Annual Department of Oncology Report 2019-2020 (June 17, 2021)

Department
of Oncology

2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

CUMMING SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Department of Oncology

1 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Message from Head, Department of Oncology

Dr. Morris is currently finalizing the summary for this page.

Dr. Don Morris
Professor and Head, Department
of Oncology Cumming School of
Medicine, University of Calgary

Facility Medical Director, Tom Baker
Cancer Centre, Cancer Care Alberta,
Alberta Health Services

Vision

Creating a future without cancer.

Mission

To improve cancer patient care
and health outcomes through
integrated programs in cancer
prevention, patient care,
research, and education.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 2

Table of Contents 1
3
Message from Department Head 4
Strategic Plan 5
Leadership 9
Academic Awards 10
Academic Achievements 11
Academic Activity 13
Staff Profile and New Recruitments 14
Oncology Education Program 15
Education Profile
Department of Oncology Trainees 17
Divisions of Oncology 19
Gynecologic Oncology 21
Hematologic Oncology 23
Medical Oncology 25
Medical Physics 27
Palliative Medicine 29
Pediatric Oncology 31
Preventive Oncology 33
Psychosocial Oncology 35
Radiation Oncology 37
Surgical Oncology 39
Precision Oncology Hub 41
Clinical Research Unit 43
Calgary Cancer Project 45
Department of Oncology Members
Partners

3 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Strategic Plan

Strategy Framework Vision

We will achieve our vision and mission Creating a future without cancer
through our Research FOCI, Strategic
Pillars and Enabling Strategies

Mission

To improve cancer patient care and health outcomes through integrated
programs in cancer prevention, patient care, research, and education.

Research FOCI

Precision Psychosocial Prevention and Alberta Cancer Innovative Clinical
Oncology and and Survivorship Risk Reduction Outcomes Radiation Research Unit
Experimental Research and Surgical
Therapeutics Research Network Techniques (CRU)
(ACORN)
(POET)

Strategic Pillars

Advancing our Embracing Building Capacity, Fostering Team
Research FOCI our Research Mentoring and Work and
Leadership Culture Supporting
Researchers Collaboration

Enabling Strategies

Funding
Infrastructure
Communication and Profile

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 4

Leadership

Provincial and Calgary Leadership Roles - 2019 and 2020

Dr. Don Morris (March 2020 - current) Dr. Daniel Heng (June 2020 - current) Dr. Jose Monzon (July 2020 - current)
Department Head (Clinical and Academic) Division Head and Section Chief, Medical Leader, Clinical Research Unit
Facility Medical Director, TBCC Medical Oncology
Medical Lead, Calgary Cancer Project Dr. Daniel Heng (January 2019 - June 2020)
Associate Senior Medical Director, CCA Dr. Don Morris (January 2019 - March 2020) Medical Leader, Clinical Research Unit
Dr. Jan-Willemn Henning (Interim March -
Dr. Sunil Verma (January 2016 - July 2019) June 2020) Dr. Doug Stewart
Dr. Gregory Cairncross (Interim August 2019 - Senior Medical Director, Cancer SCN
February 2020) Dr. Wendy Smith
Division Head, Medical Physics D­ r. Winson Cheung
Dr. Corinne Doll Medical Director, Provincial Health
Deputy Clinical Department Head and Deputy Dr. Jessica Simon Services Research, CCA
Facility Medical Director, TBCC Division Head and Section Chief, Co-Program Lead, ARCC, HSSP Research
Palliative Medicine Program
Dr. Lloyd Mack
Deputy Academic Department Head Dr. Victor Lewis Dr. Elizabeth Kurien
Division Head and Section Chief, Medical Lead, Provincial Tumour Teams, CCA
Dr. Tien Phan Pediatric Oncology
Associate Medical Lead, Calgary Cancer Dr. Mona Shafey
Project Dr. Christine Friedenreich Director, Alberta BMT Program
Division Head, Preventive Oncology
Dr. Vincent Tam Dr. Lloyd Mack
Associate Director of Education Dr. Barry Bultz Medical Director, Cancer Surgery Alberta
Division Head, Psychosocial Oncology
Dr. Gregg Nelson
Division Head and Section Chief, Gynecologic Dr. Lisa Barbera
Oncology Division Head and Section Chief,
Radiation Oncology
Dr. Dean Ruether
Medical Director, Community Oncology Dr. Lloyd Mack (July 2020 - current)
Associate Senior Medical Director, CCA Interim Division Head and Section Chief,
Surgical Oncology
Dr. Ernesta Paola Neri
Scientific Director, Precision Oncology Hub Dr. Greg McKinnon (January 2013 - July 2019)
Division Head and Section Chief
Surgical Oncology

5 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Academic Awards

Department of Oncology Recognition Awards - 2019 & 2020

YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AWARD

This award recognizes an individual who shows evidence of success in This award recognizes an individual who shows evidence of success in
publications, grant awards, ongoing impact in clinical cancer research publications, grant awards, ongoing impact in clinical cancer research and
and acknowledged national and international leadership within the field acknowledged national and international leadership within the field of
of discipline they practice. The nominee must be in their first five years of discipline they practice.
their academic career post residency/fellowship.

Dr. Fiona Schulte: Dr. Nizar Bahlis:
2019 Young Investigator Award Recipient 2019 Recipient of Excellence in Research Award
Psychosocial Oncology Hematology & BMT

Dr. Sarah Quirk: Dr. Oliver Bathe:
2019 Young Investigator Award Recipient 2020 Recipient of Excellence in Research Award
Medical Physics Surgical Oncology

Dr. Miranda Fidler Benaoudia:
2020 Young Investigator Award Recipient
Cancer Epidemiology & Prevention Research

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 6

Academic Awards

Department of Oncology Recognition Awards - 2019 & 2020

2020 LUMINARY TEACHING AWARD 2020 GAVIN STUART AWARD
FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE & PROFESSIONALISM

This award recognizes an individual who has shown an ability This award recognizes an individual who combines clinical excellence
to connect significantly with individuals or groups of trainees. (acute diagnostic, sound clinical judgement, caring bedside manner,
Characteristics including sustained teaching excellence, respected by colleagues and considered a role model) with the highest
mentorship, supervision and educational scholarship are professional conduct (commitments to professional competence and
considered. Impact over protracted time period will be a responsibilities, honesty, patient confidentiality, improving access and
significant help to deciding this award.. quality of care, ethical allocation of finite resources, involvement at
organizational level in improving cancer care delivery and managing
conflicts of interest).

Dr. Linda Carlson: Dr. Elizabeth Kurien:
2020 Recipient of Luminary Teaching Award 2020 Recipient of Gavin Stuart Award for Clinical
Psychosocial Oncology Excellence & Professionalism
Radiation Oncology

7 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Academic Awards

Department of Oncology Recognition Awards - 2019-2020
TEAM AWARD FOR INNOVATION - 2019 AWARD RECIPIENT POET TEAM
This award recognizes a team that has demonstrated a commitment to improving the delivery of quality health care
within the department including effectiveness, efficiency, equity, patient centeredness, safety and timeliness. The
work of this group may have demonstrated leadership in creating or implementing an innovative program, medical
treatment, or teaching that has improved the lives of patients.

Dr. Gwyn Bebb Dr. Poonam Dharmani Kahn
Dr. Kathryn Graham Tracy Xu
Dr. Meer-Taher Shabani Rad Dr. Ian Lewis
Dr. Pinaki Bose Dr. Adrian Box
Dr. Kathy McCoy Dr. Minal Borkar
Dr. Rehan Mujeeb Faridi Dr. Steven Yip
Michelle Dean Divya Samuel
Dr. Faisal Khan Cindy Miskolczi-McCallum

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 8

Academic Awards

Department of Oncology Recognition Awards - 2019-2020
TEAM AWARD FOR INNOVATION - 2020 AWARD RECIPIENT RADIATION PROSTATE CANCER TEAM
This award recognizes a team that has demonstrated a commitment to improving the delivery of quality health care
within the department including effectiveness, efficiency, equity, patient centeredness, safety and timeliness. The
work of this group may have demonstrated leadership in creating or implementing an innovative program, medical
treatment, or teaching that has improved the lives of patients.

Dr. Suraj Husain Raman Dhoot
Dr. Michael Roumeliotis Dorothy MacKay
Milarosa Diezon Dr. Tyler Meyer
Dr. Kevin Martell Rosanne Moore
Dr. Phillip McGeachy Robin Moore
Darren Graham Dr. Kundan Thind
Dr. Harvey Quon

9 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Academic Achievements

Academic Promotions 2019 -2020

MEDICAL
ONCOLOGY

Dr. Gwyn Bebb Dr. Jose Monzon Dr. Sasha Lupichuk Dr. Gloria Roldan-Urgoiti Dr. Winson Cheung Dr. Doug Stewart
Professor (GFT) Clinical Associate Clinical Associate Clinical Associate Professor Honorary Appoinrmtnet
Professor Professor Professor Professor Emeritus

PALLIATIVE PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY GYNECOLOGIC
MEDICINE ONCOLOGY

Dr. Laurie Lemieux Dr. Tony Truong Dr. Gregg Nelson
Clinical Assistant Associate Professor Professor (GFT)
Professor

PSYCHOSOCIAL Dr. Lauren Walker Dr. Janet de Groot MEDICAL PHYSICS Dr. Michael Roumeliotis
ONCOLOGY Adjunct Associate Professor Adjunct Associate
Professor Professor

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 10

Academic Activity

Grants - 2019 & 2020

Division Number of Grants Grant Amount Total grant amount
Fundamental Research 41 $5,949,699
Gynecologic Oncology 19 $3,285,821 $74,952,094
Hematologic Oncology 10 $5,130,000
Medical Oncology 68
Medical Physics 9 $25,428,004
Palliative Medicine 10 $1,531,129
Pediatric Oncology 52 $4,908,994
Preventive Oncology 56 $2,814,479
Psychosocial Oncology 75
Radiation Oncology 29 $13,416,055
Surgical Oncology 16 $13,142.000

$1,157,788
$5,670,122

Academic Publications - 2019 & 2020

Fundamental Research 22 Total publications
Gynecologic Oncology 62
Hematologic Oncology 118 1,025
Medical Oncology 186
Medical Physics 41
Palliative Medicine 39
Pediatric Oncology 63
Precision Oncology Hub
Preventive Oncology 8
Psychosocial Oncology 283
Radiation Oncology 175
Surgical Oncology
95
102

