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

ANNUAL REPORT 2009-2010DIVISIONSDivision of Gynaecologic OncologyBarry Rosen, Division HeadIntroduction: Gynaecologic Oncology subspecialty care is provided at Sunnybrook HealthSciences Centre (SHSC) and the University Health Network/Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH),with three gynaecologic oncologists at SHSC and six at PMH. Both surgical groups functionwithin a broader site group, including radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists and, atPMH, medical oncologists.Highlights: Dr. Allan Covens’ internationally-renowned research program at SHSC includesminimally invasive fertility-sparing surgery and research identifying sentinel nodes as predictorsof nodal status in cervical cancer. His recent work with the NCI USA Gynecologic OncologyGroup (GOG) has helped them secure five years of funding from NIH. After completing herfellowship and a Masters degree in clinical epidemiology, Dr Lilian Gien joined this group lastAugust; she has already obtained her first CCSRI grant on treatment of vulvar cancers. Dr RachelKupets continues to play a leadership role in fellowship education.Under the strong leadership of Dr Stephane Laframboise, the PMH group has improvedefficiency in care and integration of the disciplines providing care. Dr Sarah Ferguson leads thesurvivorship program in gynaecologic oncology and leads several grants on survivor care. She isalso developing a clinical protocol on use of sentinel nodes in cervix cancer and on treatment ofwomen under 40 diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Dr Bernardini is leading robotic programdevelopment at UHN/PMH, including over 100 robotic surgeries, and a national approach toevaluating robotic surgery. He also leads an across-Canada collaboration for evaluating tumourmarkers and outcome in women with high-risk endometrial cancer.Dr Jason Dodge leads the group in education, coordinating medical students and residents anddeveloping a surgical teaching module for radical hysterectomy in low-resource countries. DrJoan 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 itsprecursors in development of serous carcinomas originally thought to begin on the surface of theovary. Dr Barry Rosen continues to head the University’s Gynaecologic Oncology Division, andthat 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 programwas developed by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC).The Division provides outreach to help reduce surgery wait times and provide expert consultationand 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 timelyfashion to all women with gynaecologic cancers. The Division will also pursue increasedcollaboration with Kenyan colleagues.15