FACULTY
CONFERENCE CHAIRS
Dr. Jeffrey Q. Cao, BSc (Hons), MD, MBA, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist, Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Calgary
Medical Lead, Oncology Leadership and Development Office
Provincial Breast Tumour Team Lead, Alberta Health Services
Calgary, AB
Dr. Jeffrey Cao completed his BSc Honours in Pharmacology and MD from the University of Alberta. During residency in Radiation Oncology at the University of Western Ontario, he served on the Board of PAIRO, earned his MBA at the Ivey School of Business and honoured with the Health Sector Highest Contribution Award and nominated Valedictorian. Dr. Cao was the recipient of the OMA Resident Achievement Award upon return to residency and subsequently awarded the CARO Elekta Fellowship for research at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver and then received the inaugural CPQR Fellowship with the Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy. During Fellowship, Dr. Cao served on the CARO Board of Directors and conferred the CARO Extraordinary Contribution Award. He served as Course Director for the 22ndand 25th Annual Canadian Exam Preparation and Review Course for Clinical and Radiation Oncology. He was previously the Chair of the CARO Communications Committee and Treasurer of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation but now the Chair of the Board. Dr. Cao is currently Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary and has transitioned from Lead Breast Radiation Oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre to Alberta Health Services Provincial Breast Tumour Team Lead. His other subspecialty focus is in Hematological Malignancies including Total Body Irradiation.
Dr. John Walker, MD, FRCPC
Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, Alberta
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Dr. Lisa Barbera, BSc, MD, MPA, FRCPC
Head of Radiation Oncology,
Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
University of Calgary
Co-Chair, Patient Reported Measurement Advisory Council,
Cancer Care Alberta
Calgary, AB
Dr. Barbera is nationally and internationally recognized health services researcher. In 2018 she moved from Toronto to Calgary to become the Head of Radiation Oncology at the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the University of Calgary, a position she still holds today. Her active clinical practice is in breast cancer.
Her research areas of interest include quality of care and symptom management. As the former lead of Cancer Care Ontario’s Patient Reported Outcome Program and the current co-chair of the Patient Reported Measurement Advisory Council at Cancer Care Alberta, she has considerable knowledge and experience with using patient reported outcomes in routine care.
Dr. Brock Debenham, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Section Chief & Academic Division Director, Radiation Oncology
Cross Cancer Institute / University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Debenham completed his residency training at the University of Alberta, and fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City. His areas of clinical interest are head and neck cancers and lung cancers. He has previously served as program director for the radiation oncology residency program, and as the Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs, for the University of Alberta MD program. He sits on the American Board of Radiology Head and Neck Exam Committee and the NCI Head and Neck Rare Tumor Task Force.
Dr. Muhammad Salman Faruqi
Assistant Professor
Radiation Oncologist
Provincial CNS Tumor Team Lead
Calgary, AB
Dr. Salman Faruqi, is a practicing radiation oncologist in Alberta and the provincial CNS tumor team lead. Since completing his residency and CNS neuro-oncology fellowship in Toronto in 2018, Dr. Faruqi has been committed to advancing patient care in the field of neuro-oncology through multidisciplinary collaboration and the development of evidence-based practices in managing CNS tumors. Alongside his professional accomplishments, Dr. Faruqi is a dedicated father to two young children who keep him busy and inspire his ongoing passion for patient-centered care and medical excellence.
Dr. AJ Ghose
Medical Director, Community Oncology
Assoc. Senior Medical Director
Cancer Care Alberta
Lethbridge, AB
Dr Ghose is originally from Ontario, having trained in Toronto, Hamilton and London. He completed his residency in Calgary, after which he started his position in Lethbridge as a radiation oncologist. Administratively, he also leads the physician group in the regional and community centres across the province, and is the Wordle champion at the local YMCA.
Dr. Daniel Heng, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Clinical Professor and Head, Medical Oncology, University of Calgary
Head, Medical Oncology, Arthur JE Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Heng is a Staff Medical Oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Center in Calgary, Alberta and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary. He received his MD from the University of Calgary and completed his internal medicine and medical oncology residencies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. He was trained at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada and then completed an Experimental Therapeutics fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. He received a Masters of Public Health from Harvard University. He is the Division Head of Medical Oncology at the Arthur J.E Child Cancer Centre and University of Calgary and Chair of the International mRCC Consortium Database (www.IMDConline.com) which is the largest database of patients with metastatic kidney cancer treated with contemporary therapies in the world. He has a keen interest in outcomes, prognostic factors and clinical trials research in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and other genitourinary malignancies. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada for his work in Kidney Cancer.
Randeep Sangha, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor, University of Alberta
Medical Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Director, Clinical Trials Unit, Cross Cancer Institute
Provincial Lead, Alberta Lung Cancer Program
Edmonton, AB
Randeep Sangha, MD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta and a Medical Oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Sangha obtained his medical degree from the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine, where he also completed his his residency in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. He then pursued a post-training research fellowship at the University of California, Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, focusing on thoracic malignancies.
Dr. Sangha is the Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at the Cross Cancer Institute. He also has been the Provincial Lead for the Alberta Lung Cancer Program. His clinical and research interests include treatment of thoracic and hematologic malignancies, as well as developmental and molecular therapeutics.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Lisa Barbera, BSc, MD, MPA, FRCPC
Head of Radiation Oncology,
Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
University of Calgary
Co-Chair, Patient Reported Measurement Advisory Council,
Cancer Care Alberta
Calgary, AB
Dr. Barbera is nationally and internationally recognized health services researcher. In 2018 she moved from Toronto to Calgary to become the Head of Radiation Oncology at the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the University of Calgary, a position she still holds today. Her active clinical practice is in breast cancer.
Her research areas of interest include quality of care and symptom management. As the former lead of Cancer Care Ontario’s Patient Reported Outcome Program and the current co-chair of the Patient Reported Measurement Advisory Council at Cancer Care Alberta, she has considerable knowledge and experience with using patient reported outcomes in routine care.
