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Congratulations to the 2023 POGO Recognition Awards Recipients 

Posted on October 20, 2023 by admin


On Friday, November 3, Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario celebrated the recipients of the 2023 POGO Recognition Awards at a Celebratory Dinner. Established in 1999, the awards acknowledge significant contributions of Ontarians to the field of childhood cancer care in Ontario and beyond. Award recipients work in POGO partner hospitals and demonstrate POGO’s core values of partnership, collaboration and excellence. Congratulations to the 2023 recipients! 

POGO Medical Director Dr. David Hodgson (far left) and POGO Board Chair James Scongack (far right) with the 2023 POGO Recognition Awards recipients (l to r): Vicky Wilton, Tejinder Bains, Dr. Paul Nathan, Dr. Jennifer Seelisch, Dr. Elizabeth Cairney

POGO Champion Award 
The POGO Champion Award acknowledges excellence, leadership, innovation and collaboration in the field of childhood cancer care by an individual over the course of a career. Recipients have a strong history of participating in POGO initiatives, programs or services in a POGO partner hospital. They have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to achieving the best childhood cancer care system through their work within Ontario, for the benefit of children and youth with cancer, survivors, and/or their families in Ontario or beyond.  

Elizabeth Cairney, MD, FRCPC 
Medical Director, Pediatric Oncology AfterCare Clinic, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre 
In recognition of her career devotion to pediatric oncology, exceptional leadership, and commitment to excellence and quality care that has benefited patients and families, those she mentors and all with whom she collaborates, in Ontario and beyond.


POGO Visionary Award  
The POGO Visionary Award acknowledges an individual or team for an outstanding specific/single contribution to advancing the childhood cancer care system in Ontario for the benefit of children and youth with cancer, survivors, and/or their families. Recipients are agents of change whose work, as part of a POGO initiative, program or service in a POGO partner hospital, exemplifies the visionary efforts that led to POGO’s creation in 1983.  

Paul Nathan, MD, MSc, FRCPC 
Head, Solid Tumour Section & Director, AfterCare Program, The Hospital for Sick Children 
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to clinical research, teaching and program development in the field of childhood cancer survivorship, which have had sustained impact in Ontario and beyond. 

Tejinder (TJ) Bains, BSc (Pharm), ACPR 
Oncology Pharmacist, Oncology Pharmacy Team Lead and Beacon Business Systems Analyst, CHEO 
In recognition of her exemplary contributions, resourcefulness and tireless dedication to the care of childhood cancer patients, in Ontario and beyond.  


POGO Nursing Leadership Award  
The POGO Nursing Leadership Award recognizes an individual in the field of pediatric oncology nursing who demonstrates passion, vision and energy for childhood cancer care, and a commitment to a patient-family-survivor-centred approach. Recipients show leadership in ensuring the nursing perspective informs various aspects of childhood cancer care, which may include service delivery, system planning, quality improvement, knowledge transfer, professional development and/or research. Recipients have participated in POGO initiatives, programs or services, and/or work in a POGO partner hospital. They are well respected by hospital healthcare teams, patients, families, survivors and administrative leaders. 

Vicky Wilton, RN, BPHE 
POGO Interlink Nurse, Northeast Cancer Centre, Health Sciences North 
In recognition of her role as an outstanding leader, mentor, advocate, clinician and partner in the evidenced-based nursing care of those impacted by childhood cancer, throughout all stages of their journey, in Northern Ontario, and beyond. 


POGO Early Career Professional 
Recognizes an early-career professional of any discipline who has demonstrated outstanding dedication, commitment and leadership as part of a multidisciplinary team caring for children and youth with cancer, survivors, and/or their families. Recipients work in a POGO partner hospital and go above and beyond to exemplify POGO’s commitment to achieving an excellent childhood cancer care system by contributing their expertise in a voluntary capacity. 

Jennifer Seelisch, MD, MSc, FRCPC (Pediatric Hematology/Oncology) 
Director, Pediatric Undergraduate Medical Education, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre 
In recognition of her outstanding commitment and contributions to childhood cancer care that have positioned her as an emerging thought leader in pediatric oncology, in Ontario and beyond. 


POGO Community Partner Impact  
Recognizes outstanding philanthropic contributions to advance POGO’s mission and vision. Recipients demonstrate a commitment to charitable responsibility and their altruism and leadership may have inspired others to give back to POGO. 