11 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Staff Profile and New Recruitments Dr. Doreen Ezeife
Medical Oncology
Staff New Recruitments 2019 and 2020 Dr. Stephanie Muir
Palliative Medicine
49 Dr. Aliyah Pabani Dr. Charlie Chen Dr. Eglee Gimon
67 Medical Oncology Palliative Medicine Palliative Medicine Dr. Jordan Stosky
Radiation Oncology
127 Dr. Steven Yip Dr. Omar Khan Dr. Sarah Perry
Medical Oncology Medical Oncology Hematology
Academic GFT vs.
Clinical Members Dr. Celistina Dr. Andrea Feldstein Dr. Laurence Lee
Martapullo Psychosocial Radiation Oncology
Academic GFT 67 Psychosocial Oncology
Clinical 127 Oncology Dr. Anna Cameron
Adjunct 49 Dr. Michael Sia Gynecologic
Department of Dr. Kevin Martell Radiation Oncology Oncology
Oncology – 243 members Radiation
Oncology
97
146

Gender Distribution
Department of Oncology

Female 97
Male 146

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 12

Staff Profile and New Recruitments

Staff New Recruitments 2019 and 2020

Colleen Cuthbert Dr. Ekaterina Dr. Pinaki Bose Dr. LIsa Allen-Scott
Nurse Practitioner Tchistiajova Research Preventive Oncology
Medical Physics
Dr. Jennifer Vena Dr. Lin Yang Dr. Miranda Fidler Benaoudia
Cancer Dr. Sarah Beattie Epidemiology and Epidemiology and Prevention Research
Epidemiology BMT and Prevention Research
and Prevention Psychosocial Dr. Phillip McGeachie
Research Oncology Dr. Yuan Xu Medical Physics
Research
Dr. Khara Sauro Dr. Jonatan Snir
Surgical Oncology Medical Physics

13 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Oncology Education Program

Highlights Program Directors

Associate Director The Department of Oncology continues to successfully educate a range of trainees Dr. Michael Roumeliotis Dr. Natalia Rydz (2020)
of Education including students, medical students, residents and fellows. We continue to observe Medical Physics Hematologic Oncology
Dr. Vincent Tam, BSc(Hon), a large number of trainees coming through our department as shown in the data
MD, FRCP(C) (page 14). A total of thirty eight fellows were trained in the Department of Oncology Dr. Prafull Ghatage Dr. Mona Shafey (2019)
between 2019 and 2020. Funding continues to be provided by the Alberta Cancer Gynecologic Oncology Hematologic Oncology
Education Statistics Foundation, Department of Oncology, the Lilian Koch Gynecologic Oncology
Trainees Fellowship, supervisor research grants and locum funding. Dr. Antoine Bouchard- Dr. Shaun Loewen
439 (year 2019/2020) Fortier (September - Radiation Oncology
431 (year 2020/2021) The Alberta General Practitioner in Oncology Focused Training Program started current )
Residents accepting trainees in July 2019 and since then three trainees have come through. Dr. Surgical Oncology Dr. Amanda Roze des
33 (year 2019/2020) Gloria Roldan-Urgoiti continues to serve as the director of this program. Ordons
35 (year 2020/2021) Dr. Lloyd Mack Palliative Medicine
The Combined Curriculum of the program remains successful in terms of attendance (Jan 2019 - Aug 2020)
Fellows and according to the evaluations. The current format includes lectures regarding Surgical Oncology Dr. Jan-Willem Henning
19 (year 2019/2020) clinically relevant oncology topics which takes place in the first two weeks of (Jan 2019 - Mar 2020)
19 (year 2020/2021) August and research topics in the Research Methods Course organized by Dr. Claire Dr. Greg Guilcher
Rotating Residents/ Temple-Oberle. Pediatric Oncology Dr. Nimira Alimohamed
Students (April 2020 - current)
387 (year 2019/2020) The Residents and Fellows Research Day was held on June 14, 2019. Thirteen Dr. John Robinson (2019) Medical Oncology
377 (year 2020/2021) residents and fellows representing seven oncology divisions presented their Dr. Andrea Feldstain
research. The best presentations awards were given to Dr. Nick Bosma (Medical (2020)
Oncology), Dr. Will Jiang (Radiation Oncology) and Dr. David Wu (Radiation Psychosocial Oncology
Oncology). Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Residents and
Fellows Research Day in 2020 switched to a virtual format. Nonetheless, eighteen Fellowship Directors
residents and fellows from six oncology divisions participated and presented their
research. We hope to be able to return to an in-person format in the near future. Dr. Safiya Karim
Medical Oncology
Department of Oncology Grand Rounds continue to evolve and are held twice per
month and focus on a practice changing topic within each division or the cancer Dr. Harvey Quon
tumour groups. Again due to the COVID-19 pandemic these rounds have moved to Radiation Oncology
a virtual format, but continue to be well attended.
Dr. Andrew Daly / Dr. Lynn Savoie
Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)

Dr. Lesley Street
Lymphoma

Dr. Kundan Thind
Medical Physics

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 14

Education Profile

Education 40 Oncology Education Statistics
411
16/17 15

Legend 17/18 20 32 431
Fellows 18/19 20 32 483
Residents 19/20 19 33 387
Trainees 377

20/21 19 35

2019/20 Division Education Statistics

Gynecologic Hematologic Medical Medical Palliative Pediatric Psychosocial Radiation Surgical
Oncology Physics Medicine Oncology Oncology Oncology Oncology
Oncology Oncology
1 0 2 1 3 1
Fellows 3 1 7 3
2 1 3 1 5 29
Residents 7 4 7
3 140 0 10 49 Surgical
Trainees 68 3 85 Oncology

2020/21 Division Education Statistics 1
3
Gynecologic Hematologic Medical Medical Palliative Pediatric Psychosocial Radiation 34
Oncology Physics Medicine Oncology Oncology Oncology
Oncology Oncology
1 0 1 1 2
Fellows 3 2 8
2 2 3 1 5
Residents 8 5 6
9 134 0 5 36
Trainees 54 50 55

15 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Department of Oncology Trainees 2019-2020 PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/BMT MEDICAL PHYSICS

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY

SURGICAL ONCOLOGY RADIATION ONCOLOGY

HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY PSYCHOSOCIAL ONCOLOGY PALLIATIVE MEDICINE GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 16

Department of Oncology Trainees 2020-2021 PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/BMT MEDICAL PHYSICS

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY

HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
RADIATION ONCOLOGY GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY

PSYCHOSOCIAL ONCOLOGY PALLIATIVE MEDICINE

17 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Gynecologic Oncology

Section Chief and/or Overview Awards and Achievements
Division Head:
Dr. Gregg Nelson, MD, PhD The section of Gynecologic Oncology is composed of 6 members Dr. Gregg Nelson:
FRCSC who are active in clinical gynecologic oncology, research, education
and service. Dr. Gregg Nelson took over from Dr. Jill Nation as IJGC Most Downloaded Article of 2019
Division Statistics Section Chief of Gynecologic Oncology on July 1, 2019. Dr. Nation “Guideline for Perioperative Care in
Staff continues in her role as the Medical Director of Colposcopy, in the Gynecologic/Oncology: Enhanced
6 Calgary Zone. Dr. Ghatage is the Fellowship Program Director, Recovery After Surgery
Publications Gyn/Onc Tumour Group Lead, and also serves as Deputy Section (ERAS®) Society Recommendations –
58 Chief. Dr. Pamela Chu stepped down as the Assistant Dean, 2019 Update”, International Journal of
Book Chapters Postgraduate Medical Education at the Cumming School of Gynecological Cancer, European Society
4 Medicine and has recently been appointed Associate Dean, Office of Gynecologic Oncology (ESGO),
Grants of Professionalism, Equity, and Diversity. Dr. Sarah Glaze is now the November 4, 2019, Athens, Greece
19 Program Director for the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Value of Grants Residency Program. Dr. Anna Cameron recently joined our group
$3,285,821 as a Clinical Lecturer. She is currently completing a postdoctoral
Presentations fellowship in Health Economics in the Department of Community
/Symposiums Health Sciences.
43

Deputy Section Chief Dr. Jill Nation Dr. Sarah Glaze Dr. Anna Cameron Dr. Pamela Chu
and/or Division Head:
Dr. Prafull Ghatage, MD, FRCSC
Tumour Group Leader

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 18

Strategic Planning/Priorities

1. Stable funding for 3rd year of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Training Program to
enhance research opportunities and academic development for our fellows and make them
competitive for recruitment after the completion of their fellowship.

2. Recruitment planning for Academic Gynecologic Oncologist – 2 year timeline.

Clinical Highlights Research Highlights Training Program

Our team provides comprehensive From a research standpoint, our division was “Our Royal College approved fellowship
gynecologic cancer care to patients very active over the last reporting period with program attracts high quality applicants
across Southern Alberta. We are 58 peer-reviewed manuscripts published, from Canada and abroad. There are currently
recognized as national leaders over $3,200,000 in grant funding, and 43 8 fellows in the program: Dr. Rachelle Findley,
in the areas of radical abdominal presentations. Dr. Christa Aubrey, Dr. Christina Ince, Dr.
debulking for ovarian cancer and Daniyah Badrun, Dr. Jennifer Mateshaytis, Dr.
HIPEC (heated intraperitoneal Mohammed Al-Ruwaisan, Dr. Tamara Kuzma,
chemotherapy). We continue and Dr. Saida Bowe. Our trainees are very
to work towards finalizing our competitive in finding academic positions in
program in Sentinel Lymph Node gynecologic oncology across the world when
mapping for endometrial, cervical they are finished at TBCC.”
and vulvar cancers.
- Dr. Gregg Nelson