Dr. Jeffrey Q. Cao, BSc (Hons), MD, MBA, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist, Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Calgary
Medical Lead, Oncology Leadership and Development Office
Provincial Breast Tumour Team Lead, Alberta Health Services
Calgary, AB
Dr. Jeffrey Cao completed his BSc Honours in Pharmacology and MD from the University of Alberta. During residency in Radiation Oncology at the University of Western Ontario, he served on the Board of PAIRO, earned his MBA at the Ivey School of Business and honoured with the Health Sector Highest Contribution Award and nominated Valedictorian. Dr. Cao was the recipient of the OMA Resident Achievement Award upon return to residency and subsequently awarded the CARO Elekta Fellowship for research at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver and then received the inaugural CPQR Fellowship with the Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy. During Fellowship, Dr. Cao served on the CARO Board of Directors and conferred the CARO Extraordinary Contribution Award. He served as Course Director for the 22ndand 25th Annual Canadian Exam Preparation and Review Course for Clinical and Radiation Oncology. He was previously the Chair of the CARO Communications Committee and Treasurer of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation but now the Chair of the Board. Dr. Cao is currently Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary and has transitioned from Lead Breast Radiation Oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre to Alberta Health Services Provincial Breast Tumour Team Lead. His other subspecialty focus is in Hematological Malignancies including Total Body Irradiation.
Dr. Cynthia Card, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Arthur Child Cancer Centre in Calgary
Program Director, Medical Oncology Residency Training Program, Cumming School of Medicine
Calgary, AB
Dr. Cynthia Card is a Medical Oncologist at the Arthur Child Cancer Centre in Calgary, where she serves as Program Director for the Medical Oncology Residency Training Program and Chief Wellness Officer for the Division of Medical Oncology. She is a member of the University of Calgary WellMD/WellPhD Committee, has completed the Stanford Well-Being Director’s course, and is part of the Canadian Association of Medical Oncologists Taskforce on Physician Wellness, Sustainability, and Burnout. She also serves as Pillar Lead for “Reducing Administrative Burden” at the upcoming CAMO Wellness Summit.
In her presentation, “Vacation without Guilt: How Physicians Can Reap the Benefits of Rest and Disconnect Completely”, Dr. Card will share practical, evidence-based strategies to help physicians embrace rest as an essential part of sustaining well-being, professional fulfillment, and long-term effectiveness in medicine
Dr. Winson Y. Cheung, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Professor, Departments of Medicine and Oncology, University of Calgary
Director, Oncology Outcomes (O2) Program, Charbonneau Cancer Institute
Calgary, AB
Dr. Winson Y. Cheung, MD, MPH, is a senior medical oncologist and real-world data scientist with over 15 years of cancer research experience. He is currently a Full Professor in the Departments of Oncology, Medicine, and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary where he is also the Principal Director of the Oncology Outcomes (O2) Program that focuses on enriching data sources and leveraging new technologies to facilitate “fit-for-purpose” cancer real-world evidence (RWE) generation. Dr. Cheung’s main research interest is health outcomes research across all cancer types, including solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. He has cultivated strong and effective partnerships with public and private sectors. His track record consists of over 100 invited presentations and over 300 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts in the RWE space as well as more than $20M in competitive research grant funding. He acts as the chief sounding board for projects using cancer data and often serves as the preferred point of first contact for oncology RWE queries in Canada and the US.
Dr. Corinne Doll, BSc, MD, FRCPC
Clinical Professor, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary
Radiation Oncologist, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Corinne Doll is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Calgary and Radiation Oncologist at Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Before coming to Calgary she trained at BC Cancer in Vancouver and The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. She is Translational Research and Clinical Gynecologic Brachytherapy Lead, Division of Radiation Oncology, Deputy Medical Director of the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, and Associate Director of Clinical and Population Research for the Charbonneau Cancer Institute. She served two terms as Co-Chair of the Cervical Cancer Working Group of the Canadian Clinical Trials Group, and is an Executive Committee member of the CCTG Gyne Disease Site Group. She served as Special Expert of the NCI Gynecologic Cancer Steering Committee, and is currently Co-Chair, NCI NIH Cervical Cancer Task Force. In addition, she is Past-President of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology. Her clinical and research areas are in Gastrointestinal and Gynecologic cancers. This include clinical trials, investigating clinical and molecular factors of treatment resistance in cervical and anal cancers, and investigation of the microbiome in patients with cervical cancer.
Dr. Salman Faruqi
Assistant Professor
Radiation Oncologist
Provincial CNS Tumor Team Lead
Calgary, AB
Dr. Salman Faruqi, is a practicing radiation oncologist in Alberta and the provincial CNS tumor team lead. Since completing his residency and CNS neuro-oncology fellowship in Toronto in 2018, Dr. Faruqi has been committed to advancing patient care in the field of neuro-oncology through multidisciplinary collaboration and the development of evidence-based practices in managing CNS tumors. Alongside his professional accomplishments, Dr. Faruqi is a dedicated father to two young children who keep him busy and inspire his ongoing passion for patient-centered care and medical excellence.
Dr. Zsolt Gabos, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor, University of Alberta
Radiation Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, AB
Zsolt Gabos is an associate professor at the University of Alberta and a radiation oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute. His current practice focuses on the treatment of thoracic and breast malignancies. He is the clinical lead for the stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) program at the Cross Cancer Institute. His research interests include advanced radiotherapy treatment delivery techniques, image guided radiotherapy, SBRT and clinical trials. He graduated from Radiation Oncology Residency at the University of Alberta and completed a fellowship in stereotactic radiosurgery and SBRT at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, University of Calgary.
Dr. AJ Ghose
Medical Director, Community Oncology
Assoc. Senior Medical Director
Cancer Care Alberta
Lethbridge, AB
Dr Ghose is originally from Ontario, having trained in Toronto, Hamilton and London. He completed his residency in Calgary, after which he started his position in Lethbridge as a radiation oncologist. Administratively, he also leads the physician group in the regional and community centres across the province, and is the Wordle champion at the local YMCA.
Dr. Desirée Hao, BA, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Arthur JE Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Professor, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Chair Human Resources Committee, Canadian Association of Medical Oncologists
Calgary, AB
Dr. Hao completed her MD at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Internal Medicine residency in Calgary, Medical Oncology training at the University of Ottawa, followed by a Clinical Research Fellowship in cancer drug development at the Institute for Drug Development, Cancer Therapy & Research Centre in San Antonio, Texas. She works as in Thoracic and Head & Neck Oncology Programs at the Arthur JE Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre (formerly the Tom Baker Cancer Centre) / University of Calgary. As Professor in the Cumming School of Medicine, Dr. Hao she is actively engaged in teaching and mentorship at all levels. For her accomplishments, Dr. Hao received the Luminary Award for Teaching from the Department of Oncology, University of Calgary (2019 & 2024) and was nominated for the University of Calgary’s 2021 Glenda MacQueen Distinguished Leadership Award. Dr. Hao has a longstanding track record of service including longstanding membership on the Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta – Cancer Committee, as well as serving/having served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC), the Professional Learning and Development Committee of the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada, the Career Development & Fellowship Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and on the executive of the Canadian Association of Medical Oncologists (CAMO).
