RTi3 2023 Program

Program at a Glance

Click on your area of interest below to jump to that section or scroll down to see the full program. 

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023


9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT

Social - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT

Cody Hall | 9:00 AM - 9:10 AM EDT

Conference Start | Welcome Remarks

  • UTDRO Chair Welcome | Dr. Laura Dawson
  • Conference Chairs Opening Remarks | Winnie Li and Lori Holden

Dear Colleagues,

It is with anticipation and excitement that we welcome you to the 2023 RTi3 Conference, hosted by the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto on March 31-April 1, 2023!  As Canada’s premiere Radiation Therapy conference, we are committed to Inspire, Inquire and Innovate in the field of Radiation Therapy. 

We are fortunate to be back in person this year, being able to interact and network with friends and colleagues face to face.  The program is full of fabulous national and international speakers as they look to showcase the research and practice innovation done within their departments.   With close to 40 proffered abstracts, topics range from Education and Treatment Planning, to Enhancing the Patient Experience. To inspire the leaders of tomorrow, both a rapid-fire poster session and a fireside discussion panel is dedicated to radiation therapy student attendees. We will also hear from our keynote and top ranked abstract speakers, as they span topics of equity and intersectionality, radiation therapists in clinical trials and implementation of MRI into daily practice.  With this lineup of speakers we are certain RTi3 2023 will not disappoint!   You can find the submitted abstracts from this year in the online supplement in the Journal of Medical Radiation Imaging and Radiation Sciences.

Continuing on from the success of last year, another patient and caregiver session will take place, titled Our Take:  Patients and Caregivers Share their Experience through Digital Storytelling.  This workshop gives patients the opportunity to share their stories and convey what is meaningful in their care experience. We hope that by reflecting on these narratives, attendees will garner a greater appreciation of the importance of the human-touch and the need for health advocacy in their everyday work. Additionally, the National Innovation Snapshot, sponsored by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists, will showcase the many initiatives our colleagues are involved in, as they bring their innovations to the forefront. 

We thank everyone who had a part in helping to bring this conference back to in-person, and for your continued support.  We extend our gratitude to this year’s committee members and numerous abstract reviewers who volunteered their time and expertise to build and uphold the high-quality program for the RTi3 Conference. We look forward to seeing you at the 2024 RTi3 conference. You can access up to date conference information by visiting www.RTi3.com.

- Winnie Li and Lori Holden, Co-chairs RTi3 2023

Gillian Graham

Innovate Keynote Address | Gillian Graham

Moderated by Winnie Li

Title

A Tale of Two Cities: The Development of MR integrated RT Practice in Alberta

Learning Objectives

  • Learn about MR integrated RT regulations and practice certification in Alberta
  • Discover how stakeholders, partnerships, and operational development influenced the emergence of MR RT in Alberta

Cody Hall | 10:00 AM - 10:30 PM EDT

2023 Top-Ranked - Innovate - Saher Ali, HonsBSc, MRT(T)

Uncovering the Armpit of SBRT: Developing a Harmonized Axillary Node SBRT Protocol

Moderated by Brian Liszewski

Cody Hall | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

Concurrent Session 

Proffered Session 1 | Treatment Planning

Moderated by Shaziya Malam

  • Implementation of MRI Only Planning for Prostate SBRT - Stephen RussellBSc, MRT(T)

  • Dosimetric Analysis of Patients Receiving Volumetric-Modulated Arc Palliative Radiotherapy to the Thoracic Spine: A Comparison with Conventional Mono-Isocentric Parallel Opposed Pair Treatment - Kori Kilgar, Junior Investigator

  • Machine Learning Radiotherapy Automated Planning: Transition to an Ultra-Hypofractionated Prostate Model - Vanessa WanBSc, MRT(T)
  • A Planning Study in Eclipse to Evaluate the Effect of Aperture Shape Controller on Plan Quality of HyperArc Treatments for Single Brain Lesions - Yixiu Jiang, Junior Investigator
  • The Dosimetric Underpinning of Bladder Filling Criteria For Prostate Image-Guided VMAT - Vickie Kong, MSc, MRT(T)

Great Hall | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

Concurrent Session 

Proffered Session 2 | Education

Moderated by Ruvette Coelho

  • Identifying Radiation Therapists’ Perceptions of Potentially Triggering Aspects of Care for Sexual Violence Survivors Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Needs Assessment to Inform Future Education Program Development - Maria DimopoulosMBA, RT(T)
  • Name it to Claim it: The Role of Psychological Safety in Undergraduate Health Education - Kayli Chen, Junior Investigator
  • Creating Pathways to Future Proof our Profession: The Development of a MR-integrated Radiation Therapy Training Program - Laura D’AlimonteMRT(T), MHSc
  • We’re All in this Together: Team-based Simulation to Improve Interprofessional Team Performance in a Cancer ProgramDarby Erler, MRT(T), MHSc
  • Patient Care Evaluation in Radiotherapy (PACER): Development of a Clinical Chart Audit ToolMavis Li, Junior Investigator

