Resources to Support Indigenous Families
Healthcare Education
Supportive Care and Guidelines
POGO’s First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous Children with Cancer Initiative Core Group was established in 2019 and is committed to improving equity and cultural safety in care for Indigenous children with cancer and their families.
Childhood Cancer: A Guide for First Nations Communities
The 20-minute video Childhood Cancer: A Guide for First Nations Communities is designed to support families when a childhood cancer diagnosis is first disclosed. The video features Wendy Lariviere, a bereaved mom and member of the Nipissing First Nation, in conversation with Dr. Mark Greenberg, POGO co-founder and retired pediatric oncologist. It weaves together facts, storytelling and animated imagery to provide a basic understanding of cancer in children. Healthcare providers are encouraged to use the video in their practice as part of the disclosure meeting. Families can share the video with their support network to help everyone in their circle better understand their experience.
Indigenous Resource Guide
This resource list is for pediatric oncology healthcare professionals of all disciplines who wish to expand their understanding of the rich and varied experiences of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous patients and families, to foster culturally safe, equitable care.
POGO Education Webinars
Healthcare Education
Supportive Care and Guidelines
Demystifying Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy
January 20, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Speakers:
Lee-Anne Pires, RN, MSN, CPHON, The Hospital for Sick Children
Meagan DeJesus, RN, The Hospital for Sick Children
Sarah Courtney, RN(EC), MN, NP-Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the fundamental principles of blood and marrow transplant (BMT) and cellular therapy, including key terminology, indications, and the role these treatments play in managing various conditions.
- Describe the core steps in the BMT process and essential patient care considerations, such as pre-transplant preparation, conditioning regimens, and post-transplant monitoring.
- Identify emerging trends and applications of cellular therapies and discuss how these innovations are shaping current and future treatment strategies in hematology.
Sleep Disruptions in Pediatric ALL: Navigating Nighttime Challenges, Daytime Fatigue, and Family Preparedness
February 25, 2025 | 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Speaker:
Sue Zupanec, MN, NP-Pediatric, The Hospital for Sick Children
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the importance of individual sleep assessments to identify children with very poor-quality sleep, which may cluster with other distressing symptoms
- Explore strategies and education for promoting sleep quality for both children and families
- Discuss how to recognize sleep disruptions as a potential side effect of ALL therapy
The Evidence is in: Addressing Fatigue in Children and Adolescents with Cancer
September 17, 2024 | 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Speakers:
Kitty Montgomery, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing
Teresa Herriage, Paediatric Nurse Practitioner, Cancer and Blood Disorders Program, Children’s of Minnesota
Learning Objectives
- 1. To discuss the significance of fatigue on the quality of life of children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer\
- To describe resources to support fatigue assessment during routine clinical care
- To discuss the nurse’s role in implementing evidence-based guidelines to alleviate fatigue
The Past, Present and Future of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Care
April 2, 2024 | 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Speakers:
Jennifer Catsburg, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
Rebecca Côté, Clinical Program Coordinator, Teen Cancer Connection, Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children
Simone Kurup, Social Work Program Specialist, Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
Learning Objectives
- To review the unique needs of AYAs navigating cancer
- To outline the AYA programs available at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and SickKids
- To highlight how AYA cancer patients have benefited from specialized care and resources from an AYA program
- To discuss ways to ensure equitable access to care for AYAs with cancer from rural and remote locations, outside of the GTA
Supportive Care for Indigenous Children with Cancer: Ask a Traditional Medicine Knowledge Holder
January 16, 2024 | 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Speaker:
Joseph Pitawanakwat, Traditional Medicine Knowledge Holder, Founder & Director, Creator’s Garden
Learning Objectives
- Explore broadly how Indigenous medicine can help alleviate symptoms and side effects of cancer treatment in children;
- Describe some therapeutic/supportive care benefits of Indigenous medicine to address: (1) mouth sores, (2) fatigue, (3) nausea and vomiting, and (4) pain;
- Articulate how health professionals in a hospital setting can support the integration of these medicines into a child’s treatment when desired by the child and/or family.
