Learn more about our medical advisor, John Casey and why he’s passionate about ITP and patient-centred healthcare.

Dr John Casey first met our CEO, Danielle Boyle, at her bedside when she was first diagnosed with ITP. He worked closely with one of our other Medical Advisors, Dr Robert Bird, at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. From here, he transferred to Townsville Hospital and worked alongside many regional and rural ITP patients while based in Townsville Hospital.

Dr John Casey, MBBS FRACPA FRACP MHM BPharm(Hons)

Based: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Field of Expertise: Transfusion Medicine

Bio: John is a clinical and laboratory haematologist and works at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. He is an examiner for the College of Pathology and has a Master of Health Management. John has specific experience managing ITP in rural and remote settings and the challenges these patients face.

Experience: +10 years’

What made you decide to work with ITP as a focus?

While working in Brisbane and regional Queensland, I found that there was a real need for regional specialists for those patients and the broader community, as many of our specialists are located in capital cities. This gave me great insight into the day-to-day challenges that these people face, including access to treatments, GPs, and medical specialists.

What is the most rewarding or challenging ITP-related moment in your career?

Opening and running a clinical trial in a regional city would give refractory ITP patients who live outside capital cities access to new and emerging therapies.

How much has treating ITP changed since you first started working with patients?

When I first started working with ITP patients, splenectomy was a common therapy. Now, however, it’s great to see that splenectomy is rarely considered.

The other major change is that more treatments are available for people living with ITP; they’re more accessible, which makes us, as clinicians, less reliant on corticosteroids.

What would you wish to happen as the next development in ITP treatment?

A cure (like everyone)

What is the one piece of advice you’d give to ITP patients and caregivers?

Listen to your body. No one knows your body quite like you do. So when your body tells you something is wrong, listen to it and see a professional.

Outside of work, what do you do to relax and recharge?

I LOVE going to the gym for high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

And my 7-year-old Italian greyhound can do no wrong!

Want to know what other specialists we have on the ITP Medical Advisory Board? Check out the whole team here.