ANNUAL REPORT 2009-2010 - University of Toronto Department of ...

ANNUAL REPORT 2009-2010
DIVISIONS
Division of Gynaecologic Oncology
Barry Rosen, Division Head
Introduction: Gynaecologic Oncology subspecialty care is provided at Sunnybrook Health
Sciences Centre (SHSC) and the University Health Network/Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH),
with three gynaecologic oncologists at SHSC and six at PMH. Both surgical groups function
within a broader site group, including radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists and, at
PMH, medical oncologists.
Highlights: Dr. Allan Covens’ internationally-renowned research program at SHSC includes
minimally invasive fertility-sparing surgery and research identifying sentinel nodes as predictors
of nodal status in cervical cancer. His recent work with the NCI USA Gynecologic Oncology
Group (GOG) has helped them secure five years of funding from NIH. After completing her
fellowship and a Masters degree in clinical epidemiology, Dr Lilian Gien joined this group last
August; she has already obtained her first CCSRI grant on treatment of vulvar cancers. Dr Rachel
Kupets continues to play a leadership role in fellowship education.
Under the strong leadership of Dr Stephane Laframboise, the PMH group has improved
efficiency in care and integration of the disciplines providing care. Dr Sarah Ferguson leads the
survivorship program in gynaecologic oncology and leads several grants on survivor care. She is
also developing a clinical protocol on use of sentinel nodes in cervix cancer and on treatment of
women under 40 diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Dr Bernardini is leading robotic program
development at UHN/PMH, including over 100 robotic surgeries, and a national approach to
evaluating robotic surgery. He also leads an across-Canada collaboration for evaluating tumour
markers and outcome in women with high-risk endometrial cancer.
Dr Jason Dodge leads the group in education, coordinating medical students and residents and
developing a surgical teaching module for radical hysterectomy in low-resource countries. Dr
Joan Murphy is a national leader in cervical cancer screening, developing new standards of care.
She also works with Dr Theodore J Brown to evaluate fallopian tube epithelium and its
precursors in development of serous carcinomas originally thought to begin on the surface of the
ovary. Dr Barry Rosen continues to head the University’s Gynaecologic Oncology Division, and
that of UHN/PMH. Dr Rosen recently introduced a successful educational programme to Kenya,
teaching two surgeons to perform radical hysterectomy as a cure for cervix cancer. This program
was developed by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC).
The Division provides outreach to help reduce surgery wait times and provide expert consultation
and follow-up care in the local community. The closure of the Credit Valley program after Dr.
Jimenez’ departure identifies the need to support vulnerable programs.
Future Initiatives: The Gynaecologic Oncology Division is committed to excellent clinical care,
research and efforts to work with other stakeholders in developing the best care in the most timely
fashion to all women with gynaecologic cancers. The Division will also pursue increased
collaboration with Kenyan colleagues.
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