19 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Hematologic Oncology

Section Chief and/or Division Head Overview Awards and Achievements
(April 2020 - current):
Dr. Andrew Daly, FRCSC The Section of Hematology consists of 34 hematologists primarily Dr. Natalia Rydz:
appointed to the Department of Medicine. Of these, 23 hold Department of Medicine
Dr. Chris Brown, MD, FRCPC secondary appointments to the Department of Oncology, Tom Baker Teambuilder of the Year
Dr. Deirdre Jenkins MD, FRCPC Cancer Centre. Expertise in the Section includes all aspects of clinical (2019)
(Interim September 2019 - April hematology, including benign conditions (Thrombosis, Hemostasis,
2020) Immunohematology, Hemoglobinopathy, Immunodeficiency, Dr. Deirdre Jenkins:
Disorders of iron metabolism) and hematological malignancies. Department of Medicine
Dr. Peter Duggan, MD, FRCPC The Alberta Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, located at the Brenda Hemmelgarn
(January - September 2019) Foothills Medical Centre and Tom Baker Cancer Centre, provides Professionalism Award
autologous stem cell transplant services to patients from Southern (2020)
Division Statistics Alberta and allogeneic transplants to all residents of Alberta. The
Staff ABMTP is gearing up to provide standard-of-care CAR T-cell therapy Dr. Chris Brown:
34 (23 cross appointed to appropriate recipients in early 2021. Guenter Distinguished
to Oncology) Achievement Award in
Publications The Section of Hematology provides outpatient clinics at Foothills Global Health, Cumming
118 Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, South Health Campus, the School of Medicine (2020)
Grants Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre and the Tom Baker and Tricia Antonini Award
10 Cancer Centre. Inpatient care is provided at Foothills Medical Centre AMBTP (2019)
Value of Grants and Peter Lougheed Centre, and inpatient consultations are provided
$5,130,000 by the Section at all four acute care sites in Calgary. The Section of
0millionresentations/ Hematology joined Specialist Link (SL) in May 2020 and receives an
Symposiums average of 133 consultations through SL per month, making it the
17 most-or second-most consulted service in the program.
Book Chapters
6 The Section of Hematology at TBCC saw many new consultations
in 2020, with nearly 15,000 unique visits to TBCC by Hematology
patients. The ABMTP is on track to complete over 200 hematopoietic
cell transplants (projected) in Fiscal Year 2020/21, including four
patients who received CAR-T cell therapy on clinical trials. Long-term
follow-up clinics for patients with lymphoma, myeloid malignancies
or who have received an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant are
available at the Holy Cross Centre.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 20

Leadership appointments

Dr. Andrew Daly
Division Head, Hematologic Oncology & Hematology (AHS Calgary and University of Calgary).
Dr. Mona Shafey
Medical Director, Alberta Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program.
Dr. Carolyn Owen
Medical Director, Lymphoma Diagnosis Program.
Dr. Natalia Rydz
Program Director, Hematology Residency Training Program, University of Calgary.
Dr. Lynn Savoie
Medical Director, Hematology Inpatient Unit (Unit 57) at FMC.

Dr. Andrew Daly

Clinical Highlights Research Highlights Training Program

Since January 2019 the Section of Hematology has 2019-2020 saw the continuation of our successful Over the past two years, eight fellows have entered
launched several highly successful initiatives to improve clinical trials program The Alberta Blood and or completed the Hematology Residency Training
access to care for patients with blood disorders. In Marrow Transplant Program has developed a novel Program at the University of Calgary. Many of our
Summer 2019 members of the section opened the first immunotherapy program with a provincial scope. We graduates have entered Fellowships in advanced
Thrombosis Clinic in Calgary. The clinic, a joint venture treated our first CAR T-cell patient in summer 2019; hematology topics at other institutions. Our current
between the Sections of Hematology and General Internal the patient was treated on a clinical trial of a novel two senior Residents (PGY-5) will enter advanced
Medicine, aims to provide consultations for all newly BCMA - targeted CAR T-cell for multiple myeloma. Four research and clinical training fellowships within the
diagnosed venous thromboemboli (VTE) within three patients have been treated on this study at our site. At Departments of Medicine and Oncology in July 2021.
weeks. The Cancer-Associated Thrombosis (CAT) clinic at the same time, the ABMTP has laid the foundations to The Advanced Hematology Oncology Fellowship
the University of Calgary Medical Clinic was established to provide such treatment to patients with CD19+ B-cell Program at the University of Calgary welcomed
provide specialist care of cancer patients with VTE. malignancies (large B-cell lymphoma and B-acute its first international fellow, Dr. Robin Noel, who
lymphoblastic leukemia). This required developing new completed a two-year Lymphoma Fellowship in
Members of the Section of Hematology have also been operating procedures, clinical processes, care plans and, Calgary in November 2020. Dr. Russell Sterrett has
involved in developing a new Lymphoma Diagnosis crucially, a business plan that was accepted by Alberta since joined the fellowship program.
Program that opened in October 2020. This program, led Health in July 2020. In conjunction with The Alberta
by Dr. Carolyn Owen, was developed in conjunction with Precision Laboratory Cellular Therapy Laboratory the The University of Calgary Thrombosis Program is
the Cancer Strategic Clinical Network. The Lymphoma program will develop the capacity to manufacture CAR developing a training program and is hoping to
Diagnosis Program connects Primary Care, Hematology, T-cells locally, which will hopefully enable patients to welcome its first Thrombosis Fellow in July 2021.
Diagnostic Imaging and Cancer Surgery in order to be treated in a more timely manner and at significant
streamline the diagnostic workup of patients with cost savings compared with products manufactured by
presentations suggestive of lymphoma. It is anticipated pharmaceutical companies.
that this streamlined workup will lead to improved patient
outcomes by avoiding unnecessary delays in accessing
critical diagnostic services and prevent avoidable adverse
changes in patients’ status during this time.

21 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Medical Oncology Awards and Achievements

Overview Dr. Daniel Heng:
Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer (JITC ) Best
Section Chief and/or The division has been fortunate to develop new leaders Clinical/Translational Paper Award
Division Head (July 2020 - who have assumed new positions during 2020.
current ): Dr. Jan-Willem Henning:
Dr. Daniel Heng, MD, MHP, Dr. Daniel Heng is now the Division Head for Medical Medical Oncology Residency Program: Teaching
FRCPC Oncology, taking over from Dr. Don Morris who has Award –Best Clinical Preceptor, Tom Baker Cancer
become the Head of the Department of Oncology at the Centre
Dr. Don Morris, MD, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine. Dr. Nimira Alimohamed
FRCPC (January 2019 - is the new Medical Oncology Training Program Director Dr. Omar Khan:
March 2020) and Dr. Aliyah Pabani is the Assistant Program Director. Pre-Clerkship Teaching Awards – Honour Roll
Dr. Safiya Karim is the Fellowship Director for our Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Dr. Jan-Willem Henning MD, division. Dr. Jose Monzon is now the Medical Leader for and Undergraduate Medical Education Teaching
MBChB, FRCPC (March - the Clinical Research Unit at the TBCC. Dr. Gwyn Bebb Bronze Award, Cumming School of Medicine,
July 2020_ continues to lead the POET program advancing the University of Calgary Associate Dean’s Letter of
Next Generation Sequencing agenda for our group and Excellence in Teaching
Deputy Section Chief Dr. Doreen Ezeife is the Provincial Lung Tumor Group
and/or Division Head: leader. Dr. Jan-Willem Henning is the vice-Chair of the Dr. Desiree Hao:
Dr. Jan-Willem Henning, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Subspecialty Associate Dean’s Letter of Excellence in Teaching
MBChB, FRCPC Training Committee. Dr. Winson Cheung is now the (Clinical Core Cumming School of Medicine,
Chair of the Quality of Life Committee of the prestigious University of Calgary)
Division Statistics Canadian Clinical Trials Group (CCTG). Dr. Desiree Hao
is the President of the Canadian Association of Medical Dr. Douglas Stewart:
Staff Oncologists. Dr. Vanessa Krause is the Provincial Alberta Health Services 2019 President’s Excellence
27 Medical Lead of Quality, Safety, and Outcomes Award: Outstanding Achievement in Quality
Publications Improvement. We are proud to have strong leadership Improvement. Cancer SCN Provincial Health
190 and a national presence. Initiative. Awarded Status of Professor Emeritus
Grants of Oncology, University of Calgary, conferred for
68 services in teaching, research and engagement
Value of Grants
$25,428,004
Presentations/
Symposiums
83

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 22

Awards and Achievements Clinical Highlights

Dr. Dean Ruether: COVID19 has brought upon us new services continue to be steady with
Alberta Health Services President’s procedures, personal protective a median number of inpatients of
Excellence Award 2019 - Achievement in equipment, virtual follow-up visits, 17. The need to expand systemic
Patient and Family-Centered Care: My Care outbreak management meetings therapy delivery will see Saturday
Conversations and contact tracing. Additionally, service opening in January 2021 and
quarantine and self-isolation rules much work has been done thanks
Dr. Patricia Tang: made clinical coverage extremely to the leadership of Dr. Jan-Willem
Best Competency by Design Preceptor challenging in 2020. Thankfully, our Henning. Through hardship comes
2019, Medical Oncology Fellows Teaching staff have pulled together to provide innovation and we have improved
Award excellent care for our patients. In access to virtual care, created a
the last six months alone, we have wellness program, absence coverage
Dr. Vincent Tam: covered over 27 quarantine or matrix, and have cohorted inpatient
Medical Oncology Fellows Teaching isolation- related absences. Inpatient ward duties.
Award 2019 (Evidence Based Medicine
Preceptor Award), Tom Baker Cancer Research Highlights
Centre
Dr. Winson Cheung has secured over $1 million in grants per year for real
Training Program world evidence projects in his provincial role as Director of Health Services
Research and has created important industry partnerships to further advance
We are very proud of our Medical Oncology training programs. Currently this. Dr. Steven Yip was a corecipient of a $3 million grant from Prostate
we have 5 medical oncology residents and 9 subspecialty fellows. Cancer Canada for the PATRON study investigating the use of PSMA PET
Our fellows have won awards at the Canadian Association of Medical and radioligand therapies in metastatic prostate cancer. Dr. Nancy Nixon was
Oncologists annual meeting, Novartis Oncology Young Canadian the recipient of a $150,000 grant from the Alberta Cancer Foundation for
Investigator Awards, Conquer Cancer Foundation / ASCO Merit Awards, investigating PROs in patients with breast cancer. Dr. Gloria Roldan is on her
and have received research grants for their work. We thank the Alberta way in opening up an investigator- initiated trial of niacin in GBM. Five of our
Cancer Foundation and Industry partners for supporting our fellowships. division members have had more than 5 publications over the last academic
Dr. Nimira Alimohamed has done an excellent job leading the Medical year including two members with over 20 publications each in a single year.
Oncology Training Program through a successful internal review in 2020. Exciting initiatives are underway involving Alberta Immunotherapy Database,
To access information about these programs for prospective fellows which is spearheaded by medical residents (Dr. Igor Stukalin and Dr. Daniel
and residents, please visit www.departmentofoncology.com. Dr. Vincent Meyers) under the mentorship of our department members (Drs. Morris,
Tam has led a successful Resident Research Day and our Subspecialty Cheng, Heng). Dr. Jose Monzon’ s investigator-initiated trials of statins in
Oncology Fellowship program has continued to grow. Dr. Safiya Karim rectal cancer and PD1 inhibitors in cancers of unknown primary are also
is the Fellowship Director and we are proud to attract fellows from all highlights in our department.
over Canada and around the world. From Ottawa to Montreal, Brazil to
Malaysia, Spain to Australia, we are excited to expand our research and
teaching horizons with them.

