Professor Mark McKeage – Medical Oncologist

Medical Background:

Professor Mark McKeage has worked for many years as a medical oncologist specialising in the treatment of head and neck cancer, and lung cancer.

After graduating in medicine from the University of Otago, Mark trained at Wellington Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. He worked as a medical oncology staff specialist at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney before returning to New Zealand to his current position.

Mark is a professor and physician-scientist at the University of Auckland in the Department of Pharmacology in Clinical Pharmacology, as well as Co-Director of the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre. He also is a medical oncologist at Auckland City Hospital. He has published over 100 research articles and regularly gives lectures on topics related to cancer treatment. He leads a research group and an active programme of clinical research on lung cancer genetic testing, targeted therapies, and platinum-based anti-cancer drugs. His clinical practice is strongly underpinned by a scientific evidence-based approach to treatment recommendations.

Mark is past-president and member of the New Zealand Society for Oncology, and member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the European Society for Medical Oncology, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

From Mark:

“I’ve always been interested in the ways medicine can impact people’s lives. It’s a privilege to make that real difference to a patient. Early in my career oncology treatment was a very new discipline. I’ve been lucky to see the field develop over the years.

I find the medical field intriguing, but real inspiration comes from the connections I form with my patients. That’s what makes my work very rewarding. It is very special to provide comfort to patients by developing a close connection and giving the right information for them to make their own decisions. The team at Auckland Oncology is fantastic. We work together well and have a great working culture, which means our clients get the best care.”