Kate, Jack & Meghan Beswick 
In recognition of their outstanding and steadfast philanthropic leadership that has inspired a new generation of donors, connections and community in support of POGO’s mission and childhood cancer care.  

“The 2023 POGO Recognition Awards is a very important night to the community of pediatric oncology. For the Children’s Hospital, LHSC team tonight is especially significant. Dr. Cairney was my mentor as a medical student. To have her receive the POGO Champion Award, truly a lifetime achievement award, with me as the Division Lead, on the same night I am honored to be presenting an Early Career Professional Award to Dr. Jennifer Seelisch is so very humbling. The London Children’s Hospital team is just so proud.”

Dr. Alexandra Zorzi, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre

Posted in In the News | Tagged POGO Awards, POGO Symposium

POGO Announces CEO Search

Posted on October 3, 2023 by admin


Message from POGO Board Chair James Scongack

The team at the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), along with our many dedicated partners, continues to work as hard as we can every day to ensure everyone affected by childhood cancer has access to the best care and support. The organization has continued to make substantial progress in many areas and we are committed to building on this going forward. 

This progress and passion doesn’t happen without strong leadership and dedication. Jill Ross has served as the CEO of POGO since 2018 and has been instrumental in this progress as a true champion and leader of this important work. Jill has informed us of her intention to step down as the CEO after a very successful tenure. Jill remains wholeheartedly committed to POGO’s mission, and to her ongoing work with you, our partners in childhood cancer care. 

The Board has commenced a formal search process for Jill’s successor. This process is being led by a Board-appointed CEO Search Committee and we’ve retained Boyden, given their extensive experience in executive search and the health/not-for-profit sector, to advance this important process in a comprehensive manner. Following consultation and incorporating feedback from the Board, senior staff, partners and other stakeholders, the posting for this role has been made public and can be found here. Questions about the posting can be addressed to Boyden. 

Through this process, we will take the time to ensure we find a CEO that meets the needs for the future of POGO and will update you when this process is completed.  

In the meantime, it’s business as usual for POGO. We will continue the important work to move the organization forward, advancing the supports, engagement and actions to achieve an excellent childhood cancer care system for children, youth, survivors, and their families and healthcare teams, in Ontario and beyond.    

Posted in In the News

POGO Statement on Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on September 14, 2023 by admin

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and a time to raise awareness and express support for the children and youth with cancer, survivors of childhood cancer, and their families. 

The burden of a childhood cancer diagnosis on families is immense, affecting them emotionally, socially, financially and countless other ways. In Ontario, from the time of diagnosis, childhood cancer patients have access to a coordinated system of care in leading hospitals across the province.

Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, POGO, is a made-in-Ontario solution, working in partnership with these hospitals and the Ontario government to help ensure everyone affected by childhood cancer has timely access to the best care and support.  

This September, we acknowledge the children and youth in treatment or follow up care, the survivors of a childhood cancer diagnosis, the loved ones lost, and their families; and we are grateful to the many incredible organizations and multidisciplinary healthcare teams caring for them, and to those who provide other invaluable supports.

Watch the video statement from Premier Doug Ford, Health Minister Sylvia Jones and POGO Board Chair James Scongack.

Statement from Premier Doug Ford

“September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout this month I encourage everyone across Ontario to help raise awareness for this tragic disease that affects thousands of children and youth in our Province. Not only is cancer devastating to those diagnosed, it also deeply impacts their families in countless ways. I want children and youth, as well as their parents, siblings, friends and loved ones to know that they have a team Ontario on their side as they fight through this terrible disease. I want to thank the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario for their support in providing patients and survivors with world class care. I look forward to continued collaboration.”


Statement from Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones

“This September, I want to recognize children and families across Ontario impacted by childhood cancer. September is a time to recognize the courageous children who are receiving or have received treatment and thank their families for staying strong through their treatment journey. Cancer touches so many lives and I want to thank the dedicated Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario who advocates for patients and survivors through these difficult times. Our government will continue to work with you and our hospital partners to ensure children in Ontario have access to the care they need and deserve close to home.”


Statement from POGO Board Chair James Scongack

“Cancer is something that impacts us all, whether it’s ourselves our loved ones our family members, our friends, our neighbours or individuals in our community. At some point or another in all of our lives we will be impacted by cancer. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Ontario and throughout September it’s a really important opportunity for us as a province to come together to raise awareness around childhood cancer but most importantly come together as a province to do everything we can to be there for those kids and families who are battling childhood cancer. The partnership between the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario and the Ontario government and our entire hospital and pediatric oncology sector is a good example of how we can come together as a province and be there for families and kids not only today during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month but every single day of the year. I want to take this opportunity to send a very clear message to the families and kids that are battling childhood cancer, not only today but in the future, that we have your back; that we will continue to work as hard as we can every day to not only raise awareness but to continue to do better. Finally, I want to recognize the frontline healthcare professionals; you do incredible work. We’re proud of you and during September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, let’s not only think of the families who are challenged with childhood cancer and battling it today; let’s also thank those frontline workers who come to work every single day under extraordinary circumstances.”

Posted in In the News

Forty Years of Progress in Childhood Cancer Care Focus of 2023 POGO Symposium 

Posted on July 29, 2023 by admin


In 2023, rather than homing in on one specific disease group, we took the opportunity to look broadly at POGO’s 40-year history, and the significant changes in childhood cancer care over four decades. With this broad appeal, more than 215 participants joined the POGO Symposium with representation from nursing, pharmacy, physicians, students, government, allied health and community supporters; a testament to the true team effort required to care for our patients.  

Dr. Mark Greenberg, POGO co-founder, opened the two-day event by guiding us from POGO’s inception and the many challenges faced, and the incredible successes along the way, as well as the important work that remains to be done. It was clear that POGO’s early achievements required tremendous persistence, tenacity and optimism by the founders, and led to POGO becoming a MOH-funded contributor to the childhood cancer care system. Our respective institutions and the children of this province are so fortunate for the work that has gone into creating and building POGO from the ground up and the vast improvements in childhood cancer care that POGO has facilitated.  

A Comprehensive Approach to Childhood Cancer Care 

One of the loudest themes that reverberated through this year’s event was the recognition that the best possible cancer care system moving forward will take a holistic approach to treating the child and supporting the family.  

We heard about inspiring advances in therapeutics and how novel drugs such as blinatumomab, and entirely new classes of drugs, are showing promise to cure previously incurable cancers. Across all sessions, led by national and international experts, we reflected on improvements in outcomes and strategies for the future across many forms of childhood cancer, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, neuroblastoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and solid tumours. Taking a step further into the future, Drs. Malkin and Shlien described incredible new technologies that bring together advances in molecular genetics and artificial intelligence, holding the promise to better elucidate the biological differences in seemingly similar tumours and more accurately target treatment to specific biological subtypes. 

However, we also had the opportunity to acknowledge that cancer-directed therapy is not the totality of childhood cancer care, and that there are critical elements of high-quality treatment whose value is too often under-appreciated. Dr. Bob Phillips took us on an adventure through the world of supportive care and strategies for implementing clinical practice guidelines, POGO’s included. Dr. Kira Bona discussed the often overlooked and vital need to recognize and intervene on health disparities affecting our patients and their families. Food insecurity and material deprivation can have as big an impact on treatment outcome as many of the conventional prognostic factors we use routinely in clinical practice. Dr. Fiona Schulte spoke about the imperative need to provide psychosocial supports and measurable interventions for our patients, and Maria Talotta shared new opportunities for mental health supports for our patients and their families through Ontario’s Youth Wellness Hubs. As adverse social determinants of health become increasingly prevalent in Canadian society, it is more urgent than ever that we develop methods and infrastructure to reduce their impact on children with cancer. 

We must also keep at the forefront of our minds that cure is not where our patients’ cancer journey ends. Many patients are left with late effects, and excellent survivorship care is paramount. Dr. Jennia Michaeli and Stacy Whiteside brought light to the importance of establishing fertility preservation for our patient population as standard of care. Finally, we heard through multiple sessions the inherent value in ensuring that our patients have a voice in their own decision making, and how best to enable this.   

Childhood Cancer Survivors Thriving in the Medical Field 

We had the pleasure of watching several digital stories from childhood cancer survivors who shared pieces of their journey. Each of these incredible individuals also shared how they were inspired by members of their care team to work in health care, in such roles as a nurse, physician, child life specialist, and program assistant. These stories remind us about the importance of the role we, as care providers, each play in the lives of our young patients.  