23 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Medical Physics

Overview

Section Chief and/or Overall, the 15 physicists in the Division of Medical Physics have authored 40 different peer reviewed publications in the past two years. Thirteen of these
Division Head: physicists are located at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre (TBCC), and two at the Jack Ady Cancer Centre (JACC), as our highly productive and mutually
Dr. Wendy L. Smith, PhD, beneficial relationship with physicists based in Lethbridge continues. The latest JACC hire was a joint recruiting process between academic and clinical
FCCPM, MCCPM leads. In addition, we have had four new physicist hires at TBCC in less than three years, most of whom now have adjunct appointments in Oncology. Three
division physicists, Dr. Hali Morrison, Dr. Philip McGeachy and Dr. Jonatan Snir, became members of the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine. Dr. Greg
Division Statistics Pierce, Dr. Tyler Meyer and Dr. Michael Roumeliotis became Fellows of the College. The number of grants applied for and successful in our division continues
Staff to increase. We now hold grants in brachytherapy, microwave imaging for breast cancer and partial breast radiotherapy. Minor grants are also facilitating
15 early work in image guidance, automation radiotherapy and gynecologic radiotherapy. Our division continues to support a broad array of radiotherapy
Publications clinical trials through credentialing, requirements gathering and standardization. Medical Physics continues to actively support the new Calgary Cancer
40 Centre (CCC) project. In 2019, working sessions were held to outline a medical physics operational readiness plan. Work streams and priorities were set
Grants and a staffing plan was developed. This plan was shared with the CCC Project leadership and Cancer Care Alberta leadership. The design phase is nearly
9 complete for most radiation therapy facilities. We led a series of multidisciplinary workshops to define the vision of the radiotherapy program in the CCC and
Value of Grants outlined program requirements based on those principles. This work guided equipment selection, which continues; and the first four linac purchase orders
$1,531,129 are now complete. In addition, Medical Physics, Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology have developed a joint research plan within the overall research
Presentations/ vision for the CCC and work on these topics is well underway: My Cancer Outcomes, Precision Radiotherapy, and the Precision Surgical Radiation Program.
Symposiums
12 Research Highlights Training Program

Dr. Wendy L. Smith Technique development, implantation and review continues to be a major Over the past two years, the Division of Medical Physics has had 15 Masters
research focus for medical physics. An ethics application for Stereotactic and Ph.D. students in the Radiation Oncology Physics Specialization of
Dr. Kundan Thind Arrhythmia Radioablation Therapy for Cardiac Tachydysrhythmias was the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science. The
submitted, and a review paper on this topic was also published. Our Division has taught six different 3-credit hour 600 level courses and three
group continues to lead in innovated patient-centred total body irradiation different 1.5-credit hour 600 level courses to these graduate students, and
techniques. Several papers were published on abdominal Stereotactic Body all members of the division have taught in courses during this time period.
Radiation Therapy. The work in breast cancer research continues, with two All 15 students were supervised and co-supervised by members of the
papers reporting ACCEL outcomes and another on heart dose sparing. division. The vast majority (11) of our division members supervised or co-
Finally, the machine learning team continues to investigate potential uses supervised a student over the past two years. Two students graduated in
of artificial intelligence in radiation medicine, with applications in head and the past two years, Steven Nich, MSc in 2019 Pd-103 Brachytherapy Skin
neck and prostate cancer treatments. The COVID pandemic has forced a Dosimetry, Measurements and Simulations, and Dr. Sarah Weppler, PhD,
broad review of how we deliver care in radiotherapy. Our group published Artificial Intelligence to Advance Adaptive Radiation Therapy. Four other
two papers on adapting radiotherapy for breast and prostate treatments MSc students were accepted as transfers to the PhD program. Seven of the
in the pandemic, as well as a paper and three letters on low dose radiation PhD students completed their candidacy exams in 2019-2020. Our medical
therapy for COVID-19 pneumonia. The brachytherapy research group physics graduate students were highly awarded with scholarships and
continues to be highly productive. This team has published papers on have a combined total of more than $212,000 in scholarships in 2019-2020.
a number of brachytherapy techniques, including HDR for prostate The medical physics residency continues to be offered as a Post-Doctoral
treatments, perineal template-based interstitial gynecological implants, and Diploma in Radiation Oncology Physics, Specialization of the Department of
permanent breast seed implants. Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 24

Awards and Achievements Clinical Highlights

Dr. Michael A number of major clinical projects have been completed in Next, the group rolled out RapidPlan models,
Roumeliotis: Top 40 2019-2020. Three linear accelerators were installed, accepted which use artificial intelligence to produce plans
under 40 Class of 2020, and commissioned for clinical service in 2018-2020. In 2019, for patients consistent with the standards of our
Avenue Magazine a new permanent seed brachytherapy delivery technique clinic. Historically, radiation plans were generated
using a new applicator was implemented for prostate cancer manually by a dosimetrist. In this newer approach,
Dr. Tyler Meyer: patients. This technique allowed for continuity of care for computer algorithms optimize treatment plans, then
Cumming of School these patients, as well as reduced the cost per procedure. the dosimetrists make final adjustments. Beginning in
of Medicine Research In spring of 2020, our high dose rate brachytherapy system 2021, the team will expand this towards an end-to-
Rockstar, 2020 was scheduled to be replaced. The team worked around the end automated treatment planning solution, which will
clock in the early days of the pandemic to get this equipment be selectively rolled out in Genitourinary and Breast
Dr. Wendy Smith: ready for patients, despite repeated technical setbacks and an treatment sites initially. While not evident to the
Cumming of School installer who quite literally required rescuing. In winter 2020, patient, this work will decrease planning resources for
of Medicine Research the radiation medicine program underwent a major upgrade to routine cases (thereby liberating dosimetry for more
Rockstar, 2019 AriaRO 15. The medical physics information services group has complicated or unique plans), while keeping a focus on
also virtualized the clinical support services environment, and high quality, timeliness of care, and consistent practice
completed a Sharepoint overhaul. The TBCC’s highly successful at an institutional level.
prostate brachytherapy program has led to an abundance
of referrals. In order to provide timely care to all patients, the Over the past two years, Radiation Therapy
prostate team has developed stereotactic body radiotherapy Standards have been reviewed and updated in
(SBRT) for prostate cancer patients. TBCC is the first and conjunction with Radiation Oncology and Radiation
only centre to offer this option in Alberta. SBRT provides Therapy. As most treatments now required robust
an alternative to men with early state disease who are also image guidance, a template-based image guidance
eligible for brachytherapy as mono-therapy. This technique system has been implemented, that ensures high
uses implanted fiducial markers to ensure highly accurate quality treatment delivery. Major improvements
treatment on a linear accelerator. The first patient was treated to safety and QA were implemented, including
in October 2020 with two more patients starting treatment in automated machine performance checks, and
December. SBRT accrual is expected to reduce the wait time use of better software systems to ensure reliable
for brachytherapy procedures, enabling timely care for prostate record keeping and communication. We continue to
cancer patients in Alberta, and provides another treatment implement better software systems to aid the quality
option for men with prostate cancer. assurance that will increase reliability and precision
of our QC program. Some of these tools are highly
The medical physics team is also developing automated patient centric, such as the automated collision check,
approaches to planning external beam treatment. The first implemented by graduate student Thomas Mann.
stage of this work was to implement automated treatment It ensures collision avoidance for patients receiving
planning checks to improve plan consistency and quality stereotactic radiosurgery, as well as head and neck
(2019). cancer treatments.

25 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Palliative Medicine

Section Chief and/or Overview Awards and Achievements
Division Head:
Dr. Jessica Simon MB ChB, In 2019, we welcomed Dr. Charlie Chen from University of British Columbia, PaCES Project Team Innovation Award 2018, Department
MRCP(UK), FRCPC as the Medical Director of Palliative and End of Life Care, Alberta Health of Oncology (Sept 2019)
Services, Calgary Zone and as a Clinical Associate Professor with the Division
Division Statistics and Dr. Stephanie Muir, as a Clinical Lecturer, from the University of Manitoba. Dr. Alison Murray Division of Palliative Medicine Excellence
Dr. Chen was also elected to the board and is the current Secretary of the in Education, Educator of the year award 2018-2020 (Dec
Staff Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians. 2020)
26
Publications In June 2019, our inaugural Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of
38 Canada Palliative Medicine sub-specialty resident, Dr. Sam Shum, commenced
Grants his training, joined in June 2020 by Dr. Irina Adamova. We continue to provide
10 College of Family Physicians of Canada Enhanced Skills training in Palliative
Value of Grants Care, with two residents each year, including Dr. Katherine Liu, who joined
$2,522,528 our AHS Palliative and End of Life Care team in July 2020. Dr. Laurie Lemieux
Presentations/ was appointed the Residency Program Director for both training programs
Symposiums in December 2020 and we are proud to be one of a handful of Canadian
28 Universities offering both residency programs.
Book Chapters
1 Our faculty are committed to education from undergraduate to continuing
professional development. In October 2019, we were honoured to host Dr.
David Hui, as the Royal College Balfour M. Mount Visiting Professorship in
Palliative Medicine. He presented a series of lectures including research on
models of palliative care delivery that continue to inform our planning for
the New Calgary Cancer Centre. We were also delighted to support the
start of the University of Calgary Undergraduate Medical Student Special
Interest Group in Palliative Care. Students have hosted Palliative Care skills
nights in 2019 and 2020, started a book club and volunteered in community
engagement activities.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 26

Dr. Jessica Simon Dr. Ayn Sinnarajah
Division Head, Palliative Medicine Palliative Medicine

Recipient of the Gillian McMichael
Lectureship in Palliative Care from
the Nova Scotia Hospice and
Palliative Care Association (May
2019)

Members of the Division of Palliative Medicine, on a Zoom call

Clinical Highlights Research Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic saw a The Palliative Care Early and Systematic (www.PaCESProject.ca), led by Dr. Jessica Simon and
30% increase in palliative homecare Dr. Aynharan Sinnarajah, successfully implemented the new Cancer Care Alberta guideline
consultations and extended use of virtual and pathway, “Integrating an Early Palliative Approach into Advanced Colorectal Cancer Care,”
visit technology, which rural palliative care with the GI tumour group clinics in January 2019. Data collection in the associated, “Living with
consult team had piloted in earlier research, Colorectal Cancer Study” was completed December 2020, with results anticipated in 2021.
published in September 2019. In a matter The PaCES collaborative are further enhancing and evaluating timely access to palliative care,
of weeks our division helped develop supported by a 2020 Canadian Institutes of Health Research project grant, to co-develop and
and adapt several protocols, processes test “automatic” referrals to supportive and palliative care for patients with advanced lung
and checklists to support advance care cancer.
planning, transitions from hospital to home,
end-of-life care at home and symptom
relief during the pandemic.