Community Mental Health Resources for Childhood Cancer Survivors and their Caregivers
November 22, 2023 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Speaker:
Dr. Lyndall Schumann, Clinical Director and Clinical Lead,   Canadian Mental Health Association, York Region South Simcoe  Network Lead Organization
This presentation provides an overview of:
- BounceBack – a free, confidential program for teens (15-17 years old) who are experiencing depression, anxiety and fear of cancer recurrence
- The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program, to help adults better manage anxiety or depression through in-person and virtual services
- The full range of mental health services available through these two programs
- How to refer a patient, family, survivor or assist individuals to self-refer
- How you as a care providers can be informed of your patient’s progress and outcomes
Trauma-Informed Care
Part 1: March 28, 2023 | 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Speaker: Sharon Lorber, MSW, RSW
Part 2: April 4, 2023 | 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Speaker: Lysa Toye, MSW, RSW, ExAT
Approaches to Harmonizing Western and Indigenous Medicine in Children with Cancer
December 6, 2022 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Speakers:
Michael Anderson MD, MSc, FRCSC
Wendy Lariviere, Parent
Joe Pitawanakwat, Indigenous Plant Medicine Educator
Vicky Wilton, POGO Pediatric Interlink Community Cancer Nurse at Northeast Cancer Centre, Health Sciences North
Moderator: Mark Greenberg, OC, MB, ChB, FRCP(C), FAAP
Adherence to Oral Chemotherapy in Childhood ALL: What We’ve Learned from Children’s Oncology Group Studies
October 4, 2022 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Speaker: Wendy Landier, PhD, CRNP, FAAN
Finding Our Way with Gratitude, Grit and Grace
April 5, 2022 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Speaker: Kathy Perko RN, MS, PPCNP-BC, CPON, CHPPN, FPCN
Blinatumomab: Making it through to Day 28!
January 25, 2022 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Speaker: Sue Zupanec, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Leukemia and Lymphoma Section, Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children and Chair, Nursing Discipline, Children’s Oncology Group
Supporting Children through COVID-19
September 22, 2020 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Speaker: Andrea Warnick, Grief Therapist and Lisa Robinson, Grief Counsellor
Good Grief! Fostering Healthy Grief in Ourselves and Those We Support
November 17, 2020 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Speaker: Andrea Warnick, Grief Therapist
For more information about POGO’s education events, please contact us at education@pogo.ca.
POGO Satellite Education Day
Healthcare Education
Supportive Care and Guidelines
2025 POGO Satellite Education Day
Partnering for Progress in Childhood Cancer Care
When: Friday, June 13
Where: InterContinental Toronto Centre (225 Front St W, Toronto, ON)
Thank you for joining the 2025 POGO Satellite Education Day!
Thank you for being part of this year’s POGO Satellite Education Day—a dynamic, multidisciplinary education event focused on practical strategies and insights for managing the unique challenges of treating children with cancer in satellite settings.
We were thrilled to welcome clinicians, researchers, and healthcare administrators from across the province to learn and collaborate with experts from leading academic health sciences centers. Together, we explored the latest evidence, shared best practices, and gained practical tools to enhance patient care for children with cancer.
Stay tuned for photos from the event.
We look forward to seeing you in 2027!
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
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- Integrate current evidence and best practices in the management of pediatric cancer treatment, including targeted therapies, clinical trial updates, and supportive care for common toxicities and complications.
- Enhance procedural confidence in pediatric oncology clinical procedures such as portacath.
- Recognize patient and family perspectives to enhance patient-centered strategies to improve psychosocial and medical care across diverse oncology settings.
- Identify strategies to promote clinician resilience and professional sustainability, while maintaining compassionate care in the emotionally demanding field of pediatric oncology.
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Accredited Event
ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF CANADA – SECTION 1
This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, approved by Continuing Professional Development, University of Ottawa. You may claim a maximum of 6.5 hours (credits are automatically calculated).
For more information about POGO’s education events, please contact us at education@pogo.ca.
POGO AfterCare Education Day
Healthcare Education
Supportive Care and Guidelines
The 2026 POGO AfterCare Education Day will take place on Friday, May 8, 2026 at the Courtyard by Marriott Toronto Downtown.
