June 2022 News

Breast Screening Day at Somerset Community Health Center - June 4th

"It was an organized approach to the community centers and combined screening with mammography, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer screening. By providing a group approach to coming on a specific day geared to the populations we aimed to reach, e.g, Asian, Black, and Indigenous, it meant that the "historically excluded" people who often are not screened due to barriers of fear of medical screening, fear of being mistreated by the medical facility and staff, and inability to arrange for transport, could be overcome. It was such a success! We recruited more of these women into our study TMIST, and more people were screened who had never been screened before. They were booked patients in so not drop-in, but it was coordinated with the downtown Somerset community center." - Dr. Jean Seely

Radiation Oncology Digital Footprint - New Welcome Video

The Radiation Oncology Training program has been working hard increasing our digital footprint in an effort to not only showcase our program but also to attract the brightest and best candidates to join our program during these virtual times. Through the efforts of our team, we have improved the website and more recently created an information video which will be added to the website as well as a new Welcome video by Dr. Gaudet. Special thanks to everyone who worked on this project!

Successful Trail GU005 – Drs. Scott Morgan and Amy Carkner
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
 

"Congratulations to Drs. Scott Morgan and Amy Carkner; on successfully recruiting for trial GU005 which closed accrual early June. Division of Radiation Oncology at TOH tied for third highest recruiting site out of 136 participating sites in the NRG network. The trial is studying SBRT as a standard of care treatment for localized intermediate risk prostate cancer" - Dr. Marc Gaudet

The team was tied for recruiting site for CCTG HE.1 Phase III Study of Palliative Radiotherapy for Symptomatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Liver Metastases. Kudos to Drs. Kris Dennis and Saara Ali for all their hard work with this study.

32 Annual and 6th Dr. Cheemun Lum Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics Research Day
Wednesday, June 22, 2022

This year, we received a record 51 research Abstracts for research day! On June 21, 19 oral presentations were delivered plus 32 on-demand presentations. At one point we had 96 people attending our research day via TEAMS! Congratulations to the research and administration team members who facilitated this successful day!

We want to thank the judges for their review of all the applications, selection of presenters and designation of the following research day winners and departmental awards.

At noon hour, we welcomed Visiting Professor, Dr. Ruth Carlos, who presented a robust and thought provoking presentation entitled ‘The Biology of Racism’ and the impact of allostatic load not only on psychological factors but also on biological processes.

Diagnostic & Pediatric Radiology Graduation Ceremony

Later that evening, we gathered virtually to commemorate and celebrate the many accomplishments of our incredible diagnostic and pediatric radiology residents and fellows! Click here to view the program which lists the graduation class of 2022. Thank you to Drs. Luke Murtha, Trevor Mcgrath and David McComiskey who collectively shared their heartfelt appreciation to the entire department on behalf of all the graduates.

Dr. Rajiv Samant book published – “Beyond the Village: My Grateful Journey”
Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Congratulation to Dr. Rajiv Samant on the publishing of his new book entitled Beyond the Village: My Grateful Journey. For a limited time, the proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards supporting the Radiation Therapists and the Radiation Therapy Pediatrics Fund. The book is now available for the discounted price of $20 (taxes included), and proceeds ($10 per book sold here) will be for fundraising efforts here at Cancer Centre. Contact Rajiv for details.

COMP Golden Medal Award – Dr. Joanna Cygler
Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Dr. Joanna Cygler was officially awarded the COMP Gold Medal, June 24 at the annual COMP ASM held in Quebec. This is the highest award given to a medical physicist in Canada. Congratulations again Dr. Cygler!

COMP ASM awarded to Dr. Crystal Angers
Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Congratulations Dr. Crystal Angers who was named Fellow of the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists from COMP ASM in Quebec!