27 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Pediatric Oncology

Section Chief and/or Overview Awards and Achievements
Division Head:
Dr. Victor A. Lewis, MD The blood and marrow sub-section of the Pediatric Oncology program successfully opened the Chimeric Antigen Receptor – Dr. Aru Narendran
T cell therapy trails for the pediatric population in Alberta. The program, working with the adult section, together received Alberta Competitive Kids Cancer Care
Division Statistics Government approval to proceed with the treatment plan alongside 10 million dollars in funding to support the program. In Chair in Clinical Research
Staff addition the Alberta Cancer Foundation added five million dollars to build the research arm of the program. The program allows $5 Million.
10 for implementation for industry based clinical trials, use of commercially available CAR-T products as well as introduction of
Publications locally developed CAR-T entities. While expanding the inventory of curative therapies for leukemia and lymphoma, the program
60 allows for developing scientific initiatives with collaborative teams at the University of Calgary for work in CAR-T beyond
Grants leukemia/lymphoma and into solid tumors.
52
Value of Grants The transplant program continues its leadership role in sickle cell transplantation for those with ABO compatible donors. The
$2,745,362 program opened its investigator-led study for ABO incompatible donor, thus enhancing the BMT service to a larger group of
Presentations/ sickle cell disease patients. The first patient was successfully transplanted while others wait on the transplant list. The pediatric
Symposiums immune deficiency transplant program has become the second largest of its type in Canada boasting a success rate of greater
24 than 90% for even the highest risk patients. We published our experience of aplastic anemia transplant cohort using lower dose
Book Chapters Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine and low dose total body radiation for unrelated donors. The survival in this cohort was 100%
3 with minimal long term detrimental effects. The ‘Hospital at Home program’ in pediatric oncology has seen in excess of 4000
visits since inception and continues to add additional indications for service. While clinical care was the main focus, the research
platform has successfully published two papers demonstrating success within the clinical and psychosocial realms. The program
continues to be highly appreciated by families and patients, with demand far exceeding capacity.

Pediatric Oncology also saw tremendous turnover in the latter part of 2020. Dr. Strother, a member since the middle of 2001,
began his terminal sabbatical that completes in June 2021. In this year he continues to focus on transfer of responsibilities as
well as important research initiatives such as RERAD, Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and various quality assurance projects.
He remains a member of several important local, national and international committees that serve to advance pediatric oncology.
Dr. Ronald Anderson, our longest serving member, unfortunately had to take a leave of absence starting June 2020 and will
end his tenure in January 2021. While he is doing well, he had to make this hard decision and focus on other obligations. He will
be missed very much. Dr. Ravi Shah and Dr. Melanie Finkbeiner joined the program in locum capacities to help with the ever-
increasing workload of our growing program. Of note, the Oncology program now sees 80-85 new diagnoses, excluding cases
of relapse compared to 45-50 cases from 10-15 years ago. The BMT program perform 55-60 transplant procedures per year, up
from 20-25 procedures 15 years ago. The non-malignant cohort has seen the largest growth. The program graduated two R6
residents this year. Two residents joined at the R4 level while three subspecialty fellows joined our program for further training in
blood and marrow transplantation (x2) and one for general hematology and oncology.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 28

Overview and Highlights continued Training Program Dr. Lucie Lafay-Cousin
Pediatric Oncology, BMT
Dr. Truong and Dr. Lafay-Cousin continue their successes academically. The program graduated one BMT fellow in 2019 as well
Dr. Truong’s sabbatical was fruitful in enhancing collaborations within as an R6 whose final year was focused on BMT. The latter Dr. Tony Truong
the ‘Cancer in young people – Canada (CYP-C)’ and leading to several has successfully been recruited to a BMT center in Saudi Pediatric Oncology , BMT
publications though this partnership. He will continue to focus on this Arabia. Two R6 residents graduated in 2020 with both
collaboration in addition to other successful academic partnerships. being successfully recruited in subspecialty programs
He successfully led the Canadian arm of the FORUM study, definitively within Canada. One resident joined at the R4 level. There
answering the question of necessity of ‘high dose radiation’ in stem cell are currently three active sub-specialty residents within the
transplantation for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The
landmark paper was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and has program.
changed the scope of practice in transplant for pediatric ALL. Dr. Lafay-
Cousin continues to maintain a ‘world leader’ stance in Pediatric Neuro-
Oncology with several successful publications as well as national and
international committee leadership roles. Locally her efforts are focused on
developing and delivery of comprehensive Neuro-Oncology care to children
of southern Alberta. She has been the largest recruiter to an international
trial studying novel therapy for difficult to treat brain tumors.

Research Highlights

Precision Oncology for Young People (PROFYLE) is a pan-Canadian effort funded by the Terry-Fox foundation, is active within Pediatric Oncology. This study
receives funding from the Alberta Cancer Foundation for recruitment activities in Alberta patients. As mentioned above, Dr. Lucie Lafay-Cousin has been the
largest Canadian recruiter for the TRAM (Trametinib) study in Neuro-Oncology patients. Dr. Truong has published several manuscripts through the CYP-C
partnership and the landmark, Journal of Clinical Oncology paper confirming the best transplant regimen for children with recalcitrant ALL.

Research initiatives in sickle cell transplant, led by Dr. Greg Guilcher, continue to grow and broaden local, national and international collaborations. Shortly,
we will be able to open the haplo-identical transplant platform for such children, extending services to the vast majority (up to 80%) that are currently
underserved. This collaboration with the German group is being led by Dr. Lewis. Dr. Guilcher also leads the work in BMT supportive care at the COG and is
the current chair of that sub-group at the COG. He remains the vice-chair of sickle Cell Transplant Alliance for Research (STAR) advancing sickle cell transplant
research worldwide.

The Children’s Oncology Group enrollments continue on open studies with the largest number of studies opening within the last two years. This success was
due to major restructuring of our Clinical Research Unit at the Alberta Children’s Hospital allowing for use of philanthropic as well as grant-generated funds to
help recruit new members to enhance our work. We continue to open studies in collaboration with Industry and various Canadian and US partnerships.

Calgary continues to hold both the annual Sickle Cell Transplant Alliance consortium (STAR) and POETIC groups meetings in Banff. Meetings such as these
increase our stance and visibility in respective research consortia.

29 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Preventive Oncology

Section Chief and/or Overview
Division Head:
Dr. Christine Friedenreich, The Division of Preventive Oncology currently has 13 members that includes the Research Scientists in the Department of Cancer Epidemiology and
PhD, FCAHS Prevention Research (CEPR) at Alberta Health Services who are Drs. Christine Friedenreich, Miranda Fidler- Benaoudia, Karen Kopciuk, Cheryl Peters and
Lin Yang. Other members include: Dr. Darren Brenner (Assistant Professor, University of Calgary), Dr. Jennifer Vena (Scientific Director, Alberta’s Tomorrow
Division Statistics Project, Cancer Care Alberta, AHS), Dr. Lisa Allen Scott (Senior Scientist, Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund, AHS), Dr. Heather Bryant (Expert Advisor,
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Toronto), Dr. Lorraine Shack (Director, Cancer Surveillance, Cancer Care Alberta, AHS), Dr. Jeff Vallance (Professor,
Staff Athabasca University, Medicine Hat), Ms. Xanthoula Kostaras (Manager, Guidelines Utilization Resource Unit, Cancer Care Alberta, AHS) and Ms. Melissa
13 Shea-Budgell (Lead, Research Strategy and Partnerships, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine).
Publications
283 Dr. Cheryl Peters: Recipient of 2018 Young Investigator Award
Grants from the Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine.
56
Value of Grants Dr. Christine Friedenreich was elected as a Fellow of the Royal
$13,416,055 Society of Canada. 2019
Presentations/
Symposiums Dr. Darren Brenner:
102 Co-recipient of the William E. Rawls Prize of the Canadian Cancer
Book Chapters Society
7 Recipient of Excellence Award in first 10 years of acting as an
independent investigator
Dr. Cheryl Peters Dr. Christine Friedenreich Dr. Darren Brenner Recipient of Canadian Cancer Society. 2019 Award
Dr. Karen Kopchiuk
Dr. Miranda Fidler- Dr. Jeff Vallance Dr. Karen Kopchiuk:
Benaoudia Recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Statistical
Society of Canada for her years of service to the SSC

Dr. Miranda Fidler-Benaoudia:
Recipient of the Early Career Investigators Maternal,
Reproductive, Child and Youth Health Award from the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research

Dr. Jeff Vallance:
Recipient of the the Karolinska Institutet, Global Bridges Scholar
Program, Stockholm, Sweden. 2019

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 30

Research Highlights Training Program

The Division scientists’ research continues to be focused on a range of topics in cancer During the reporting period, our Division members supervised 11 Masters students
epidemiology and prevention with a major emphasis on lifestyle factors, occupational and 6 PhD students. Graduate students were recipients of the following awards and
and environmental risk factors, descriptive cancer epidemiology (specifically cancer scholarships:
surveillance and trends), molecular and genetic mechanisms of cancer etiology and
survival. In addition, research is on-going in areas of health services, cancer surveillance, • Alberta Graduate Scholarship Award, University of Calgary
and cancer survivorship. For the reporting period of January 1, 2019 to December • Alex Cummings Travel Award, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer
31, 2020, our Division members have held 56 grants worth a total of $13,416,055. In Institute, University of Calgary
addition, they have published 283 papers and made 102 presentations at scientific • Barrie I Strafford Doctoral Scholarship for Interdisciplinary Studies on
meetings. Aging
• Canada Graduate Scholarship, Master’s (CGS M) CIHR, University of
The Division scientists have been successful in securing new funding during these past Calgary
two years, particularly from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the • CSM Barrie I Strafford Doctoral Scholarship for Interdisciplinary
Canadian Cancer Society, the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Alberta Health, the Canadian Studies on Aging
Partnership Against Cancer, the O’Brien Institute for Public Health and the Cumming • Faculty of Graduate Studies Doctoral Scholarship, University of
School of Medicine. One large project that was co-led by Drs. Brenner and Friedenreich, Calgary
funded by the Canadian Cancer Society, the ComPARe project that quantified the current • Faculty of Graduate Studies Master’s Research Scholarship, University
and future burden of cancer attributable to lifestyle, environment, and infections in of Calgary
Canada was completed in mid-2019 resulting in a Special Issue of the Journal Preventive • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Award, University of Calgary
Medicine and a website (www.cancerprevention.ca) with a dashboard and extensive • Ruby Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship, University of Calgary
infographics. Other large cohort studies in breast cancer survivorship are on-going • Special Trainee Travel Award, Charbonneau Cancer Institute,
(Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer (AMBER) Cohort study and the Endometrial University of Calgary
Cancer Cohort Study). Additional notable new studies that were funded in 2020 include: • The Howard Research Excellence Award, 2020
• Oncofertility among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in • University of Calgary Surgeon Scientist Fellowship
Alberta: a mixed methods study, Dr. M. Fidler-Benaoudia, funded by CIHR,
$612,000 The Division also had six postdoctoral fellows; Dr. Jessica McNeil, Dr. Andria Morielli,
Dr. Gyanendra Pokharel, Dr. Dylan O’Sullivan, Dr. Tamer Jarada and Dr. Devon
• Blood biomarker for breast cancer patients and detection of bone recurrence, Boyne.
Dr. K. Kopciuk, funded by the Alberta Cancer Foundation, $706,710

• ATP COVID-19 Serology Study, Dr. J Vena, funded by Alberta Health,
$2,943,479

• Modeling patient response to a therapeutic diet in Crohn’s disease, Dr. J.
Vallance, funded by Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Precision Nutrition in IBC
Grant, $1,100,000

31 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Psychosocial Oncology

Overview

Throughout 2019 and 2020, Psychosocial Division members demonstrated a high degree of commitment to excellence in
research, education, and clinical practice, leading the way in innovative psychosocial oncology clinical care and training programs.

