Professor Monique Ryan is the Director of the Neurology Department at the RCH. An incredibly accomplished clinician and researcher, Monique has been recognised with an Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence 2019 Innovation Award. As the head of the multidisciplinary RCH Neuromuscular Clinic and the RCH Neuromuscular Research Unit, Monique leads a growing team of clinicians and researchers dedicated to improving diagnosis and management of children affected by muscular dystrophies, myopathies and neuropathies.

In five words, tell us why you’re passionate about your work?

Being a paediatric neurologist is endlessly interesting, changing, challenging, exciting and varied.

How does philanthropy support your work?

We have government funding to provide great care to our patients. Philanthropy provides the ‘value add’- the ability to engage in clinical trials, provide very best practice care, explore new avenues of patient and family support and treatment, and train the next generation of paediatric neurologists.

Who is the most influential person in your life?

My husband, Peter, is the heart of our family. He holds our home together and gives our children and I the opportunity to achieve our goals. My job involves long hours of work and travel. Pete makes that possible through being extremely generous with his own time.

What is your favourite holiday memory?

We had two fantastic skiing weekends last year but my favourite vacation was a swimming holiday in Greece a couple of years ago. It was really wonderful.

If you could only take three things with you to a desert island, what would they be?

Bathers, a swimming cap and some goggles! Then I would swim home. Slowly.