Join us for a dynamic, multidisciplinary event designed for healthcare professionals across Ontario who are committed to improving the care and long-term outcomes of childhood cancer survivors.
This interactive program will feature expert-led sessions, evidence-based strategies, and practical tools to strengthen survivorship care in clinical practice. In addition to leading clinicians and researchers, the agenda will include perspectives from People with Lived Experience (PWLE), offering invaluable insights to inform patient-centered approaches.
Together, we will explore best practices, address emerging challenges, and collaborate on innovative solutions to enhance quality of life of survivors of childhood cancer.
2026 POGO AfterCare Education Day Accreditation Details
More details to come.
For more information about POGO’s education events, please contact us at education@pogo.ca.
POGO Symposium
Healthcare Education
Supportive Care and Guidelines
POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer: November 7 – 8, 2025
Pre-Symposium Nursing Day:Â November 6, 2025
Where: Â Blue Mountain Resort (190 Gord Canning Drive, Blue Mountains, Ontario)
Thank you for joining us at the 2025 POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer and the Pre-Symposium Nursing Day. We’re grateful for your participation and hope you found the experience valuable and inspiring. Stay tuned for photos and videos from the event, we’ll be sharing highlights soon!
We look forward to welcoming you again in 2026.
The POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer is POGO’s signature educational event, drawing faculty and attendees from across Canada and internationally.
Pediatric oncology health professionals of all disciplines will enhance their knowledge of advances in diagnosis and treatment options for various forms of childhood cancer, and improve their ability to manage the physical and psychosocial effects that can occur in this patient population. We look forward to seeing you then!
The Biennial POGO Pre-Symposium Nursing Day is a vital event held every two years to address the evolving needs of nurses working in pediatric oncology, the largest group of healthcare professionals in this field. Through carefully designed programming, it brings together nurses and clinicians from across Ontario and beyond to share insights, research, and best practices, fostering collaboration, education, and professional development to enhance care for children, youth, and families affected by cancer.
Submit an Abstract
Are you working on innovative research in pediatric oncology?
Submit your abstract by Friday, September 19 for a chance to share your work at the 2025 POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer. This is a unique opportunity to present to a diverse audience of pediatric oncology professionals from across disciplines.
Six abstracts will be selected for a fast-paced Rapid-Fire Poster Session, where each presenter will have just three minutes to highlight their research. Are you up for the challenge?
Abstract submissions are now closed. Stay tuned to discover which presenters will be sharing their work at the upcoming Symposium!
Check out the sizzle reel from the 2024 POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer!
For more information about POGO’s education events, please contact us at education@pogo.ca.
Healthcare Education - Null Link - Do not delete
POGO provides a wide range of opportunities to enhance knowledge about childhood cancer care. We support patients, families and survivors with vital health information; provide continuing education that enables healthcare professionals to remain at the forefront of the rapidly advancing field of pediatric oncology; and we produce clinical practice guidelines to help optimize patient care—all to ensure that children with cancer have optimal opportunities to thrive.
The POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer is our signature educational event, drawing faculty and attendees from across Canada and internationally. Pediatric oncologists, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals enhance their knowledge on various topics of pediatric cancer treatment and care through a series of plenary lectures, interactive workshops and poster presentations. Each year the Symposium covers a different topic.
POGO AfterCare Education Day is an integral part of POGO’s commitment to supporting health professionals who care for childhood cancer survivors, particularly members of the multidisciplinary teams who work at POGO AfterCare Clinics.
POGO Satellite Education Day is presented as part of POGO’s commitment to providing educational opportunities for healthcare professionals who work in POGO Satellite Clinics
POGO hosts educational webinars throughout the year on a range of topics to support the learning needs of pediatric oncology healthcare providers.
A resource list for pediatric oncology healthcare providers who wish to expand their understanding of the rich and varied experiences of First Nations, Unit, Métis and Urban Indigenous patients and families, to foster culturally safe, equitable care.
CONTACT US
For more information about POGO’s education events, please contact us at education@pogo.ca.