Dr Robyn Sayer

BA(Hons) MD FACOG FRANZCOG CGO

Gynaecologic Cancer Surgeon

While Australian born, Robyn underwent all of her higher education, medical training and early consultant work in the United States. Robyn received her university degree in biology from Boston University in 1993. Following university, Robyn spent several years pursuing basic science research interests at the University of Pennsylvania before attending medical school at Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. Her general obstetrics and gynaecology training was completed at Duke University in North Carolina in 2003 followed by 3 years of subspecialty gynaecologic oncology fellowship training at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Robyn received several awards for research in ovarian cancer during her training including the Berlex Foundation Faculty Development award, 10th Annual Helen Harris Memorial Trust, and the ASCO Foundation Merit Award. Following training, Robyn stayed on as an assistant professor at the University of South Florida before joining a private practice gynaecologic oncology group in nearby Clearwater, Florida. She returned home to Australia in 2010 and joined the Gynaecological Cancer Centre at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney as a gynaecologic oncology consultant where she remained until accepting a public appointment at Westmead Hospital in 2015. Robyn held a gynaecologic oncology biweekly clinic and theatre session at The Canberra Hospital through her affiliation with The Royal Hospital for Women for the last 3 years before becoming an associate at Capital Women’s Health.

Clinical Interests

Robyn’s interest and expertise are in the surgical management and aftercare of women with gynaecologic malignancies (ovarian, peritoneal, uterine, cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers). Robyn enjoys fostering a special relationship of trust and commitment to her patients both in the initial consultation, through treatment and for years beyond during follow-up surveillance clinic visits. She works closely with a local multidisciplinary team including medical oncologists and radiation oncologists to provide evidence-based coordinated cancer care to make the battle with cancer as successful and stress-free as possible.

Robyn’s surgical expertise encompasses radical pelvic surgery including radical tumour resections, bowel surgery, urologic surgery and cancer-associated reconstructive procedures. She has extensive experience in minimally invasive surgical techniques including laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery. Robyn was the first surgeon to perform a robotic-assisted hysterectomy in Canberra. Robyn also has an interest in complex benign gynaecologic surgery including patients with extensive abdominal surgical histories and obesity. Robyn performs minimally invasive risk-reducing surgeries for patients at an increased risk of ovarian, tubal and/or uterine cancers due to a hereditary disposition (BRCA, Lynch Syndrome, etc).

Qualifications

1989 – 1993 Bachelor of Arts – cum laude and with Distinction

Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Major: Biology

Minors: Chemistry & Environmental Studies

1995 – 1999 Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Drexel University School of Medicine (formerly MCP- Hahnemann)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1999 – 2003 Registrar, Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Duke University Medical Center

Durham, North Carolina, USA

2003 – 2006 Fellow, Gynaecologic Oncology

University of South Florida

Tampa, Florida, USA

2009 Fellowship of the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology

2012 Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

2016 Fellowship in the Australian College of Gynaecologic Oncologists

Professional Affiliations

Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Fellow of the Australian College of Gynaecologic Oncologists

Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales Medical School

Member of Australian & New Zealand Gynaecologic Oncology Group (ANZGOG)

Hospital Appointments

Staff Specialist, Westmead Hospital

Visiting Medical Officer, Calvary John James Hospital

Visiting Medical Officer, National Capital Private Hospital

Visiting Medical Officer, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Cancer Centre

Referrals:

Please address referrals to:

Dr Robyn Sayer

21 Napier Close
Deakin ACT 2600

Tel: 02 6162 1649

Fax: 02 6162 1659

E-mail: hello@cwhealth.com.au