Associate Professor David Kok and Dr Sathana Dushyanthen win prestigious Gold Telly Award

Associate Professor David Kok and Dr Sathana Dushyanthen win Gold at the 43rd Telly Awards. Image: David Kok

Associate Professor David Kok and Dr Sathana Dushyanthen have won a Gold Award at the 43rd annual Telly Awards for their highly informative video lesson, Stereotactic Radiotherapy.

The Telly Awards recognise excellence in video and television, with Associate Professor Kok and Dr Dushyanthen claiming first place in the Education and Training category.

Produced by the Melbourne School of Professional and Continuing Education’s (MSPACE) video production unit, the award-winning feature is a lesson from the University’s Master of Cancer Sciences degree and was developed in collaboration between the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Alliance (VCCC) and the University.

Stereotactic Radiotherapy explores the principles behind this advanced form of cancer treatment, which enables oncologists to treat previously untreatable tumours.

Associate Professor Kok, founding course coordinator of the Master of Cancer Sciences at the University’s Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS), said he was delighted by the result.

"Our passion for education is driven by a desire to pass on our knowledge of cancer care to the next generation of health professionals and to ensure quality patient care. This award is great external validation," Associate Professor Kok said.

The video, which beat competition from Microsoft and Harvard Business School, is a testament to the collaboration between the University’s Department of Clinical Pathology, Department of Medical Education and the experts within MSPACE who work with academic experts across the University to design, develop and deliver many of its 100 per cent online postgraduate courses.

“In reality, it’s all of these people who are being acknowledged with this award,” Associate Professor Kok said.

Associate Professor Kok is a radiation oncologist and medical educator at the University and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Dr Sathana Dushyanthen co-wrote the lesson Stereotactic Radiotherapy with Associate Professor Kok.