Division Head, Psychosocial With the generous support of the Daniel Family Foundation, the Division continued to expand and strengthen key streams of
Oncology research and clinical programming. Trainees, scholars, and healthcare providers from across the globe completed trainings with
Dr. Barry D. Bultz, AOE, the Psychosocial Division, further raising the Division’s international profile. Psychosocial Division members provided supervision
PhD, Professor to 20 undergraduate students, 27 graduate students, 11 Post- Doctoral Fellows, and 5 Clinical Psychology Residents, including
a Clinical Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellow from Ireland and an “Eyes High” Post- Doctoral Fellow from Lebanon. In 2020, the
Division Statistics first Physician Fellow in Palliative Care completed a rotation in Psychosocial Oncology, as part of a new initiative developed by
Training Program Director, Dr. Andrea Feldstain, co- implemented with the Royal College Fellowship program.
Staff
18 In 2019 and 2020, Psychosocial Division members successfully secured over $20 million in grant funding. The Division is home to
Publications innovative research programs in Pediatric Psychosocial Oncology, Cancer and Exercise, Integrative Oncology, Psychiatry/Palliative
170 Care, Oncology Sexual Health, and Behavioural Medicine, spearheaded by Drs. Fiona Schulte, Nicole Culos- Reed, Linda Carlson,
Grants Janet de Groot, Lauren Walker, and Tavis Campbell, respectively. Dr. Janet de Groot is leading research projects focusing on the
75 advancement of Indigenous mental health initiatives in medical education, and on the implementation of an evidence-based
Value of Grants therapeutic intervention for individuals with advanced cancer.
$22,596,209
Presentations/ Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed was awarded a $2.5 million grant in 2020 to bring the evidence-based Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE)
Symposiums program to rural Canadians. Overall, Psychosocial Division research programs continue to bridge scholarly excellence with clinical
140 care, thereby furthering the Psychosocial Division’s mandate to inform evidence- based practice through research.
Book Chapters
23 Finally, our division was reviewed by an International External Advisory Board for the Arnie Chabonneau Cancer Research
Institute and was described as a national leader in Psychosocial Oncology. In short, the Advisory Committee stated that our
model of research led to changes in cancer care delivery. Simply stated, the Advisory Board said The Division of Psychosocial
Oncology consistently “hit it out of the park”.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 32

Awards and Achievements Clinical Highlights

Dr. Tavis Campbell Throughout 2019 and 2020, the Psychosocial Division offered innovative clinical
Elected as fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association programming as part of several research initiatives. Clinical programs include:
(2020)
-Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR)and Tai chi/Qigong (TCQ) (Linda
Dr. Linda Carlson: Elected as Fellow, Academy of Behavioral Carlson)
Medicine Research (ABMR) . ABMR is the pre-eminent group
for Behavioral Medicine research leaders worldwide; Linda is -Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) Program(Nicole Culos-Reed)
one of only a few Canadians ever admitted. (2020) Received
the International Psycho-Oncology Society Bernard Fox -Sexual Health and Rehabilitation e-Clinic(SHAReClinic) for men with prostate
Memorial Award (2019) cancer (John Robinson and Lauren Walker)

Dr. John Robinson: Received the Canadian Association of -Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Sexuality (MBCT-S) and Sex Therapy,
Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) 2019 Innovation Award: Education &Support (STEP) Group Program for women with breast cancer (Lauren
Androgen Deprivation Therapy Educational Program Team Walker)
(2019)
-Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully(CALM) Psychotherapeutic Intervention
Dr. Lauren Walker: for individualswith advanced cancer (Janet de Groot and AndreaFeldstain).
Awarded the Top 40 Under 40 Award, Calgary’s Avenue
Magazine (2019) Received the Canadian Association of Research Highlights
Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) 2019 Innovation Award:
Androgen Deprivation Therapy Educational Program Team Psychosocial Division members successfully secured
(2019) grant-funding totaling over $22 million in 2019 and
over $30 million in 2020. One hundred and seventy
peer-reviewed manuscripts were published by Division
members in 2019 and 2020.

Training Program

1. Undergraduate students (honours/ Dr. Devesh Oberoi, MBBS, PhD, will commence a one-year post-doctoral fellowship with the Psychosocial Division as a
independent research/summer joint CSM-Daniel Family Leadership Chair (DFLC) I Psychosocial Oncology fellow in November 2020; the fellowship will be
student): 20 primarily supported by the DFLC. With his training in the areas of cancer prevention/timely diagnosis, the experience of
cancer care and cancer survivorship research over the last nine years, Devesh brings a wealth of international experience
2. Graduate students (MSc/PhD): 27 in psychosocial cancer research.
3. Post-doctoral fellows: 11
4. Residents (clinical psychology): 5 Psychosocial Division trainees received numerous grants and a high number of awards for excellence, including the
Canadian Institute of Health Research Doctoral Scholarships, Queen Elisabeth II Master’s and Doctoral Scholarships,
Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Graduate Studentship Research Awards. Mohamad Baydoun,
PhD, 2019-2021 was awarded an Eyes High Postdoctoral Fellowship and will work in Dr. Linda Carlson’s research lab.

33 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Radiation Oncology

Section Chief and/or Overview Awards and Achievements
Division Head:
Dr. Lisa Barbera, MD The Division welcomed four new members in 2019-2020. Dr. Dr. Lisa Barbera:
FRCPC Kevin Martell is a graduate of the University of Calgary Residency -CARO Gold Medal and Gordon Richards
Program. He completed a one year brachytherapy fellowship at the Lecturer
Deputy Section Chief and/or Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre. He joined the GYN and GU sites. 2020 CARO Annual Scientific Meeting
Division Head: Dr. Michael Sia is a mid-career radiation oncologist who returned to
Dr. Elizabeth Kurien, MD CM Calgary after working several years in British Columbia. He joined Dr. Shaun Loewen:
FRCPC the GU and breast sites and has assumed the role of Assistant Department of Oncology Excellence in Research
Program Director for the Residency Program. Dr. S. Laurence Lee Award
Division Statistics joined the GI and breast sites. Dr. Lee is a graduate of the University
of Toronto Residency Program and completed an MR-LINAC Dr. Natalie Logie:
Staff fellowship at the University of Wisconsin. We also welcomed back 2019 Preceptor of the Year: Tom Baker Cancer
23 Dr. Jordan Stosky who is a graduate of the University of Calgary Centre
Publications Residency Program and completed a fellowship at McGill. Dr. Stosky
95 joined the breast, sarcoma and cutaneous sites.
Grants
29 The Division had two retirements in 2020. Dr. Steve Angyalfi retired
Value of Grants in March after a full career at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. He
$4,145,764 made significant contributions to the care of patients with prostate
Presentations/ cancer, lung cancer and pediatric cancer. Dr. Peter Craighead retired
Symposiums from clinical service in March but continued in an administrative role
35 supporting Community Oncology until December. Dr. Craighead
made significant contributions to Tom Baker both as Division Head
for Radiation Oncology and then Medical Facility Director for Tom

Baker. Both will be missed by their patients and colleagues.

Dr. Steve Angyalfi Dr. Peter Craighead Dr. Elizabeth Kurien Dr. Robyn Banerjee

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 34

Training Program Clinical Highlights

The Radiation Oncology Training Program has In 2019 the members of the Division of Radiation Oncology saw about
continued to graduate one resident each year. 4700 consults. The tumour team structure has matured with defined
Congratulations to our recent graduates, therapy, physics and oncology leadership. Tumour teams have taken
Drs. Jordan Stosky and Will Jiang. leadership roles in developing new techniques. These include scaling
up the use of high dose rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer, the
We have also had the successful participation development of SBRT for early stage prostate cancer and the rapid
of several Radiation Oncology fellows including adoption of the 5 fraction FAST Forward regimen for breast cancer
Drs. Martin Doak and James Ddamba. patients. Wide spread adoption of image guided RT is now in use with the
installation of three new LINACs.
Research Highlights
Members have also contributed significantly to two quality improvement
There has been considerable academic growth in the past few projects. The first in dosimetry resulted in substantial changes to
years. Division members have authored or contributed to almost workflows for radiation planning. Tom Baker Cancer Centre is the only
double the number of publications seen five years ago. There has radiation department in Alberta to meet its monthly read to treat intervals
also been growth in grant funding within the division with over consistently each month for the past 12 months. A newer brachytherapy
$2.5M awarded to individuals in the division in 2019/2020. QI project launched in 2020 with some process improvements made and
more to come. This will ensure that we are as efficient as possible to meet
Contributions have included a large range of topics such as the growing demands of our successful brachytherapy program.
multicentre clinical trials, local interventional trials, brachytherapy,
patient reported outcomes, survivorship, translational biology,
complementary and alternative medicine, human health resources,
and palliative care.

The Person Centred Radiation Oncology Service Enhancement
(PROSE) Program has continue to develop. A cross sectional
evaluation of patients attending for consultation or treatment
appointments has been completed. Follow up work to further
investigate some of the observations made continues with
collaboration from the Department of Community Health Sciences
and Alberta’s Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR). Pilot
work for implementing a cancer specific patient reported outcome
measure has been developed and has influenced provincial work
related to Connect Care and Patient Reported Measurement.

The brachytherapy research program has also matured. The
EMBRACE protocol for cervix cancer patients opened has been
accruing. A cost benefit analysis comparing two different types of
brachytherapy boost is almost complete. Several other technical
projects are ongoing in active collaboration with Medical Physics.