Dr. Daniel Heng, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Clinical Professor and Head, Medical Oncology, University of Calgary
Head, Medical Oncology, Arthur JE Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Heng is a Staff Medical Oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Center in Calgary, Alberta and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary. He received his MD from the University of Calgary and completed his internal medicine and medical oncology residencies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. He was trained at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada and then completed an Experimental Therapeutics fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. He received a Masters of Public Health from Harvard University. He is the Division Head of Medical Oncology at the Arthur J.E Child Cancer Centre and University of Calgary and Chair of the International mRCC Consortium Database (www.IMDConline.com) which is the largest database of patients with metastatic kidney cancer treated with contemporary therapies in the world. He has a keen interest in outcomes, prognostic factors and clinical trials research in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and other genitourinary malignancies. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada for his work in Kidney Cancer.
Dr. Fleur Huang, MDCM FRCPC MPH
Radiation Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Fleur Huang is a radiation oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute, and Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Alberta. She treats women’s cancers, with added focus on brachytherapy and palliative radiotherapy. She holds a medical degree from McGill University, where she also completed residency in Radiation Oncology. This was followed by Breast and Gynecologic subspecialty training at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Intersecting interests in Health Systems and Global Health led her to earn an MPH at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health while growing her practice. She has been advancing and advocating for brachytherapy care and research in the province for nearly 15 years, most recently as a core member of the Alberta Brachytherapy Centre of Excellence working group. Together with a multidisciplinary team that builds up, she co-develops made-in-Alberta initiatives in cervix brachytherapy: exploring bench-based radiobiological modelling against province-wide outcomes data, developing pragmatic deep-learning tools to improve MRI-based implant strategy and technical planning efficiency, and prototyping a first-in-kind virtual reality simulator for applicator insertion procedures. Dr. Huang joined the EMBRACE Collaborative Group in 2011, and led the Edmonton team to back-to-back top-10 global accruer status for the landmark EMBRACE-I and EMBRACE-II studies in cervical brachytherapy, ensuring Canadian representation and closing the loop with data relevant to our communities.
Dr. Jillian Horton, MD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine,
Health Sciences Centre, University of Manitoba
Director, Alan Klass Health Humanities Program
Associate Chair, Department of Medicine
Former Associate Dean, Undergraduate Student Affairs
Winnipeg, MB
Dr. Jillian Horton is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the Health Sciences Centre and the University of Manitoba. She directs the Alan Klass Health Humanities Program, is an Associate Chair in the Department of Medicine, and is a former Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs. Dr. Horton has completed a longitudinal internship in teaching Mindful Practice (at the University of Rochester) and Chief Wellness Officer training at Stanford University. Her writing about medicine and medical culture appears regularly in the LA Times, the Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Maclean’s, and a variety of American news outlets by syndication. She is also a contributor to CBC “Ideas”. She is a sought-after speaker and thought leader on the subject of physician health, both nationally and internationally. Her award-winning first full-length book, We Are All Perfectly Fine: A Memoir of Love, Medicine and Healing” was released by HarperCollins Canada in February, 2021 to critical acclaim, and is a national bestseller. It is currently being adapted for television by a major network. She was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Wilfred Laurier University for her work translating the experience of health care workers for the public.
Dr. Alborz Jooya, MD.CM, MSc, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist, Radiation Medicine Program
Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Alberta Health Services
Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
Dr. Jooya obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa with a silver medal and successfully completed four years of medical training at McGill University. He then joined the radiation oncology residency program at the University of Ottawa while simultaneously completing a Master’s degree in Experimental Medicine at McGill University. He completed a joint fellowship training at Princess Margaret Hospital in MR-LINAC combined with clinical GI and GU oncology. He has multiple publications, and his research interests include investigating various aspects of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) using an MR-Linac system as a treatment modality for primary and metastatic malignancies . Another component of his MRL research includes practice-based training strategies for radiation therapists and also investigating health-related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) outcomes in patients who received SBRT on MRL system.
Dr. Safiya Karim, MD MSc FRCPC
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Calgary
Medical Oncologist, Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Safiya Karim is a Medical Oncologist and Clinical Associate Professor at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and the University of Calgary. She completed her medical school at the University of Calgary in 2011 and subsequently completed her medical oncology residency at the University of Toronto in 2016. She completed a fellowship in health services research at Queen’s university as well as a Master’s degree in health care quality and patient safety. She serves as the director of the Medical Oncology Fellowship Program and Assistant Director of the Oncology Outcomes (02) program. She is also the Chair of the Choosing Wisely Canada Oncology working group. Her clinical practice is in gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers. Her research interests including real world evidence and outcomes, quality improvement, and global oncology. She has published more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts in high quality journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, and Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology. In her free time, she enjoys jogging, biking, yoga and reading.
Dr. Omar F. Khan, MD, MBA, FRCPC
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology
Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
Dr. Omar Khan is a clinical assistant professor at the Cumming School of Medicine and medical oncologist at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. He completed his Medical Doctorate at the University of Calgary in 2013, followed by Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology residency training at the University of Calgary from 2013 – 2018. He completed a fellowship in Breast Cancer and Health Administration from 2018 – 2019. He also completed an executive MBA degree at the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 2020. His current clinical practice includes the breast cancer and sarcoma tumour groups. His research interests are in the application of artificial intelligence to clinical cancer care, including projects focusing on imaging biomarkers to predict prognosis in several tumour types (including lung, prostate, breast, colorectal and hepatocellular carcinomas).
Dr. Sangjune Laurence Lee, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Clinical Assistant Professor,
Department of Oncology,
Division of Radiation Oncology
University of Calgary,
Calgary, AB
Dr. Sangjune Laurence Lee is a Clinical Assistant Professor within the Department of Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology. He completed an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at the University of Waterloo, a master’s degree in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, and a medical degree at the University of Toronto. He continued his residency training in Toronto and did a fellowship at the University of Wisconsin to gain experience in real-time MRI-guided radiotherapy. He specializes in the management of gastrointestinal and breast malignancies and his research interests include MRI guided radiation therapy and deep learning.
