Biography

Dr. Ewa Szumacher is a Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology University of Toronto and a Radiation Oncologist at the Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Her scholarly and clinical practice includes patients with breast cancer and genitourinary malignancies. Her research focuses on understanding the needs of cancer patients in radiotherapy and how the inter professional teams in radiation oncology impact on patients care.

She completed her Masters in higher education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, with sub-specialization in health profession education. She is an affiliate scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute, member of the Wilson Centre.

In 2016 Dr Szumacher was appointed Co-Director, Continuous Education and Professional Development UTDRO and in 2018 appointed as a President of American Association for Cancer Education.

Krista Dawdy is the Clinical Educator/Clinical Coordinator for radiation therapy at Odette Cancer. She is an Instructor Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto (UTDRO) and Adjunct Professor at the Michener Institute of Education. She is involved in both staff training and education including medical and allied health professionals, as well as students in the medical radiation sciences program. She has led many initiatives within the Odette cancer program and her main interest is in education and continuing professional development. Krista has authored and co-authored many peer review articles in oncology and has been the recipient of numerous grants and teaching awards.

Shereen Akkila is a Research Coordinator at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Her work focuses on identifying and challenging barriers to effective treatment for older adults with breast cancer, with an emphasis on patient-centered care. She is the primary author of the first published study investigating functional decline and resilience in older women undergoing radiotherapy, the results of which have been presented at multiple national and international conferences. Her role on the planning committee of a leadership in education seminar conducted throughout 2023, aimed at promoting more patient involvement in clinical and research settings, has provided her with valuable experience in fostering collaborative environments that bridge the gap between healthcare providers and patients. She aims to further promote the integration of patient-centered care by supporting research focused on evaluating the efficacy and adverse effects of various treatments for the underrepresented yet rapidly expanding population of older adults with breast cancer.

Julie Burnett is an Oncology Social Worker at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She holds two undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto. Julie has been with Sunnybrook since 2002 and with the Odette Cancer Centre since 2007. She provides psychosocial support to patients and their caregivers in the hematology and genitourinary programs at the Odette Cancer Centre. Julie has also previously facilitated support groups for patients and their caregivers at Wellspring Cancer Support Centre. In addition to her clinical work, Julie also continues to participate in Social Work student education and mentoring through the Factor Inwentash School Of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Julie is published and her areas of interest include advance care planning and patient/caregiver education and support.

Krista Dawdy is the Clinical Educator/Clinical Coordinator for radiation therapy at Odette Cancer. She is an Instructor Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto (UTDRO) and Adjunct Professor at the Michener Institute of Education. She is involved in both staff training and education including medical and allied health professionals, as well as students in the medical radiation sciences program. She has led many initiatives within the Odette cancer program and her main interest is in education and continuing professional development. Krista has authored and co-authored many peer review articles in oncology and has been the recipient of numerous grants and teaching awards.

Laurie serves as the Director of Equity & Social Accountability at Sunnybrook, working in her role to promote a community where health access and inclusivity are paramount. She spearheads sustainable change initiatives to prioritize equity, engagement, accessibility, and inclusion throughout all aspects of the organization, spanning care, education, research, and the workplace.

As co-lead of the Department of Equity & Social Accountability, co-chair of PART and the 2LGBTQIA+ Steering Committee, and facilitator of the Indigenous Community Advisory Committee, her focus in on reshaping the organization’s culture, strengthening its foundation, and empowering all teams to promote equity and inclusion within their own areas of responsibility.

With experience spanning 18 years in healthcare and research across Canada and Australia, Laurie brings expertise in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, community engagement, strategic communication, and change implementation.

Dr. Louie is an Associate Professor, Radiation Oncologist and Clinician Scientist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto. During his fellowship, he obtained an MSc in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, and a PhD from the VU University, Amsterdam. He leads the lung cancer disease site team at Sunnybrook, and holds ASTRO and IASLC leadership and committee roles.

Dr. Louie has published over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts and his research focuses on clinical trials, comparative effectiveness, economic evaluation and technology appraisal in lung, kidney and oligometastatic cancers.

Dr. Mireille Norris is an Internist and Geriatrician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She was appointed Faculty Lead for Black and Indigenous medical learners in 2020 by the department of medicine and is the lead for the Core Internal Medicine Black and Indigenous pathway for the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Norris has a focus of interest in dementia care, fall prevention, quality improvement and medical education. Her interest in under represented physician education has been enhanced by the experience of recruiting and mentoring International Medical Graduates for the Hospitalist Training Program. Her own experience as a Black female French speaking physician was instrumental in empowering her trainees which are now successful in many provinces, the United States and Europe. Since March 2023 she took on the role of Black Health Theme Lead for the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Her passion for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity is also reflected in a number of initiatives. They include, participation on the Sunnybrook President Anti-Racist Task force, launching of SPARK (Sunnybrook Program Accessing Research Knowledge) with co-founders and accomplices (Drs. Jill Tinmouth, Nick Daneman and Csilla Kalocsai), mentoring membership with the Black Physicians Association of Canada, collaboration with the Network for the Advancement of Black Learners and successful changes to the CaRMS application for core internal medicine which lead to increased inclusivity. Recently she has also contributed to the Royal College Committee on CANMEDS Equity Working Group on Advocacy and she is the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Black Health Innovation and Advancement which reports to the Association of Faculty of Medicine of Canada. She also contributes to the Black Health Education Collaborative nationally. In 2023 she received a Life time achievement award from the Black Physicians of Canada and in 2024 an Excellence in teaching award from the Black Physicians Association of Ontario.

She has been providing geriatric medicine care to marginalized communities at TAIBU in Scarborough, Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto, Centre D’Acceuil Heritage and Bendale Acres in Scarborough and coaches students in providing care to those communities. Her areas of expertise in geriatric medicine include dementia care, fall prevention, ethno-cultural geriatrics and she has collaborated in geriatric oncology both as an educator and consultant.

Dr. Hany Soliman has been a staff Radiation Oncologist at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre in Toronto since 2012. He completed his Radiation Oncology residency at the University of Toronto and went on to complete a 1 year fellowship in CNS and Lung SBRT. He has a clinical and academic focus in primary and metastatic CNS tumours and has helped develop one of the leading CNS programs in North America. He is the current lead for the Gamma Knife program at Sunnybrook. He has a special interest in training the next generation of radiation oncologists and is the Director of Education and Fellowship lead in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre.

Dr. Ewa Szumacher is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology University of Toronto and a Radiation Oncologist at the Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Her scholarly and clinical practice includes patients with breast cancer and genitourinary malignancies. Her research focuses on understanding the needs of cancer patients in radiotherapy and how the inter professional teams in radiation oncology impact on patients care.

She completed her Masters in higher education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, with sub-specialization in health profession education. She is an affiliate scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute, member of the Wilson Centre.

In 2016 Dr Szumacher was appointed Co-Director, Continuous Education and Professional Development UTDRO and in 2018 appointed as a President of American Association for Cancer Education.

Dr. May Tsao is a practicing Radiation Oncologist at Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto.  She is the Vice Chair of Education, University of Toronto, Department Radiation Oncology.  Her scholarly and clinical practice includes palliative radiotherapy.