ali wanted to work with people and accepted a student position for a medical physics and physiological measurements technician in London in 1980.
Ali started her perfusion training at Guys Hospital in 1981 and worked as a qualified paediatric and adult perfusionist in two of London’s very busy units, the Brompton Hospital and Harley Street Clinic. Ali worked with many different surgeons, including Marc De Leval, Mark Bainbridge, Donald Ross, John Parker and Magdi Yacoub. They were very different days, bubble oxygenators, no level or air emboli sensors, pumps failed and make your own circuits, wrap, and send out for sterilisation.
In 1986 Ali moved to Melbourne and Richard Mullaly employed her at RCH to do a locum whilst Pat Ewer was away on personal leave. The locum became a permanent position and Ali took charge of the unit whenever Richard Mullaly went away. Ali met her husband Steve at RCH who she helped train as a perfusionist. Ali was managing the unit for 12 months when RCH started the first ECMO program in Australia. Cardiac cases were never cancelled, and the team had to manage ECMO as well as the operating list. 12 to 18-hour days were the norm for 6 months. In 1989 Steve and Ali started using centrifugal pumps for ECMO and VAD.
Ali became the first ECMO Coordinator at RCH and initially trained 3 nurses to help manage the patients overnight to give the perfusion team some relief. Over the next few years she trained enough nurses to manage the patients day and night and still to this day perfusionists are involved in overseeing the care of all patients.
In 1993 she joined Stephen and Mr Roger Mee at the Cleveland Clinic and helped set up a paediatric cardiac surgery and ECMO program there, returning to Melbourne in 1994.
Ali also went on overseas cardiac surgery missions to Jakarta, Cairo, and Kuwait. She loves meeting new people and being challenged by antique equipment.
In 1995 Ali took on a new role at the Royal Melbourne and started her family, 1997 Ella, and 2000 Karina. She also started tap dancing. This year also saw her put up her hand to help on the College Executive and she became Vice President. Daryl MacMillan gave her the role of advocating for the ASCVP and pursuing “Registration”, which she continues to do today. She became President of the ANZCP and steered the College, implementing a Masters of Perfusion at Swinburne and the College standards, guidelines and recertification program.
Ali loves participating in sports, including windsurfing, water skiing, skiing, horse riding, running, hiking, snorkelling, kayaking, SUP, photography, and dancing (particularly at conferences). She also does a lot of volunteer work in the community for Marine Care Ricketts Point, 3193 Beach Patrol, Sandringham Foreshore Association and was President of Sandringham and District Netball Association.
Ali has done a lot over her career to be a force for garnering positive recognition for our profession. She strongly believes in fair play & will be a champion for the underdog. Wherever in the world she goes to a conference many people will come over & say hello, that she has worked with or knows through her professional links.
Alison’s service to the College and Board include the following - however her service goes far beyond what is listed:
President Elect/Vice President 1999 – 2005 President 2006 – 2007
AHPA/NASRHP Representative – ongoing.
I have looked up to Ali for many years and was greatly inspired by her especially during her term as President of the ANZCP – she was always approachable, encouraging, and happy to be a friend and mentor – which continues to this day. We are lucky to have such a champion of our profession and a truly deserving Life Member. Thank you, Alison, for all that you continue to do and for your incredible endeavours over the years.
ALISON HORTON – LIFE FELLOWSHIP
SEPTEMBER 2023 3SCTS SPECIAL EDITION | www.anzcp.org 27