About POGO
The Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) was founded in 1983 by a group of pediatric oncologists to champion childhood cancer care and control. As the representative voice of the childhood cancer community, POGO works to ensure that all of Ontario's children have equal access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, treatment and required ancillary services. We also aim to make certain that Ontario's children have the greatest prospects for survival with an optimal quality of life.
The organization is a collaboration of the five specialty pediatric oncology programs; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto), McMaster Children's Hospital (Hamilton), Children's Hospital, London Health Science Centre (London), Kingston General Hospital and Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Ottawa), as well as a growing number of partners drawn from community hospitals, community services, other members of the health care sector, families of children who have, or have had cancer, corporate and private benefactors and volunteers.
Through strong partnerships with Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and the childhood cancer community, POGO has built a reputation for recommendations based on solid provincial data, scientific evidence and extensive clinical experience. Today, POGO is the official source of advice to the MOHLTC on pediatric cancer care and control, and the Ministry has assigned Pediatric Cancer Priority Program status, thus assuring separate planning and committed funding for the disease.
The joint efforts of POGO and its partner hospitals have created an environment in which the gaps in cancer care and control are identified, and a secure and appropriate flow of funds to treating hospitals may be negotiated with government, and continually adjusted to accommodate new treatments and new service demands.
Thanks to POGO, care for Ontario's children with cancer has been integrated into an exemplary, province-wide system supported by practice guidelines, professional education, accurate information and research. The POGO collaboration strives to improve quality of life during all phases of a child's battle with cancer - from diagnosis to palliation, or from diagnosis to cure and beyond.
POGO Video Overview
For more information, we welcome you to view a short video overview about POGO's work and how you can help support it.
POGO Video - Quicktime format 7.8 MB
POGO Video - Pediatric Oncology Professionals - Quicktime format 7.9 MB
Note: you will need Quicktime to view these files. Click here to download - it's free and works on Windows and Macintosh platforms.
Below is a graphic representation of POGO and our partner hospitals. The first ring surrounding POGO includes the five specialized pediatric cancer centres. The outer ring represents the hospitals in POGO's Provincial Pediatric Oncology Satellite Program.