35 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Surgical Oncology

Overview Awards and Achievements

Like all divisions this year, Surgical Oncology has faced Dr. Oliver Bathe

Current Interim Section many challenges and changes. Dr Caitlin Yeo will complete 2019 Faculty Award for Teaching in Surgical Clerkship – honourable
Chief and/or Division Head her fellowship in Endocrine surgery and Surgical Oncology mention
(July 2020 - current): in June 2021 and take on a position as a full member of 2019 Certificate of Appreciation, National Cancer Institute for Service on
Dr. Lloyd Mack the division. Academic programs have expanded and we the Hepatobiliary Task Force
now have four extended fellowship trainees. Research 2020 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Team Science
productivity has been steadily growing. Award: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Founding Members and Current
Project Team
Training Program 2020 #GREAT Supervisor award from Faculty of Graduate Studies for
outstanding supervision andsupport during the COVID pandemic
The General Surgical Oncology Training Program 2020 Outstanding Contribution in Basic Science, Department of Surgery,
University of Calgary
underwent a successful internal review by the University
Dr. Lloyd Mack
of Calgary in 2019. Graduating residents from 2019-2020
2019 President’s Excellence Award. Outstanding Achievement in Quality
Section Chief and/or Division include Dr. Gregory Knapp and Dr. Evan Jost. The program Improvement. Provincial Breast Health Initiative.
Head (2013 - July 2020): 2019 Honour Roll- In Recognition of Outstanding Teaching at the
Cumming School of Medicine –Class of 2019
Dr. Greg McKinnon MD, FRCSC continues to attract competitive residents/ fellows who go

on to academic positions. As noted, Dr. Bouchard-Fortier

Division Statistics has recently taken over as Program Director for General Dr. May Lynn Quan:
Surgical Oncology.
Staff 2019 President’s Excellence Award. Outstanding Achievement in Quality
8 Improvement. Provincial Breast Health Initiative
Publications
96

Grants
12

Value of Grants Dr. Wally Temple Clinical Highlights
$8,300,000 (retired in 2019)
Despite the pandemic, the business of cancer surgery continues to function and has served the
Presentations/ population of Southern Alberta with excellent care and minimal delays. Dr. Walley Temple stopped all
Symposiums clinical work but continued to be active in developing patient reported outcome mechanisms.
52

Book Chapters
6

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 36

Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle

Surgical Oncology, Plastics

Research Highlights

• Dr. Bathe’s research continues to grow and thrive. Because of basic research in metabolomics he has developed patents and commercialization of his work.
• Dr. Quan’s ACORN group has been successful in expanding health services research with major new grant success.
• Dr. Temple-Oberle’s group has continued to engage in multiple projects in education, particularly BIA-ALCL information to patients, as well as new surgical techniques

such as prophylactic lymphovenous anastomoses for lymphedema prevention.
• Dr. Mack and Cancer Surgery Alberta continue to grow and expand cancer surgery data collection and expand its uses into quality improvement projects.

37 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Precision Oncology Hub

Scientific Director: Overview Dr. Paola Neri
Dr. Paola Neri, MD, PhD
The Precision Oncology Hub at the Tom Baker Cancer Center aims to deliver
Operational Lead: personalized medicine for each cancer patient. By incorporating molecular
Rosemarie Farrell, MSc profiling through biomarkers discovery and genomic sequencing studies into
the cancer management and treatment approaches we intend to provide a
Unit Leads: better understanding of cancer biology and mechanisms of drug resistance and
Molecular – Dr. JB McIntyre ultimately deliver a better care for cancer patients.

Functional Tissue Imaging Services Available
Angela Chan
Genomic Studies: whole exome sequencing, targeted panel sequencing (Oncomine
Pharmacokinetics Comprehensive Assay, TMB assay), digital PCR rare mutation profiling, single cell
Bill Kangarloo, MSc RNASeq/ATAC Seq and gene expression profiling.

Members: Proteomic Studies: Antibody optimization for brightfield and immunofluorescent IHC,
Claude Veillette multispectral digital image acquisition, image analysis using artificial intelligence-
Holly Wilson capable digital pathology software, automated Ki67 scoring validated for clinical
Mie Konno, use in breast cancer, phenotyping of tumor microenvironment using multiplex
Alice Cheffins immunofluorescent staining and analysis, customize biomarker expression using cell
biology approaches, tissue microarray construction (TMA) and basic biochemical IHC
Division Statistics including Hematoxylin and Eosin staining.

Staff Bioinformatic Analysis: DNA-based analysis: single nucleotide variants (SNV) calling,
11 tumor mutational burden (TMB), copy number variants (CNV), structural variant (SV),
Publications microsatellite instability (MSI) and DNA-based fusion detection for DNA-seq. RNA-
10 based analysis: RNA expression, RNA based fusion detection, RNA variation detection
Grants for RNA-seq.
6
Value of Grants
$500,000+
Presentations/
Symposiums
15

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 38

Equipment:

• Genomic: Illumina NextSeq 500, Ion S5 and Chef, 10X Chromium System, NanoString System,
Quantstudio 3D Digital PCR System, 2100 Bioanalyzer.

• Proteomic: Autostainers DAKO Link48 and Leica Bond RX; Image scanners Perkin Elmer Vectra
Polaris, Apiero Scanscope XT and Scanscope FL; Image analysis tools Indica Labs HALO,
QuPath and InFORM, R; Tecan Spark 10M multimode plate reader and LI-COR Odyssey Fc.

Research Highlights Mission & Goal [email protected]

• Acquisition of new platforms such as the Life Mission: To incorporate molecular and Please reach out to us for project consultations,
technology S5 sequencer for bulk genomic immune profiling into routine day to we will be happy to discuss your project
analysis and the Perkin Elmer VectraPolaris day cancer management, delivering requirements with you.
enabling up to 10 color multipleximmuno escent personalized targeted therapies.
immunohistochemistry for the study of the
tumor microenvironment. Goal: To create a translational cancer
research environment that will personalize
• Development and contribution in more cancer care, fostering research collaboration
than 20 research projects in collaboration and discovery.
with researchers belonging to the Arnie
Charbonneau Cancer Institute, the Department
of Oncology, and Calgary Lab Services.

• The lab members had authorships on 10
different peer reviewed journal article
publications over the reporting period and
presented their research projects in several
national and international symposia.

• The Pharmacokinetics unit continues to provide
clinically accredited testing for patients while
conducting research activities.

39 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Clinical Research Unit

TOM BAKER CANCER CENTER

Overview

The Clinical Research Unit at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre has
grown to a team of greater than 70 staff members conducting
hundreds of active and follow-up trials with annual revenue of $7.4
million.

Medical Lead In 2019, several major initiatives launched including conducting the
(July 2020 - current): first provincial CAR-T industry trial and treating the first patient with
Dr. Jose Monzon this experimental treatment in Canada (in this specific trial).

Medical Lead The year of 2020 has been challenging thus far, but despite the
(January 2019 - June 2020): challenges brought to bear by COVID, there were several bright
Dr. Daniel Heng spots. We did not stop accrual to trials during the pandemic and
continue to bring our patients cutting-edge treatments. CAR-T cell
therapy trials continue, as well as new therapies like Bispecific T-Cell
Engager (BiTE) Antibody Based Immunotherapy. In addition, the
Investigator-Initiated Trial (IIT) team supported by Alberta Cancer
Foundation have been quite productive initiating many IITs actively
enrolling patients. Dr. Jose Monzon and Rosemarie Farrell are proud
to help shepherd the TBCC CRU through these new initiatives and
are excited to lead the team into 2021.

Our unit has grown from 43 FTE, (49 individuals) in FY15-16 to 73

FTE (83 individuals) in 2020. This growth attests to the increasing

complexities of clinical trials, increased regulatory and reporting “Clinical Trials are the Engine for Cancer Discovery”

industry requirements and increased workload. We anticipate the

need to enhance our staffing this year and each year thereafter for - Daniel Heng, MD, MPH, FRCPC
the reasons above and to build and support our CAR-T trial program

Operational Lead: and IIT initiatives.
Rosemarie Farrell, MSc

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 40
TOM BAKER CANCER CENTER
Highlights

• Cutting-Edge Treatments - We continue to offer our
patients CAR-T cell therapy through a pharmaceutical
sponsored clinical trial. In 2019, the TBCC CRU launched
the first CAR-T clinical trial in Alberta (pharmaceutical
company sponsored) and treated the first patient in Alberta
with CAR-T cell therapy. We continue to enroll in this trial
and our site has accrued the most patients in Canada.
The intense efforts to build the infrastructure required to
conduct CAR-T trials places the TBCC CRU in an enviable
position of being ready to bring more CAR-T trials to the
patients of Alberta. We currently have two pending CAR-T
trials to bring to TBCC patients. In addition, novel therapy
BiTE (bispecific T-cell engager cellular therapy) trials are
open and are actively accruing in our hematology tumour
group. TBCC patients continue to access cutting-edge
care due to our incredible CRU team and passionate
investigators.

• IIT Team – TBCC has been conducting IITs since 2013. To
enhance the process and quality of the IITs approved, the
TBCC CRU IIT Team was established in the fall of 2019,
with the support of the ACF. The IIT team have successfully
launched seven trials, including two multi-centre national
trials, and have held two successful IIT competitions. The
TBCC investigators feel well supported in navigating the
complicated world of IITs.

41 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Calgary Cancer Project (CCC)

CCC Vision What will be inside the CCC?

To deliver leading, comprehensive cancer care that integrates patient and • Outpatient cancer clinics
family centred care, education, prevention, screening and cancer research. • More than 100 patient exam rooms
• 160 inpatient unit beds
CCC Guiding Principles • Clinical and operational support services
• Clinical Trials Unit and Alberta Precision Laboratories
To provide patient and family centred care • Wet and dry research laboratories
• Systemic treatment services, including more than 100 chemotherapy chairs
To attract, retain and empower staff
• Radiation treatment services, including 12 radiation vaults, with three more
shelled-in for future growth
To support the discovery and delivery of high quality cancer care
• Double the current capacity to treat patients with the best technology
• New underground parking with 1,650 stalls
To operate efficiently

To provide a high level of safety for all patients, staff and visitors

To achieve high quality architecture and design

To support future change in cancer care

CCC Design view

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 42

Patient & Family Involvement CCC Project Schedule

• The Project team has worked closely with Patient Foundation Rocks – To mark the milestone of the last major foundation concrete pour, patient & family
& Family Advisory Network (111 Advisors) advisors and staff were invited to the construction site and stones inscribed with names and personal
throughout design development to ensure that
the CCC provides a welcoming and healing messages of hope were tossed into to the foundation – October 2018
environment.

