Prof. J.L. Lourens Bester

Award of Excellence in Interventional Radiology (Phlebology)

A/Professor Lourens Bester is a highly skilled and respected Interventional Radiologist with extensive experience across a broad spectrum of radiological procedures. He has a special interest in venous access, arteriovenous malformations, and in interventional oncology. He pioneered the technique in Australia for the placement of venous access devices on an outpatient basis and developed an interventional radiological technique for placing peritoneal ports in oncology patients with refractory ascites. Dr Bester’s interest in interventional oncology has made St Vincent’s Hospital the largest treatment centre in Australia for patients undergoing Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) with yttrium 90 SIR-Spheres for metastatic colorectal cancer and hepatocellular cancer.

A/Professor Bester is the author of several publications, including an M.Med thesis on radiographic contrast media reactions, and has been published in peer-reviewed journals. He is also a popular speaker at scientific meetings and conferences.

In addition to his nine professional memberships, A/Professor Bester is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists and the Australasian College of Phlebology, which bestowed its Award of Excellence on him in 2007. He is a member of the NSW Cancer Council Upper GI Oncology Group and on Cancer Councils Hepatocellular Advisory Committee. A/Prof Bester is also Conjoint Associate Professor in Radiology at the University of New South Wales, in recognition of his academic contribution, his inspirational teaching approach, and his growing list of publications.