About
Karen is certified in Primary Skin Cancer Medicine, Dermoscopy and Oncology Nursing, and is a member of the Skin Cancer College of Australasia and Dermatology Nurses Association.
Karen's Message
Being born into a family of nine children, I was always going to be surrounded by a lot of people. I love people; I love their amazing stories and experiences, which has led me to have talked personally to thousands of people in my lifetime. I am blessed to have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows that life can bring. This enables me to know you and to empathise with you because there is little in life that I haven’t experienced personally. From playing a one on one game of cards with a King, trekking the remote Kimberley with Aboriginal elders, to holding the hand of a dying patient when there was no-one else to; life has allowed me know people and to share the enormous spectrum of experiences it brings us.
I hope that this site helps you, in some way, to know that whatever you are experiencing, you are not alone. This website is dedicated to reaching you, wherever you may be, to know that as wonderful or as horrible as your life may seem, you are never alone.
Karen's Story
Karen learned about the direction her life should take following a series of extremely painful life experiences. These included the death of a beloved niece from SIDS; multiple medical malpractice leading to injuries and near death for herself, her children and other family members; and nursing her children through life threatening diseases whilst living in Papua New Guinea.
Following the breakdown of her marriage Karen earned her Bachelor of Nursing Degree to Honours level with Edith Cowan University, while working to support her three sons. Accepted into an elite post-graduate program she progressed quickly into her clinical specialty of Oncology in a Ward Management role.
She made the transition from hospital nursing into private practice with a prominent Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon where she managed the care and support of pre and post-operative patients diagnosed with cancer and skin Cancer undergoing treatment and reconstructive surgery.
From there, Karen progressed into a senior project management role with International Health Provider McKesson Asia Pacific, where she worked diligently in developing and implementing landmark tele-health programs and initiatives such as the Health Direct programs for various state health departments at the time.
The unexpected death of her close brother from melanoma coinciding with the major health collapse of her son sparked another painful and traumatic period in Karen's life. She emerged from this determined to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
She and her son partnered to form Spotscreen, an organization dedicated to excellence in the provision of skin cancer screening, training, education and other preventative health initiatives to workplaces and private organisations throughout Australia.
Karen is certified in Primary Skin Cancer Medicine, Dermoscopy and Oncology Nursing, and is a member of the Skin Cancer College of Australasia and Dermatology Nurses Association. Her future plans include collaborating with Government bodies to identify deficiencies in health service provision and to implement strategies to fill those gaps, particularly in the area of Rural and Remote health provision. She has special interest in skin cancer, mental health services, and services for the homeless.
Karen Ong is the author of The Number 1 Guide To Preventing Skin Cancer – Proven Advice From An Expert. She lives in Perth, Western Australia.