Dr. Nelson Leong, MSc, FRCPC, DABR
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Radiation Oncologist, Arthur Child Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Nelson Leong is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, and a staff Radiation Oncologist at the Arthur Child Cancer Centre. He was born and raised in Calgary and recently repatriated back to his hometown.
He leads the GU Radiation Oncology Group and specializes in treating genitourinary and thoracic cancers. Dr. Leong has been an active brachytherapist since completing his Canadian Cancer Foundation funded research fellowship in breast cancer outcomes and low dose rate brachytherapy at the BC Cancer Agency – Victoria.
Nelson holds an MSc in Health Informatics from the University of Victoria. His current research and practice improvement interests include patient reported outcomes, clinically applied machine learning, and health informatics / implementation.
When he is not chasing after daughter, or his dogs, Soybean and Mochi, he can often be found behind a camera chasing his love for photography.
Dr. Shaun K. Loewen, BSc (Hon), PhD, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Radiation Oncologist, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
Dr. Shaun Loewen is a Radiation Oncologist at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine. His clinical areas of expertise include neuro-oncology, gastrointestinal cancers, and the use of stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in the management of malignant and benign disease. His research interests include clinical outcomes and technical advances with stereotactic body radiotherapy, health service research and workforce planning, physician wellness, and medical education. He serves as the faculty advisor and academic coach for the residency training program, and is the co-chair for the AHS and AMA/CCA physicians Collaborative Advisory Committee.
Dr. Don Morris MD, PhD, FRCPC
Facility Medical Director, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, AHS
Department Head, Clinical Department of Oncology, Calgary Zone, AHS
Medical Lead, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, AHS
Associate Senior Medical Director, CancerControl Alberta, AHS
Professor and Head, Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
Dr. Morris received his PhD in 1990 at Queen’s University in Immunology and obtained his MD in 1992 at the University of Calgary. He is currently Professor and Head of Oncology, University of Calgary; Clinical Department Head of Oncology, Calgary Zone; Facility Medical Director of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre; Medical Lead, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and Associate Senior Medical Director of CancerControl Alberta.
Dr. Morris’ clinical areas of interest involve both thoracic and musculoskeletal tumour sites. His research interests include precision medicine implementation, development of novel cancer therapeutics including oncolytic viruses and immunotherapeutics. His work has been funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada (CCSRI/CCS), Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, Alberta Cancer Board, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions and the Alberta Cancer Foundation. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts. Has over 10 scientific patents and has sat on many boards including Biotech startups and the Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Research Society and Alberta Cancer Foundation.
In the winter he is an avid alpine skier including CAT and Heli-skiing and in the summer he can be found fly fishing in one of Alberta’s many productive trout streams.
Dr. Nancy Nixon MD FRCPC
Medical Oncologist Breast Tumour Group
Southern Alberta Tumour Team Lead
Assistant Professor University of Calgary
Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Nancy Nixon is a full time medical oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. She specializes in the treatment of breast cancer, and is the Southern Alberta Tumour Team Lead for medical oncology.
Dr. Anthea Peters
Hematologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Peters is a hematologist based at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta and an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Alberta. She completed her MD at the University of Saskatchewan, internal medicine residency training at the University of Alberta and hematology training as well as a lymphoma fellowship at the University of Calgary. Her clinical and research interests are centered around chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and lymphoma with a special interest in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD).
Dr. Harvey Quon, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist
Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Harvey Quon is a Radiation Oncologist and Clinical Associate Professor at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and University of Calgary. His clinical practice focuses on the treatment of genitourinary (prostate, bladder, testicular) and head and neck cancers. He has expertise using advanced radiotherapy techniques including treatment on magnetic resonance imaging-linear accelerators and brachytherapy.
His research goal is to improve the outcomes of patients with cancer through health services research and clinical trials. His recent work focuses on using real-world data to improve the treatment and active surveillance of patients with low-risk prostate cancer. Dr. Quon has received peer-reviewed grants and is the co-principal investigator (PI) of a multi-centre randomized trial optimizing stereotactic body radiotherapy for prostate cancer and is PI of a prospective trial reducing radiotherapy treatment dose and volumes to improve quality of life in patients with favourable oropharyngeal cancers.
Dr. Dean Ruether, MD, FRCPC
Assistant Professor of Medicine in Oncology, University of Calgary
Senior Medical Director, Cancer Care Alberta
Medical Oncologist
Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Ruether is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Oncology at the University of Calgary. He completed a Master of Science Degree followed by his MD at the University of Alberta. This was then followed by a Residency in Internal Medicine and Subspecialty Training in Oncology at the University of Calgary with a keen interest in hematology and medical oncology. Dr. Ruether worked in private practice including clinics at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre from 1995 until early 2000 and subsequently joined the Tom Baker Cancer Centre full time in 2000. He completed the AHS Executive Leadership program in 2018 and was awarded the Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation from the Canadian College of Health Leaders in 2020, reflecting his interest and professional development in health leadership.
Prior to taking on the Senior Medical Director, Cancer Care Alberta (CCA) role in 2023, Dr. Ruether served as the Interim Senior Medical Director CCA from 2021. His role as Medical Director Community Oncology and Associate Senior Medical Director, CCA began in 2015. In these roles he has led the successful recruitment of oncologists and hematologists to the Regional Cancer Centres and expanded the capacity for cancer treatment to be delivered in communities across the province and supported more Albertans in receiving their cancer treatment closer to home. Further development of this program and growth of our regional cancer centers remains a keen interest of his. Dr. Ruether continues with his medical oncology focus on Clinical Trials in GU, Endocrine and Neuroendocrine malignancies as well as Patient Education.
Dr. Ruether has a demonstrated record of exemplary service in education, including receipt of several teaching and preceptorship awards. He received an AHS President’s Excellence Award for Achievement in Patient and Family Centered Care in 2019. In addition, he has had significant experience in a variety of administrative roles provincially, nationally, and internationally.
Randeep Sangha, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor, University of Alberta
Medical Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Director, Clinical Trials Unit, Cross Cancer Institute
Provincial Lead, Alberta Lung Cancer Program
Edmonton, AB
Randeep Sangha, MD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta and a Medical Oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Sangha obtained his medical degree from the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine, where he also completed his his residency in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. He then pursued a post-training research fellowship at the University of California, Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, focusing on thoracic malignancies.