• Engagement has been through a variety of
activities including participation in focus groups,
design review meeting, monthly committee
meetings, digital stories, etc.

• 76 Advisors have provided input since 2014.
There was continuing engagement of the
Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC); this
committee is made up of 16 Patient & Family
Advisors who are passionate about the vision of
the CCC, as well as current operations at TBCC.

Key Design Features

• The central courtyard is the heart of the facility.

• Abundant natural light is brought deep into the
facility into all areas used by patients, families
and visitors.

• The design provides necessary flexibility for the
future to support and accommodate leading edge
changes in cancer care.

43 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Department Of Oncology Members

Amane Abdul-Razzak Darren M.R. Brenner Pamela Chu Rosmin Esmail Andrew J. Graham Safiya Karim
Clinical Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Adjunct Lecturer Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor

Nimira S. Alimohamed Malcolm L. Brigden Jennifer A. Cobb Markus Eszlinger Petra Grendarova Brian J. Kelly
Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor Professor Research Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Adjunct Professor

Lisa K. Allen-Scott Christopher B. Brown Peter Colbert Doreen A. Ezeife Savraj S. Grewal John J.P. Kelly
Adjunct Lecturer Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Assistant Professor

John P. Arlette Heather Bryant Simon J. Colgan David W. Falk Sean C. Grondin Marc Kerba
Clinical Professor Clinical Professor Clinical Lecturer Clinical Lecturer Professor Clinical Associate Professor

Fredrick D. Ashbury W. Donald Buie Peter S. Craighead Muhammad S. Faruqi Clinical Gregory M.T. Guilcher Charles J. Kirkby
Adjunct Associate Professor Professor Honorary Clinical Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Adjunct Associate Professor

Nizar J. Bahlis Barry D. Bultz S. Nicole Culos-Reed Andrea Feldstain Desirée Hao Karen A. Kopciuk
Associate Professor Professor Adjunct Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Associate Professor Adjunct Associate Professor

Chad G. Ball Kelly W. Burak Andrew S. Daly Miranda M. Fidler Adrian Harvey Xanthoula Kostaras
Clinical Associate Professor Professor Clinical Associate Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Adjunct Lecturer

Alexander G. Balogh J. Gregory Cairncross Indraneel Datta Eleanor L. Foster Daniel Y. C. Heng Vanessa S. Krause
Clinical Associate Professor Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Lecturer Clinical Professor Clinical Assistant Professor

Robyn N. Banerjee Tavis S. Campbell Jeffrey C. Dawes George J. Francis Jan-Willem Henning Elizabeth C. Kurien
Clinical Associate Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Clinical Lecturer Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor

Lisa C. Barbera Jeffrey Q. Cao Janet M. de Groot Christine M. Friedenreich Gilian C. Ho Habib A. Kurwa
Clinical Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Associate Professor Adjunct Professor Clinical Lecturer Clinical Professor

Oliver F. Bathe Cynthia M. Card Paula A. de Robles Lyle D. Galloway Alana Hudson Laura E. Labelle
Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Lecturer Adjunct Lecturer Adjunct Assistant Professor

Sarah M. Beattie Linda E. Carlson William G. deHaas Michelle N. Geddes Jacqueline Y-T Hui Martin J. LaBrie
Adjunct Assistant Professor Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor

Tara L. Beattie Carole R. Chambers Marisa L. Dharmawardene Gary A.J. Gelfand J. Brad Hunter Lucie Lafay-Cousin Associate
Associate Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Lecturer Professor

D. Gwyn Bebb Jennifer A. Chan Elijah Dixon Esmaeel Ghasroddashti Siraj Husain René Lafrenière
Professor Associate Professor Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Professor

Tarek A. Bismar Shamir Chandarana Corinne M. Doll Prafull Ghatage Seema Hussain Johannes C. Lategan
Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Professor Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor

Justin Block Srinivasa (Srini) Chary Bryan J. Donnelly Abhijit Ghose Amal R. Imbulgoda Harold Y. Lau
Clinical Lecturer Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Professor

Pinaki Bose M. Ahsan R. Chaudhry Joseph C. Dort Janine Giese-Davis Deirdre A. Jenkins Adrienne Lee
Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Adjunct Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor

Antoine Bouchard-Fortier Charlie Chen Scot D. Dowden Sarah J. Glaze L. Martin Jerry Sangjune L. Lee
Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor Assistant Professor Honorary Clinical Professor Clinical Assistant Professor

Vivien H.C. Bramwell-Wesley Tina Cheng Peter R. Duggan Aaron A. Goodarzi Victor H. Jimenez-Zepeda Susan P. Lees-Miller
Clinical Professor Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Professor

Ted C. Braun Winson Y.T. Cheung Jacob C. Easaw Geoffrey T. Gotto Hatim Karachiwala Richard M. Lee-Ying
Clinical Professor Professor Adjunct Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor

ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 44

Laurie Lemieux Tyler S. Meyer Tara L. Pickering David C. Schriemer David P. Spencer Alain Tremblay
Clinical Assistant Professor Adjunct Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Honorary Adjunct Professor
Assistant Professor
Victor A. Lewis Philip McGeachie Greg D. Pierce Fiona S. M. Schulte Assistant Theresa Trotter
Associate Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Professor Ronald N. Spice Honorary Clinical
Assistant Professor Associate Professor
Gerald Lim Michael J. Monument Assistant Nicolas P. Ploquin Donna L. Senger
Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Research Associate Professor J. MacGregor Steele Tony H. Truong
Clinical Associate Professor Associate Professor
Shaun Loewen Jose G. Monzon Man-Chiu Poon Lorraine G. Shack
Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Douglas A. Stewart Professor Roger Y. Tsang
Emeritus Clinical Assistant Professor
Russell G. Loftus Donald G. Morris Dwip M. Prajapati Mona Shafey
Clinical Lecturer Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Jan Storek Jeff K. Vallance
Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor
Natalie A. Logie Lindy Murphy May Lynn Quan Melissa A. Shea-Budgell
Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Lecturer Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Jordan Stosky Lauren M. Walker
Clinical Assistant Professor Adjunct Associate Professor
Sasha M. Lupichuk Aru Narendran Sarah E. Quirk Ghazaleh Shoja E. Razavi
Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Douglas R. Strother Associate Barbara A. Walley
Professor Adjunct Associate Professor
Paul R. MacEachern Jill G. Nation Harvey C. Quon Michael Sia
Clinical Associate Professor Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Amirali Surmawala Edwin Wang
Clinical Lecturer Professor
Lloyd A. Mack Gregory S. Nelson Soundouss Raissouni Clinical Jessica E. Simon
Professor Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Francis R. Sutherland Ekaterina Tschistiakova
Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor
Hubert K-M. Marr Ernesta P. Neri Derrick E. Rancourt Professor J. Steven A. Simpson
Clinical Assistant Professor Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor Rachel M. Syme Jennifer Vena
Karl T. Riabowol Adjunct Assistant Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor
Kevin J. Martell Nancy A. Nixon Professor Shane Sinclair
Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Adjunct Associate Professor Vincent C. Tam Eric Wasylenko
Stephen M. Robbins Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor
Celestina Martopullo Adjunct Ivo A. Olivotto S. Richie Sinha
Lecturer Honorary Clinical Professor John W. Robinson Clinical Assistant Professor Patricia Tang Marc A. Webster
Adjunct Associate Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor
T. Wayne Matthews Associate Carolyn J. Owen Aynharan Sinnarajah
Professor Associate Professor Gloria B. Roldan Urgoiti Assistant Professor Jason Tay Jane M. Wilson
Clinical Associate Professor Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor
Jennifer Matthews Ralf Paschke David P. Skarsgard
Clinical Lecturer Professor Michael B. Roumeliotis Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor Walley J. Temple Michael D. Wong
Assistant Professor Professor Emeritus Clinical Assistant Professor
Carole R. Mayer Janice L. Pasieka Leslie A. Skeith
Adjunct Associate Professor Clinical Professor Amanda L. Roze des Ordons Assistant Professor Claire F. Temple-Oberle Nicola A.M. Wright
Clinical Assistant Professor Professor Clinical Associate Professor
Sylvia G. McCulloch A. (Sandy) H.G. Paterson Jiri Slaby
Clinical Assistant Professor Honorary Clinical Professor J. Dean Ruether Clinical Assistant Professor J.F. (Ted) Thaell Jackson S.Y. Wu
Assistant Professor Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor
Sean McFadden Guy Pelletier Michael P. Slawnych
Clinical Assistant Professor Adjunct Associate Professor James A. Russell Clinical Assistant Professor Kundan S. Thind Yuan (Shawn) Xu
Honorary Adjunct Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Assistant Professor
J. Gregory McKinnon Professor Sarah Perry Jonatan Snir
Clinical Assistant Professor Khara M. Sauro Adjunct Assistant Professor Chandini M. Thirukkumaran Lin Yang
John A. McWhae Assistant Professor Research Associate Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor
Clinical Associate Professor Cheryl E. Peters Wendy L. Smith
Adjunct Assistant Professor M. Lynn Savoie Associate Professor Bejoy C. Thomas Steven M. Yip
Daphne J.Y. Mew Clinical Associate Professor Adjunct Associate Professor Clinical Assistant Professor
Clinical Assistant Professor Tien Phan Michael Speca
Clinical Associate Professor Colleen G. Schinkel Adjunct Associate Professor V. Wee Yong, Professor
Adjunct Assistant Professor

45 DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY

Partners

ANNUAL REPORT 2018 44

Oncology

Statement of Early construction Exterior shell construction NCCC will be substantial
requirements (SOR) activity included will be complete. completed by PCL
document confirming excavation, shoring, Operational plans and handed over to
scope of services and and initial foundation AHS; operational
service requirements, work. Significant amount and budgets will be commissioning and
was established and of design work was established. readiness activities,
incorporated into a completed at the 50%
Request for Proposal and 75% levels of design. 2020 including training and
(RFP) submission which move in plans, will be
was released in October. 2018
well underway
2016
2022

2015 2017 2019 2021 2023

Calgary Cancer FP responses were Full design to be Construction activity Calgary Cancer Center
Project (CCP) was evaluated and a contract completed in Spring; will focus on the fit out will be operational to
officially announced was awarded to PCL and exterior structure is of interior spaces. HR deliver care, and officially
by Government as the their partners DIALOG/ expected to reach the 6th activities will commence, open to patients and
first Design Build (DB) floor above grade. High including the recruitment
procurement project for STANTEC. First phase level operational planning of early hires. Operational the public.
an acute care health of schematic design readiness plans will be
facility in Alberta. with extensive user strategy will
engagement; official be developed. established.
ground breaking took
place in early Fall, 2017

Department of Oncology
Annual Report 2019-2020