11 November 2026

Austin Health respiratory physician and clinician-researcher Dr Tracy Leong has been inducted into the 2026 Victorian Honour Roll of Women, recognising her work to drive change in lung cancer research, clinical care and gender equity.

Dr Leong was recognised in the Change Agent category, which celebrates women who have challenged traditional approaches and created lasting change in their field.

It’s a fitting description for a clinician-researcher whose career has focused not only on improving how lung cancer is diagnosed and treated, but on changing who gets a voice in research and who can see themselves leading it.

For Tracy, the recognition is particularly meaningful.

“It validates my work, not only as a lung cancer clinician and researcher, but as a woman working in a field which is still largely dominated by males.”

Tracy is a respiratory physician and clinician-researcher who holds key roles at Austin Health and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute. She was the first woman to lead an Interventional Pulmonology service in Victoria and now leads a unit where women occupy all core clinical and research roles. 

Her path into research began with an interest in interventional pulmonology and its intersection with lung cancer.

“I commenced a PhD focusing on these two fields and found that this knowledge and skill set was a huge gap in translational research,” she says.

Today, one of the most rewarding parts of her work remains caring for people facing a possible lung cancer diagnosis.

“It is an enormous privilege to be able to guide patients with suspected lung cancer through their diagnostic pathway and help them on to the treatment stage.

“My patients have taught me lessons about vulnerability, resilience, courage and selflessness as they navigate what is the hardest challenge of their lives.”

Changing how research is done

Tracy is Clinical Lead and Governance Chair of TRACKER, a lung cancer biobank that has established a consumer-led approach to research. The TRACKER Biobank was recently recognised with the 2026 VCCC Alliance Leadership Academy Outstanding Changemaker Award.

She is passionate about involving people with lived experience and believe it is fundamental to the future of lung cancer research.

“In lung cancer, we need to change from a model of clinician or scientist-led research to partnering with people with lived experience of lung cancer to learn what the true priorities are, and the appropriate ways to conduct research,” she says.

As lung cancer treatment becomes increasingly personalised to an individual, Tracy believes the same thinking should apply to the research behind it.

“It makes sense that the research done to develop these treatments is also personalised to the values and beliefs of consumers.”

Changing perceptions of lung cancer is another important part of that work.

“Lung cancer continues to have the added challenge of stigma around smoking,” Tracy says. 

“The face of lung cancer is changing with rising prevalence in female never-smokers. We need to change the perception of lung cancer in the community to overcome this longstanding stigma.”

Showing the next generation what is possible

Tracy's induction also recognises her contribution to gender equity.

As the first female director of an Interventional Pulmonology service in Victoria, Tracy broke new ground in a highly specialised field that has traditionally been male dominated. 

“I am fortunate to lead a largely female interventional pulmonology unit at Austin, which is unique in Australia where most bronchoscopists are male,” she says.

“I feel this sets an example to young women who are interested in specialising in this field.”

That role modelling extends to research. Tracy supervises and mentors eight female PhD candidates, several of whom are balancing research with being first-time mothers.

“Being a woman in research, with roles in clinical medicine and also having a young family, allows emerging female researchers to see what is possible,” she says.

Tracy credits her own mentors, Professor Daniel Steinfort, Professor Emily Stone and Professor Kwun Fong, with helping her build her career and inspiring her through their achievements. But when asked what she is proudest of, Tracy doesn't point to an individual award or research milestone. Instead, it is the community she has helped bring together.

“My proudest achievement in my clinical and research work is building a community of collaboration and connecting like-minded people who are working towards the same goal of curing lung cancer.

“We should not work in silos. We need to come together to share ideas and expertise. I firmly believe that this is how the job will get done.”

The Victorian Honour Roll profile also recognises Tracy's pioneering research in lung cancer and occupational lung disease, her influence on national and international standards of care, and more than $11.7 million in grants secured for respiratory research initiatives. 

Congratulations to Tracy for this well-deserved recognition!