Cancer and strawberry birthmark: a revolutionary approach | Dr. Swee Tan | TEDxChristchurch

As a plastic surgeon, Dr Swee Tan helped children affected by disfiguring and potentially life-threatening strawberry birthmarks -- and he believed there had to be a better way. His research into the origin of strawberry birthmark has generated astonishing results, and has profound implications for the way we think about cancer. Dr Tan is the founder and executive director of the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, and a consultant plastic & cranio-maxillofacial surgeon at Hutt Hospital in Wellington. Originally from Malaysia, he has studied at Melbourne University, Oxford, Boston’s Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School. He is an elected member of 13 national and international professional and scientific societies, the author of over 120 publications in peer-reviewed journals, and the recipient of 24 science prizes and 20 honours and awards. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx