History and Milestones

2005

POGO assumed administration of Pediatric Interlink Community Cancer Nurses Program.
POGO completes 5-year plan (Provincial Pediatric Oncology Plan) for Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
New Satellite Site opens at Rouge Valley Health System, Centenary Health Centre.
POGO helped several Central American countries establish their own childhood cancer databases, contributing to improved local care

In response to a request from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, POGO launches a process to deliver a 5-year plan for future developments to the provincial childhood cancer control system. This plan, the Provincial Pediatric Oncology Plan, will be submitted to Ministry in Spring of 2005.
POGO designaged a “451. entity” under Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, greatly enhancing POGO’s research capability.

POGO receives charitable status and launches campaign to raise $2 million for the Pediatric Oncology Financial Assistance Plan and $2.5 million for the POGO Research Unit
POGO assumes administration and funding of Pediatric Oncology Financial Assistance Plan (POFAP)
The POGO Research Fellowship Program is launched
Adult AfterCare Clinics opened in Ottawa and London

Successful Academic and Vocational Transition Initiative (SAVTI) is created by POGO and launched in partnership with George Brown College.
POGO secures funding for pediatric Interlink Community Cancer Nurses.

A system of AfterCare clinics, first proposed to MOHLTC in 1994, is implemented, a provincial blueprint adopted and Passports to Health designed.
POGO Resource guide made available on the POGO website.

Dr. Mark Greenberg selected as incumbent POGO Chair in Childhood Cancer Control.
Dr. Ronnie Barr takes office as POGO’s President.
POGO secures $3.7 million in operating funds for a second major expansion of childhood cancer staff.
POGO endows the POGO Chair in Childhood Cancer Control and enters into private sector fundraising.
A system of AfterCare clinics, first proposed to MOHLTC in 1994, is implemented, a provincial blueprint adopted and Passports to Health designed.
POGO Resource guide made available on the POGO website.
Successful Academic and Vocational Transition Initiative (SAVTI) is created by POGO and launched in partnership with George Brown College .
POGO secures funding for pediatric Interlink Community Cancer Nurses.
POGO is successful in securing $2.9 million in operating funds for childhood cancer for further expansion of care giver staff.
POGO assumes administration and funding of Pediatric Oncology Financial Assistance Plan (POFAP), in a 3.5 year partnership with Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division.
POGONIS expanded to include the tracking of late effects and aftercare services.
POGO Office Staff numbers 13 compared to 4 in 1999
POGO announces successful completion of campaign to raise $4 million for the POGO Chair in Childhood Cancer Control

POGO is successful in securing $7.2 million in operating funds for expansion of childhood cancer staff.

POGO implements the Provincial Pediatric Oncology Satellite Program to bring certain aspects of care closer to the patients’ home.
POGO’s Research Unit (PRU) is established
First POGO Resource Guide published and distributed

POGO becomes Official Adviser to Ontario ’s MOHLTC on pediatric cancer care and control.
Childhood cancer is designated a Priority Program by the MOHLTC.
POGO’s database is tranformed into a networked information system, POGONIS, which will collect standardized, reliable and provincial data on childhood cancer in Ontario.

POGO creates first Pediatric Oncology Nursing Program, a priority identified by the POGO Nursing Committee. The curriculum is adopted by McMaster School of Nursing in Hamilton .
POGO holds a FORUM on childhood cancer, bringing all stakeholders in the childhood cancer community together. The event is planned and hosted with Candlelighters Canada.
At the invitation of Ontario ’s Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOHLTC), POGO creates Provincial Pediatric Oncology Working Group and submits a comprehensive plan for development of an integrated childhood cancer network, identifying gaps in the childhood cancer care system and outlining a vision for the future.

Dr. Mark Greenberg takes office as President of POGO, which he holds until 2000.

White paper on childhood cancer presented at second POGO Conference, in London .
POGO Central office operation created with 2 part time positions.

Dr. Corin Greenberg recruited to carry out a needs study and develop a blueprint for activity, in collaboration with the POGO professional community.
First POGO Conference, held in Ottawa.

The POGO collaboration is conceived, when Dr. Alvin Zipursky assembles pediatric oncology medical leaders in the province.
Dr. Mark Greenberg proposes a standardized, provincial registry and database on childhood cancer and all medical directors agree to contribute. This is the forerunner of POGONIS (Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario Networked Information System).