Dr. David Hodgson, POGO Medical Director, and Dr. Jennifer Seelisch were the co-chairs of the 2023 POGO Symposium.

The Path Ahead  

We had the incredible opportunity to hear from a diverse panel about where the next healthcare dollars should be spent in improving care. We heard about the importance of integrating health disparities studies and interventions into our frontline trials, the need for improved psychosocial supports for patients and families, and the future potential of gene sequencing for both early detection and targeted therapy in childhood cancer. Chantelle Bacon and Iain Macri of Fight Like Mason Foundation and Mason’s parents, emphasized the need to provide education and support to physicians in recognizing red flags to enable earlier suspicion and diagnoses of childhood cancers. At the end, it was clear that a comprehensive approach that encompasses all of these elements is imperative. 

POGO has shown us over 40 years that we are better together and that our collaboration and collegiality is what builds our successes. Cheers to 40 years of POGO and to the successes to come! 

By Dr. Jennifer Seelisch, Director, Pediatric Undergraduate Medical Education, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Seelisch was the 2023 recipient of the inaugural POGO Early Career Professional Award. 


POGO Pre-Symposium Nursing Seminar Amplifies Nursing Perspective on Childhood Cancer Care  

Denise Mills, MN, NP, CPHON, is the POGO Provincial Lead, Pediatric Oncology Nursing and a Nurse Practitioner in the department of Hematology/Oncology at SickKids. Denise co-chaired the nursing day alongside Brennah Holley (not pictured), Clinical Nurse Educator in the department of Hematology/Oncology/Nephrology at CHEO.

On Thursday, November 2, POGO’s 2023 Pre-Symposium Nursing Day presented a rich offering of niche programming that attracted more than 130 nurses and other allied healthcare professionals from across Canada.  

Dr. Kitty Montgomery set the stage by discussing Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs), a theme that resonated throughout the entire Symposium. She highlighted how nurses are uniquely positioned to help children voice their symptoms, which is critical to patient-centred care.  In her presentation on bioethics at the bedside, Dr. Kim Pyke-Grimm brought the issue of moral distress to the forefront and provided examples of ethics liaison programs.  

We heard from many of Ontario’s skilled nurse practitioners as they shared their knowledge and leadership such areas as late effects of neuroblastoma, skin care for patients receiving MEK inhibitors, and providing care with blinatumomab. 

The importance of supportive care was a central theme of the day. Dr. Lindsay Jibb shared her findings from her study on “Parental Distress and Trauma in Parents of Children Diagnosed with ALL.” We were also transported into the world of preventing and managing mucositis and how nursing can play a role in implementing clinical practice guidelines. We learned about the role that nurses play in providing care and discussing sensitive topics when caring for adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors, and we explored essential knowledge and skills to bring into practice when caring for children with cancer and autism.  

Nurses comprise the highest number of healthcare professionals working in pediatric oncology, and this day was important in bringing these clinicians together from across Ontario and beyond to share and discuss nursing practice in caring for patients and families faced with a childhood cancer diagnosis. 

Related Content

Congratulations to the 2023 POGO Recognition Awards Recipients
Reflections on the 2022 POGO Symposium by Dr. Adam Fleming


Posted in In the News | Tagged POGO Awards, POGO Symposium

Outstanding Leadership from Our Partner Bruce Power

Posted on June 27, 2023 by admin

In 2019, Bruce Power made a five-year pledge of $300,000 to POGO initiatives. The financial investment demonstrated their commitment to provide children and youth with cancer, survivors and families with access to ongoing treatment, care and financial support. But it is the activity that ensued that illustrated their true dedication to champion childhood cancer care.  

From catalyzing more champions for POGO, to supporting the ongoing professional development of our healthcare professionals, to delighting our young patients and their families with some extra special fun activities, Bruce Power’s outstanding leadership has distinguished them as a true POGO partner—here for kids with cancer. For now. For life.  

Watch this animated video for a snapshot of Bruce Power’s support of POGO. 

Related Content

Bruce Power Expresses Support for POGO’s Survivorship Initiatives
Bruce Power to support Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario through Ontario Hockey League partnership for 2019-2020 season


Posted in In the News | Tagged Bruce Power, Donation, POGO Partners

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