Dr. Sangha is the Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at the Cross Cancer Institute. He also has been the Provincial Lead for the Alberta Lung Cancer Program. His clinical and research interests include treatment of thoracic and hematologic malignancies, as well as developmental and molecular therapeutics.
Dr. Helen Steed, MD, FRCSC
Gynecologic Oncologist
Zone Clinical Dept Head Oncology, Edmonton Zone, AHS
Facility Medical Director, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton
Associate Senior Medical Director Cancer Care Alberta
Professor, University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Steed received her MD at the University of Alberta in 1997 and completed Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency in 2002 at the University of Alberta. She obtained her Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship from the University of Toronto in 2005. During her fellowship training she spent 6 months at Stanford University for minimally invasive oncologic robotic surgery training. She also spent a research year at University of Alberta Dept of Oncology in Dr. Carol Cass’s lab. She joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta in July 2005 in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. Dr. Steed has held various leadership roles over her career including Resident Research Coordinator (2008-2012), Resident Program Director (2012-2018), and Division Director and Section Chief of Gynecologic Oncology (2018-2022) at the University of Alberta. She is currently Zone Clinical Dept Head Oncology Edmonton, Facility Medical Director Cross Cancer Institute, and Associate Senior Medical Director Cancer Care Alberta. Her research areas of interest include minimally invasive robotic surgery and QOL, endometrial cancer and obesity, and she is a member of the international research team the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis Consortium.
She loves many outdoor activities especially with her husband and 3 sons and can be found flying down a mountain side on skis in the winter and on her mountain bike in the summer.
Dr. Nawaid Usmani, B Arts & Science Hon Bio, MD, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Professor, University of Alberta
Radiation Medicine Operations Committee Co-Chair, AHS
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Nawaid Usmani is originally from Ontario, completing his undergraduate and medical training at McMaster University. He completed his residency at Queen’s University, before completing a fellowship in prostate brachytherapy at the University of British Columbia. He joined the Cross Cancer Institute in 2007 and treats genitourinary and gastrointestinal malignancies with radiotherapy. He has served as an executive member of the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Genito-Urinary Group and is currently co-chair of the Alberta Radiation Medicine Operations Committee. He maintains an academic practice, with a strong emphasis on research. His research interests include clinical trials and genetic tests that minimize complications from prostate cancer treatments, optimizing imaging modalities for the treatment of prostate cancer, and outcomes based research improving current treatments. He currently is leading the Northern LIGHTs clinical trials at the Cross Cancer Institute which are treating patients using the Linac MR that was built in house and has been commercialized.
Nawaid enjoys a number of activities outside of his work with his wife and 3 children, including travelling, playing hockey, skiing, hiking and biking, particularly in the mountains.
Dr. Steven Yip MD, MSc, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist
Medical Lead, Precision Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics
Chair, Southern Alberta GU Tumour Group
Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine
Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Steven Yip is a Staff Medical Oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta. He is the Southern Alberta GU Tumour Group Chair, Medical Lead of Precision Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics (POET), and Southern Alberta Prostate Cancer Research Institute (APCaRI) Co-Chair. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary. He has an academic focus on translational research, PSMA PET/CT imaging and novel radiopharmaceutical drug development in advanced prostate cancer. He completed his medical oncology clinical and translational research genitourinary fellowship, under the supervision of Dr. Kim Chi at BC Cancer. He received his MD at the University of Alberta and trained at the University of British Columbia and the University of Calgary. He has a Masters of Science in Health Research Methodology from McMaster University.
MODERATORS
Dr. Aswin George Abraham MBBS, MSc, DPhil
Assistant Professor, University of Alberta
Radiation Oncologist and GI Oncology Tumor Group Lead
Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Abraham completed medical training in India before moving to the United Kingdom in 2009, where he did his MSc in Cancer at the UCL-Cancer Institute, University College London and subsequently was a Clarendon scholar for his Doctoral training at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. The research focus of his DPhil was in radiobiology and cell signalling, with a special interest in Pancreatic Cancers. Dr Abraham subsequently completed training in radiation oncology before moving to Canada and the Cross Cancer Institute as a clinical fellow in June 2018. He has been working as a full-time staff since 2021 and is currently the site lead for the GI tumor group at the CCI.
Dr. Nimira Alimohamed, MD, FRCPC (she/her)
Medical Oncologist, Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Calgary
Provincial Genitourinary Tumour Team Lead, Alberta Health Services
Calgary, AB
Dr. Alimohamed is a Medical Oncologist at the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Center in Calgary, Canada as well as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary. She is the Lead of the Provincial Genitourinary Tumour Team.
She was the Program Director of the Medical Oncology Residency Training Program from 2020 to 2025 and remains involved in education and mentorship. She is the chair of the Medical Oncology Competency Committee.
Dr. Alimohamed is actively involved in clinical trials in GU malignancies with specific research interests in bladder cancer. She is working to improve outcomes for patients with bladder cancer through real-world evidence collection, patient care pathways, and biomarker evaluation. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Bladder Cancer Canada and steering committee of the Canadian Bladder Cancer Information System. She is the co-chair the 2025 Canadian Bladder Cancer Forum.
During her free time, she enjoys keeping up with her kids on the ski hills and racquet courts.
Dr. Lisa Barbera, BSc, MD, MPA, FRCPC
Head of Radiation Oncology,
Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
University of Calgary
Co-Chair, Patient Reported Measurement Advisory Council,
Cancer Care Alberta
Calgary, AB
Dr. Barbera is nationally and internationally recognized health services researcher. In 2018 she moved from Toronto to Calgary to become the Head of Radiation Oncology at the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the University of Calgary, a position she still holds today. Her active clinical practice is in breast cancer.
Her research areas of interest include quality of care and symptom management. As the former lead of Cancer Care Ontario’s Patient Reported Outcome Program and the current co-chair of the Patient Reported Measurement Advisory Council at Cancer Care Alberta, she has considerable knowledge and experience with using patient reported outcomes in routine care.