Cody Hall | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

Patient Session | Our Take:  Patients and Caregivers Share their Experience through Digital Storytelling

Moderated by Darby Erler

In this special patient, family and caregiver session, patients will get the opportunity to share their stories and convey what is meaningful in their care experience. By reflecting on these narratives, Radiation Therapists will garner a greater appreciation of the importance of the human-touch and health advocacy in our everyday work.

Cody Hall | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

Concurrent Session 

Proffered Session 3 | Enhancing the Patient Experience

Moderated by Brandee Pidgeon

  • Therapeutic Cannabis Use by Patients with Cancer in Canada: A National Survey of the Experiences, Opinions and Information Needs of Radiation Therapists - Kayli Chen, (Junior Investigator)
  • Qualitative Patient Experiences with a Person-Centered vs. Standard Model of Care for Breast Radiation Therapy (PERSON Study) - Vivian Hoang, BSc, MRT(T)
  • Examining the Role That Radiation Therapists Have to Enhance Patient Care through Symptom Management - Alyssa ZokvicBMRSc, MRT(T)
  • Prospective Evaluation of Patient-reported Experiences with Adaptive Radiation Therapy on an MR-Linac - Amanda MoreiraBSc, MRT(T)(MR)
  • Perspectives From Our Patients: A Current State Needs Analysis for Radiation Therapy Patient Education at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre - Jaclyn Jacques, BSc, MRT(T)

Great Hall | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

Concurrent Session

Student Rapid-Fire Poster Session 

Moderated by Martin Chai

  • A Pilot Study of Assessing Efficacy of Dual Image Registration for Pelvis and Prostate Radiotherapy - Shu Wang
  • Exploration of Inter- and Intra-Fractional Dosimetric Variability in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Radiation TherapyBaha Hamzaev
  • Exploring the Relationship Between Race and Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions Among Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Literature ReviewEden Endale
  • Retrospective Analysis of Plan Quality Indices for De Novo Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)Mahnoor Ahmed
  • Improvement of MRI-guided Interstitial Brachytherapy Plan Consistency and Quality for Cervical Cancer Through Characterization of Dosimetric ParametersBehrad Khalafi
  • Does the Alignment of Daily Treatment Appointments with Patient’s CT Simulation Time Promote Inter-Fraction Consistency in Rectal Organ Volume in Prostate Cancer Patients – an In-house StudyChae-Lynn Bailey
  • Retrospective Analysis on the Effects of the Radiation Therapist YSM Champion Model and its Impact on Social Work and Dietician ReferralsBrittany Conforti
  • The Art of Radiation Therapy (ART): A Quality Improvement InitiativeKayli Chen

Cody Hall | 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM EDT

2023 Top-Ranked Inspire - Tara Rosewall, PhD MRT(T)

Therapist-recorded Prospective Patient Assessment During External Beam Radiotherapy for Prostate

Moderated by Vickie Kong

Sharona Bookbinder

Inter-professional Keynote Address | Sharona Bookbinder

Moderated by Lori Holden

Title

Privilege, Intersectionality and Equity in Inter-Professional Research and Healthcare

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize privilege and intersectionality in context 
  • Learn behaviours to eliminate power imbalances
  • Bring equitable considerations into clinical practice and everyday life

Day 1 End | Closing Remarks

Cody Hall | 4:50 PM - 5:00 PM EDT

  • Co-Chair Closing Remarks | Winnie Li and Lori Holden

Great Hall | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT

Friday Night Social

Connect with old friends and get to know new ones!

Join us for drinks and hors d'oeuvres as we reflect on the day, unwind, and catch up with colleagues. See you there!

