UTDRO celebrates its exceptionally talented faculty and launches refreshed strategic plan at 27th AGM

The University of Toronto’s Department of Radiation Oncology (UTDRO) hosted its 27th annual general meeting (AGM) at the University of Toronto’s Faculty Club on November 14, 2018. Nearly one hundred faculty members representing radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiation therapists, scientists, and special guests attended the event to honour and celebrate the department and each other’s achievements.

The event was also an opportunity to celebrate the launch of UTDRO’s refreshed strategic plan entitled, UTDRO 2022: Reflect. Transform. Lead., and the release of the department’s 2017-2018 Annual Report.

Assistant Professors Dr. Jennifer Croke (based at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre) and Dr. William Tran (based at Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre) co-hosted the event and provided a constant stream of comedic commentary and amusing visual presentations to capture the sense of community, familiarity and connections among the UTDRO faculty.

Chair and Professor Dr. Fei-Fei Liu was the first speaker to make opening remarks.

“This is one of the few opportunities we have to celebrate our extraordinary faculty who are among the highest regarded educators and researchers in the world,” said Dr. Liu. “It is events like these that help us to build and strengthen the UTDRO community and further foster collaborations across our sites, for research and education, and clinically.”

Dr. Liu went on to describe the launch of UTDRO’s refreshed strategic plan, UTDRO 2022: Reflect. Transform. Lead., which involved a thorough consultation process with faculty and trainees, and seven health system leaders, as well as the guidance of a 13-member strategic planning steering committee. The new plan has five ambitious goals that will help the department enhance its reputation internationally and take it to new levels in leadership and contribution.

Guest speakers included Vice Dean of Partnerships in the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Lynn Wilson and Dr. Ari Zaretsy, Chief of Psychiatry and Vice-President of Education at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

While dinner was served, UTDRO Vice-Chair of Clinical Affairs, Dr. Shun Wong highlighted and welcomed the 15 new faculty members and celebrated the five promotions during the 2017-2018 reporting period, as well as the new faculty who have joined since August.

UTDRO Vice-Chair of Education, Dr. Rebecca Wong, announced the recipients of the 12 departmental education awards and Vice-Chair of Research, Dr. Michael Milosevic, announced the recipients of the four departmental research awards.

Recipients of the education awards:

• Medical Radiation Sciences Program Best Guest Lecturer Award: Jacqueline Silvera and Carina Feuz
• Medical Radiation Sciences Program Excellence in Classroom Teaching Award: Niusha Nowbahari
• Medical Radiation Sciences Program Excellence in Clinical Supervision Award: Monica Van Larkin and Kerry Maddix
• Medical Radiation Sciences Program Excellence in Research Supervision Award: Tara Rosewall
• Postgraduate Advocacy & Mentorship Award: Bernard Cummings
• Postgraduate Medical Education Excellence in Research Supervision Award: Alejandro Berlin
• Professional Development & CME Award: Laura Dawson
• Master of Health Science in Medical Radiation Sciences Best Guest Lecturer Award: Michael Velec
• Postgraduate Classroom Teaching Award: Ali Hosni Abdalaty and Bei Bei Zhang
• Undergraduate Medical Education Outstanding Contribution to the Program: Eric Leung
• Undergraduate Medical Education Best Clinical Teaching: Tatania Conrad

Recipients of the research awards:

• Best Annual Research Performance Award: Arjun Sahgal
• Excellence in Research Leadership: Jean-Pierre Bissonnette
• Outstanding Research Potential Award: Alejandro Berlin
• Sustained Excellence in Research Award: Eileen Rakovitch

At the end of the awards presentation, co-hosts Drs. Croke and Tran concluded the evening with a video highlighting moments captured earlier in the evening during the AGM’s cocktail reception, as well as shots of faculty at their respective work sites, which include UTDRO’s six teaching hospitals across the GTA.

To view more photos of the event, visit UTDRO AGM photo album.

To view award recipients from previous years, visit the Departmental Awards.

UTDRO is the largest department of its kind in Canada and attracts leading faculty and trainees from around the world. If you are interested in supporting the professional training of undergraduates, graduates, and post-graduates in the field of radiation medicine, please visit our donation page.