Dr. Jeffrey Q. Cao, BSc (Hons), MD, MBA, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist, Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Calgary
Medical Lead, Oncology Leadership and Development Office
Provincial Breast Tumour Team Lead, Alberta Health Services
Calgary, AB
Dr. Jeffrey Cao completed his BSc Honours in Pharmacology and MD from the University of Alberta. During residency in Radiation Oncology at the University of Western Ontario, he served on the Board of PAIRO, earned his MBA at the Ivey School of Business and honoured with the Health Sector Highest Contribution Award and nominated Valedictorian. Dr. Cao was the recipient of the OMA Resident Achievement Award upon return to residency and subsequently awarded the CARO Elekta Fellowship for research at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver and then received the inaugural CPQR Fellowship with the Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy. During Fellowship, Dr. Cao served on the CARO Board of Directors and conferred the CARO Extraordinary Contribution Award. He served as Course Director for the 22ndand 25th Annual Canadian Exam Preparation and Review Course for Clinical and Radiation Oncology. He was previously the Chair of the CARO Communications Committee and Treasurer of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation but now the Chair of the Board. Dr. Cao is currently Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary and has transitioned from Lead Breast Radiation Oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre to Alberta Health Services Provincial Breast Tumour Team Lead. His other subspecialty focus is in Hematological Malignancies including Total Body Irradiation.
Dr. Quincy Siu-Chung Chu, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Associate Professor, University of Alberta
Research Lead in Thoracic Oncology
Co-Lead in Phase 1
Edmonton, AB
I have been a medical oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute since April 2005 with medical oncology training in Canada and subsequent phase I/clinical research fellowship in novel anti-cancer drugs at the Institute for Drug Development in San Antonio, Texas. During which I was involved in a large number of novel anti-cancer agents, and had extra training in novel trial design and clinical pharmacology. Currently, I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology of University of Alberta. I continue my clinical and translational research in novel drug development, including targeted agents and immune-oncology agents, in thoracic oncology. I am the co-Lead and Lead for Phase I unit and the Thoracic Research Unit, respectively, at the Cross Cancer Institute.
Dr. Brita Danielson MD FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Brita Danielson is a Radiation Oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton and an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Alberta. She recently completed her term as the Provincial Genitourinary (GU) Tumor Team Leader, a role she held from 2013 to 2024.
Dr. Danielson completed medical school at the University of Saskatchewan and undertook her Radiation Oncology residency at the University of Alberta. After residency, she completed a fellowship in Health Services Research at Queens University.
Dr. Danielson is active in clinical trials for GU and breast malignancies. Her research interests include treatment algorithms and guidelines development. She is a member of the Canadian Urology Association (CUA) Guidelines Steering Committee and the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) GU Disease Site Committee. She is an executive member of the Canadian Urology Oncology Group (CUOG) and GU Radiation Oncologists of Canada (GUROC). She also serves as a clinical trials auditor for NRG Oncology and is a lead physician monitor for the CCTG.
Dr. Brock Debenham, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Section Chief & Academic Division Director, Radiation Oncology
Cross Cancer Institute / University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Debenham completed his residency training at the University of Alberta, and fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City. His areas of clinical interest are head and neck cancers and lung cancers. He has previously served as program director for the radiation oncology residency program, and as the Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs, for the University of Alberta MD program. He sits on the American Board of Radiology Head and Neck Exam Committee and the NCI Head and Neck Rare Tumor Task Force.
Dr. Haidar El Darsa, MD
Hematologist and Medical Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Specialist in Thoracic Malignancies and Lymphoproliferative Disorders
Clinical Educator and Multidisciplinary Care Contributor, Oncology Program
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Haidar El Darsa is a dual-trained hematologist and medical oncologist currently practicing at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta. He has over five years of experience as a staff oncologist and completed specialized fellowship training in thoracic malignancies. His clinical practice is focused on the management of lung cancer, other thoracic tumors, and lymphoproliferative disorders. Dr. El Darsa is actively involved in multidisciplinary cancer care and contributes to ongoing medical education and clinical service development within the field of oncology
Dr. Salman Faruqi
Assistant Professor
Radiation Oncologist
Provincial CNS Tumor Team Lead
Calgary, AB
Dr. Salman Faruqi, is a practicing radiation oncologist in Alberta and the provincial CNS tumor team lead. Since completing his residency and CNS neuro-oncology fellowship in Toronto in 2018, Dr. Faruqi has been committed to advancing patient care in the field of neuro-oncology through multidisciplinary collaboration and the development of evidence-based practices in managing CNS tumors. Alongside his professional accomplishments, Dr. Faruqi is a dedicated father to two young children who keep him busy and inspire his ongoing passion for patient-centered care and medical excellence.
Dr. AJ Ghose
Medical Director, Community Oncology
Assoc. Senior Medical Director
Cancer Care Alberta
Lethbridge, AB
Dr Ghose is originally from Ontario, having trained in Toronto, Hamilton and London. He completed his residency in Calgary, after which he started his position in Lethbridge as a radiation oncologist. Administratively, he also leads the physician group in the regional and community centres across the province, and is the Wordle champion at the local YMCA.
Dr. Branawan Gowrishankar, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Professor, Department of Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Branawan has been a medical oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute since 2024, focusing on Sarcoma and GI malignancies. Serving as the current CCI lead in Sarcoma and Fellowship director. Prior to that was a medical oncologist in Saskatoon from 2021-2024. Completed my medical training at the University of Calgary in 2015. Completed Internal Medicine training at McGill University in 2018. Completed Medical Oncology Residency in 2020 at the University of Calgary, and Fellowship in Sarcoma and GI Oncology in 2021.
Dr. Daniel Heng, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Clinical Professor and Head, Medical Oncology, University of Calgary
Head, Medical Oncology, Arthur JE Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Heng is a Staff Medical Oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Center in Calgary, Alberta and a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary. He received his MD from the University of Calgary and completed his internal medicine and medical oncology residencies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. He was trained at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada and then completed an Experimental Therapeutics fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. He received a Masters of Public Health from Harvard University. He is the Division Head of Medical Oncology at the Arthur J.E Child Cancer Centre and University of Calgary and Chair of the International mRCC Consortium Database (www.IMDConline.com) which is the largest database of patients with metastatic kidney cancer treated with contemporary therapies in the world. He has a keen interest in outcomes, prognostic factors and clinical trials research in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and other genitourinary malignancies. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada for his work in Kidney Cancer.