SATURDAY, April 1, 2023


9:00 AM - 3:30 PM EDT

Cody Hall | 9:00 AM - 9:10 AM EDT

Conference Co-Chairs Opening Remarks

Winnie Li and Lori Holden

Yat Man Tsang

Inquire Keynote Address | Yat Man Tsang

Moderated by Lori Holden

Title

The importance of Radiation Therapists in Clinical Trials and Evidence-Based Medicine

Learning Objectives

  • Learn about different roles of radiation therapists in clinical trials and evidence-based medicine
  • Understand the unique professional perspectives from radiation therapists and their impact on developing evidence-based practice

Cody Hall | 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM EDT

2023 Top-Ranked Inquire - Francois Gallant, MRT(T)

Mepitel Film for the Prevention of Acute Radiation Dermatitis in Breast Cancer: A Randomized Multi-Centre Open-Label Phase 3 Trial 

Moderated by Michael Velec

Cody Hall | 10:45 AM - 11:45 PM EDT

Concurrent Session 

Proffered Session 4 | Mini Orals

Moderated by Nawroz Fatima

  • Development of an Online Adaptive Radiation Therapy Framework on an Ethos Treatment Unit - Dave McAloney, BSc, MRT(T)
  • The Impact of COVID-19 on Brachytherapy Workflow: a Two-Centre Experience - Kitty Chan, MHSc., MRT(T)
  • The Use of Extended CBCTs in the Dosimetric Assessment of Anatomical Changes - Kenny Zhan, BSc, MRT(T)
  • Predicting Tumour and Normal Tissue Response During Radiotherapy Using Radiomic Analysis from On-Board Imaging: a Systematic Review - Andrew Luu, BMRSc, MRT(T)
  • MRI-Guided Endoluminal HDR Brachytherapy for Recurrent Esophageal Cancer via Nasogastric ApproachMackenzie Smith, MSc, BSc, MRT(T) 
  • A Pilot Study on the Gamma Knife ICON: Will the Utilization of a Prototype Standard Head Cushion (PSHC) be a Feasible Immobilization Accessory on the Gamma Knife ICON (GKI) and as Good as the Currently Utilized Head Cushions? - Teresa Cheng, BSc, MRT(T)
  • Leadership Rounding: Improving the Patient Experience One Conversation at a Time - Laura D’Alimonte, MRT(T), MHSc

Great Hall | 10:45 AM - 11: 45 PM EDT

Concurrent Session

Student Session | Panel Discussion

Moderated by Student Working Group

Cody Hall | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM EDT

National Innovation Snapshot (CAMRT-sponsored)

Opening by Irving Gold, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT). Moderated by Brian Liszewski, Merrylee McGuffin, Madette Galapin.

  • The MRT Voice in Championing Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Radiation Medicine - Caitlin Gillan, MRT(T) MEd PhD FCAMRT
  • Virtual Cart Boards for SuppliesRuvette Coelho, MBA, MRT(T)
  • Radiation Treatment Department Collaboration with Diagnostic for CT Simulation During a Planned Replacement of a Stand-alone CT Simulator at a Regional Cancer Centre - Chris KwongHBsc, MRT(T)
  • Integrating Digital Media into the Radiation Therapy Clinic (Modernizing our Music)Ryan Hyvarinen, BSc MRT(T), MHM
  • Is it All Fun, Games and Free Food? How Fun and Play Impact Stress and Coping; our Halloween and MRT Week Experience at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre - Jaclyn Jacques, BSc, MRT(T) 
  • Can't Stop the Feeling: Celebrating Patient ExperienceCarmen Chan, BMRSc, MRT(T) ) and Yannie Lai, HBSc, MRT(T)

Cody Hall | 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM EDT

Proffered Session 5 | Advancing Practice

Moderated by Kitty Chan

  • The Impact of a Modified Bladder Acceptance Criterion on the CT-simulation Rescan Rate for Prostate Radiotherapy Jennifer Dang, Bsc, MRT(T)(MR)
  • Assessing the Current Same-Day Process for Palliative Radiotherapy:  How Well Are We Doing? Joanna Javor, APRT(T), CMD, MHSc
  • Filling the Gap: Improving Communication Between the Dentistry and Radiotherapy Departments Madette Galapin, BSc (Hons), MRT(T)
  • Exploring Barriers to MRT(T) Participation in Multidisciplinary Clinical Practice Groups; A Survey Study Kelly Linden, MRT(T), MSc in Supportive & Palliative Care

Lisa Di Prospero

Inspire Keynote Address | Lisa Di Prospero

Moderated by Winnie Li

Title

When One Door Closes, Another Opens: Accepting the Agony of Defeat and Embracing the Excitement of the Unknown

Learning Objectives

  • Explore the meaning of innovation beyond its literal meaning
  • Describe elements of opportunity, big and small 
  • Understand the transformative journey of transitioning success from self to them
  • Explore the reciprocity of mentee to mentor to mentee

Conference End | Closing Remarks

3:20 PM - 3:30 PM EDT

  • Co-Chair Closing Remarks | Winnie Li and Lori Holden

Thank you for the generous support of our Sponsors:

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