Biography

Dr Emma Clarkson is a Breast and Endocrine Surgeon with a special interest in oncoplastic breast surgery, all areas of benign and malignant breast disease and management of patients at high risk of developing breast cancer. She also manages patients with surgical conditions of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

After graduating from UQ, Dr Clarkson commenced surgical training at RBWH. She completed her general surgical Fellowship (FRACS) at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 2009 before partaking in a Research Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Princess Alexandra Hospital. Dr Clarkson went on to complete a Masters in Medicine by Research at James Cook University focusing on implantable biomedical polymers. She returned to clinical practice to complete a Surgical Fellowship at the Mater Brisbane Hospital concentrating on Breast, Endocrine and Surgical Oncology in 2013 followed by a dedicated Surgical Fellowship in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery at Westmead Hospital in Sydney. Dr Clarkson has obtained the two year BreastSurgANZ post fellowship training qualification in breast surgery and is a full member of BreastSurgANZ. In 2017 Dr Clarkson obtained a Masters in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery (Distinction) from the University of East Anglia (UK). She received the Isaac Gukas Award as the highest achieving student in the Specialist Clinical Mastership Program.

Dr Clarkson is a foundation member of the panel that set up the first Statewide Oncoplastics Breast Reconstruction Initiative, giving regional and remote patients access to tertiary level breast surgery and reconstruction. She participated in the development of Clinical Excellence Queensland Breast Reconstruction videos. These videos help women to better understand the timelines around mastectomy, cancer treatment and reconstruction including immediate, staged and delayed reconstruction options. Dr Clarkson holds the position of Senior Lecturer at the School of Clinical Medicine, Mater Clinical Unit. 

Dr Clarkson can assist General Practitioners with the assessment and management of the following breast and endocrine conditions in male and female patients:

• Malignant breast disease
• Benign breast disease
• Management of patients at high risk of developing breast cancer
• Breast cancer risk reduction
• Surgical conditions of the thyroid and parathyroid glands
• Removal of breast implants (ruptured or intact) placed for augmentation
• Immediate or delayed breast reconstruction

Dr Clarkson is also a member of Mater Private Breast Cancer Centre.