Dr. Jillian Horton, MD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine,
Health Sciences Centre, University of Manitoba
Director, Alan Klass Health Humanities Program
Associate Chair, Department of Medicine
Former Associate Dean, Undergraduate Student Affairs
Winnipeg, MB
Dr. Jillian Horton is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the Health Sciences Centre and the University of Manitoba. She directs the Alan Klass Health Humanities Program, is an Associate Chair in the Department of Medicine, and is a former Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs. Dr. Horton has completed a longitudinal internship in teaching Mindful Practice (at the University of Rochester) and Chief Wellness Officer training at Stanford University. Her writing about medicine and medical culture appears regularly in the LA Times, the Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Maclean’s, and a variety of American news outlets by syndication. She is also a contributor to CBC “Ideas”. She is a sought-after speaker and thought leader on the subject of physician health, both nationally and internationally. Her award-winning first full-length book, We Are All Perfectly Fine: A Memoir of Love, Medicine and Healing” was released by HarperCollins Canada in February, 2021 to critical acclaim, and is a national bestseller. It is currently being adapted for television by a major network. She was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Wilfred Laurier University for her work translating the experience of health care workers for the public.
Dr. Anil Abraham Joy, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Professor, Department of Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology,
University of Alberta,
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Anil Abraham Joy is a Professor in the Department of Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta and has been a staff medical oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute since 2003.
His past appointments include being Chair for the Northern Alberta Breast Cancer Program, Provincial Chair for the Alberta Breast Cancer Program and has also served as a member of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) – on the Expert Review Committee (pERC). He is the current Research Lead for the Breast Cancer Program at the Cross Cancer Institute.
Dr. Joy’s primary clinical and translational research areas include breast and thoracic malignancies. He has ongoing interest in therapeutic and lifestyle interventional research, guideline/consensus development, global oncology/regional disparity issues, medical education, as well as promoting a culture of wellness.
Dr. Marc Kerba, MD, FRCPC
GI, Lung and Palliative Radiation Oncologist, Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Oncology,
University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine
Calgary, AB
Dr. Kerba is a GI, lung and palliative radiation oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and a clinical associate professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine. He is past president of the Alberta section of radiation oncology and was a Canadian Royal College examiner in radiation oncology.
He completed his medical training at the University of Toronto and radiation oncology residency at McMaster University. Dr. Kerba was awarded a CIHR sponsored fellowship in health services research at Queen’s University, Cancer Research Institute, and obtained a Master’s of Public Administration in health policy.
Dr Kerba serves as Alberta’s representative on the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer System Performance Steering Committee and is a member of Clinical Oncology Quality of Care Committee at ASCO. He is involved with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group on both Economic and Symptom Control Committees and is a GI panel advisor to the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. His research interests include health services research in the provision of cancer services and clinical trials both at the local and national level. Dr Kerba is currently involved in several research initiatives aimed at improving care for our patients with advanced cancer.
Dr. Natalie Logie, MD, FRCP(C)
Radiation Oncologist, Department of Oncology, Alberta Health Services
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
Dr. Natalie Logie is a Radiation Oncologist in the Department of Oncology at Alberta Health Services and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. She received her MD at the University of Alberta (2011) and completed residency at the University of Alberta in Radiation Oncology (2016) followed by fellowship specializing in pediatric radiation oncology and proton therapy at the University of Florida Proton Institute, Jacksonville (2017). She is dual certified radiation oncologist in both Canada (FRCPC) and USA (DABR).
She has an interest in both pediatric and AYA oncology outcomes/survivorship and is active in clinical outcomes research with work published in medical journals and textbooks. Dr. Logie has presented her research at peer-reviewed conferences such as the Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society (PROS) and American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), where she was awarded “Best Oral Presentation” at PROS in 2024, “Best Poster Session” at PROS in 2017, and “Best of ASTRO” in 2015.
Dr. Logie holds leadership positions within AHS, acting as the Breast and Pediatric Tumor Team RT Lead for Calgary and is the Co-Chair for the Provinicial Pediatric Tumor Team. She is Assistant Program Director for the University of Calgary radiation oncology residency program.
Dr. Meghan Mahoney, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, AHS
Clinical Department of Oncology, Calgary Zone, AHS
Clinician Scientist, CancerControl Alberta, AHS
Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
Dr. Meghan Mahoney is a medical oncologist at the Arthur JE Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary where she treats Genitourinary & Cutaneous malignancies. She completed her internal medicine residency and medical oncology training at Memorial University in her home province of Newfoundland. Her academic pursuits in medicine were preceded by a masters in applied social psychology. She went on to complete a fellowship in Genitourinary and Cutaneous malignancies at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto which she completed in September 2024. Her research interests include adoptive cellular therapies, organ preservation, clinical trial reform equitable access to care.’ She is excited to establish and build her career as an oncologist and clinician scientist in Calgary at the AJCCC where she began working last Fall.’
Dr. David Maj, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, Queen’s University
Kingston, ON
Dr. Maj completed combined residency training at Western University in both Medical Oncology and Clinical Pharmacology, and subsequently completed a fellowship with the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium in April 2025. In May 2025, he joined the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre as a staff Medical Oncologist treating genitourinary and breast cancers. Dr. Maj’s research interests include drug adverse effects, and real-world data.
Dr. Vishal Navani, MA (Oxon), MBBS (Lon), MRCP (UK), FRACP
Staff Medical Oncologist, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Clinical Assistant Professor, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
Dr. Vishal Navani leads Calgary’s thoracic oncology clinical trials program and early-phase drug development unit, with a focus on translating innovative science into impactful cancer care. He has served as Principal Investigator on dozens of clinical trials across phases I–III, and sits on several national and international trial steering committees.
As Director of Glans‑Look Research, he oversees North America’s largest real-world evidence (RWE) database in thoracic malignancies, advancing precision oncology and population-level insights. His research has attracted over $1.5 million in competitive grant funding, including a recent award from the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network for his work in data science and patient reported outcomes.
Dr. Navani is also a recognized thought leader in clinical evidence generation, contributing as a clinical expert to the Canadian Drug Agency (CDA) in support of national drug reimbursement and policy deliberations. In parallel, he collaborates closely with the life sciences sector, providing strategic guidance on clinical development, trial design, and real-world evidence integration. His academic work has been published in leading journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, and The Lancet Oncology, reflecting a commitment to high-impact, peer-reviewed research at the interface of clinical innovation and patient care.
He holds a MA (Honours) from Oxford, MBBS from London (Imperial College) & is board certified in Canada, Australia & the UK.
Dr. Scott North MD FRCPC
Medical Oncologist
Professor, Department of Oncology
University of Alberta
Cross Cancer Institute & Grande Prairie Cancer Centre
Edmonton, AB
Scott North received his MD degree from the University of and subsequently trained in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology at the University of Alberta. He is a Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Alberta and has worked at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton since 2000 and also now splits his time with the Grande Prairie Cancer Centre treating patients with genitourinary cancers. He previously served as the Section Chief of Medical Oncology from 2012 – 2022. In addition to being an active clinician he enjoys teaching and has a Masters in Health Professions Education. He is active in clinical trials and has participated in writing national treatment guidelines and has held leadership roles locally as well as with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group and the Canadian Uro-Oncology Group. He has >150 peer reviewed publications.
Dr. Robert Pearcey MD FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist (Locum)
Cross Cancer Institute
Professor Emeritus, Department of Oncology
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Robert Pearcey is an internationally renowned Radiation Oncologist who has been in practice for 40 years. He is currently a locum Radiation Oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta. In addition, he is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Oncology at the University of Alberta. His clinical focus was in the treatment of gynecological cancers but more recently, whilst doing locums at the CCI, he has been seeing mostly genitourinary and breast cancer patients.
At present, he is part of the research team on the Linac-MR project. This project, “Advanced Real Time Adaptive RadioTherapy” (ART2), is focused on developing the world’s first image guided radiotherapy system that will utilize MR guidance.
Dr. Rodrigo Rigo, MD MSc
Medical Oncologist, Grande Prairie Cancer Centre, Alberta Health Services
Clinical Associate, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary
Grande Prairie, AB
Dr. Rodrigo Rigo is a Medical Oncologist at the Grande Prairie Cancer Centre, Alberta Health Services. He completed fellowship training in gastrointestinal, breast, and melanoma oncology at the University of Calgary and holds a Master’s in Advanced Oncology from the University of Ulm, Germany. With over two decades of clinical experience across Brazil and Canada, Dr. Rigo has been involved in numerous international clinical trials and has published widely on real-world outcomes in oncology. His clinical and research interests include personalized cancer therapy, multidisciplinary care, and improving access to oncology services in regional settings.
Dr. Nina Samson, BSc MSc MD FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist, Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
Dr. Nina Samson grew up in Victoria, BC, and received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria, majoring in biology. She then went on to complete her Master of Science at the University of Calgary, in Cerebrovascular Physiology. She graduated from Medical School at the Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, AB. Nina completed her Radiation Oncology Residency at the University of Calgary in June 2023. She went on to her first year of Radiation Oncology clinical practice at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, AB, treating GI, GU, Gyne (including brachytherapy), and Primary Unknown tumour groups. She has now returned to Calgary to join the Radiation Oncology Department, where she is treating Breast and Gyne. Research interests include breast RT in the setting of reconstruction, and contributing to research and brachytherapy program building with the new state-of-the-art brachytherapy suite at ACCC.
Dr. Rufus Scrimger, MD, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Chair, Fellowship Committee, Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Scrimger completed residency in Edmonton in 1999, and has worked on staff at the Cross Cancer Institute since 2000. His main clinical interests include head and neck and thoracic malignancies. He is also the chair of the fellowship committee at the CCI.
Dr. Jordan Stosky, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Radiation Oncology Residency Program Director,
University of Calgary
Calgary, AB
Dr. Jordan Stosky is a radiation oncologist and the Radiation Oncology Residency Program Director at the University of Calgary. He has a fellowship in sarcoma radiation therapy, and his clinical practice includes the treatment of breast cancers, skin cancers, and sarcomas. His research interests include immune interactions with radiation therapy, MRI simulation, and cardiac radiotherapy. He is the proud father of a one year old, and enjoys a great board game in his down time.
Amina Taleb, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Jack Ady Cancer Centre
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
Lethbridge, AB
Amina Taleb is a Staff Medical Oncologist at the Jack Ady Cancer Center in Lethbridge. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary and treats GU, breast, and GI malignancies.
Dr. Daniel Tong, BSc, MBChB, PGCert, MRCP, FRCR
Radiation Oncologist, Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB
Dr. Tong completed his BSc from the University of Toronto, where he worked in several labs, including Glioblastoma biomarkers discovery at SickKids. After obtaining his medical degree, he completed his Clinical Oncology specialty training in London, UK, where he worked at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Following this, he received his Fellowship in Thoracic Oncology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and CNS and GU Fellowships at Sunnybrook Hospital. Dr. Tong is joining the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre as a Radiation Oncologist and will be treating Lung and GU cancers.
Dr. John Walker, MD, FRCPC
Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, Alberta
Dr. Connor Wells, MD
Medical Oncologist, Arthur Child Cancer Centre
Researcher, International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC)
Kingston, ON
Dr. Wells is a medical oncologist at the Arthur Child Cancer Centre who focuses on GU and GI cancers. His current research interests include better understanding factors influencing patient enrolment in clinical trials and how to optimize trial participation. He is also involved in the IMDC for real world evidence in renal cell carcinoma.
Dr. Ericka Wiebe, MSc, MD, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Associate Professor, University of Alberta
Northern Alberta Breast Tumour Team RO Lead, Alberta Health Services
Edmonton, AB
Dr. Wiebe is a radiation oncologist with particular expertise in treating breast and gynecologic cancers. Dr. Wiebe is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) School of Medicine and the Western University Radiation Oncology residency program. Dr. Wiebe completed fellowship training focused on gynecologic radiation therapy at the University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Hospital.
Dr Wiebe’s research portfolio includes clinical contributions international studies (e.g., the EMBRACE portfolio), and optimizing regional and provincial care with respect to risk-adapted cancer treatment strategies. As the Northern Alberta Breast Tumour Team RO Lead she has responsibilities in adopting new technologies into routine clinical practice, and developing guidelines and local programs. Dr. Wiebe has interests in providing individualized care to patients that extend beyond image-guided treatment techniques to the management of the late effects of treatment, and to develop resources for areas of need–including sexual health in oncology, and adolescent and young adult oncology.
Dr. Michael Yiming Zhu, MD
Radiation Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute
Academic Assistant Professor, University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Michael received his MD from the University of Alberta and completed residency training in Radiation Oncology at the Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta. He was selected for the Detweiler Travelling Fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and completed an integrated fellowship program specializing in advanced therapeutic techniques at Stanford University and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
He joined the Cross Cancer Institute as a staff breast and thoracic Radiation Oncologist in 2025 and also serves as an academic assistant professor at the University of Alberta where he is active in research and teaching.
In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife and infant daughter, golfing, travelling and watching basketball.