POGO Interlink Nursing Program provides supportive care to children with cancer and their families, from hospital settings to homes, communities, and schools. As important members of the primary care team, POGO Interlink Nurses deliver patient and family-centered care throughout the cancer journey. POGO Interlink Nurses are embedded in all five tertiary hospitals which have specialized childhood cancer programs in Ontario, and two POGO Satellite Clinics.
Explore our infographic to see how POGO Interlink Nurses connect hospital care to home, school, and community for children with cancer across Ontario.
Today, 16 POGO Interlink Nurses work across Ontario.
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) – Ottawa
Graham Robinson, RN, BScN
613-737-7600 ext. 3995
Email Graham Robinson
Isabelle Sjoberg, RN, BScN
613-738-3992
Email Isabelle Sjoberg
Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre (CH, LHSC) – London
Jessica Payton, RN, BHsc, BScN
519-685-8500 ext. 75901
Email Jessica Payton
Sarah Mathison, RN, BScN
519-685-8500 ext. 57014
Email Sarah Mathison
Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) – KingstonÂ
Patty Jansen, RN, BScN, CPHON
613-549-6666 ext. 3832
Email Patty Jansen
McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences (MCH, HHS) – Hamilton
Briar O’Neil, RN, BScN
905-521-2100 ext. 74005
Email Briar O’Neil
Emily White, RN, BScN
905-521-2100 ext. 73896
Email Emily White
Northeast Cancer Centre, Health Sciences North (NECC, HSN) – Sudbury/Northern Ontario
Vicky Wilton, RN, BPHE
705-522-6237 ext. 2107 or 1-800-293-2309
Email Vicky Wilton
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) – Barrie/Muskoka/Peterborough
Lisa Arnott, RN, BScN
416-813-7654 ext. 201590
Email Lisa Arnott
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) – Peel Region
Arvinder Aulakh, RN, BScNÂ (Brampton including Caledon)
416-813-7868
Email Arvinder Aulakh
Anna Gacsadi, RN (Mississauga/Halton Region)Â
416-813-7654 ext. 401861
Email Anna Gacsadi
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) – Scarborough/Durham Region
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) – Toronto Central
Tina Hamalainen, RN, BScN
POGO Interlink Team Leader, Interim
416-813-7654 ext. 415867
Email Tina Hamalainen
Cory Murphy, RN, BScN
416-813-2185 ext. 1
Email Cory Murphy
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) – York Region
Jessica Brooks
416-813-7654 ext. 224771
Email Jessica Brooks
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) – Thunder Bay/Northwestern Ontario
Nicole Zuefle, RN
416-356-8371
Email Nicole Zuefle
To learn more about the POGO Interlink Nursing Program, please contact Tina Hamalainen, POGO Interlink Provincial Team Lead, or Devon Williams, Senior Manager of Clinical and Support Programs.
Family Support When Your Child Has Cancer provides a high-level overview of the POGO Interlink Program, guiding new families through available support and highlighting how POGO Interlink Nurses provide personalized, comprehensive and supportive nursing care to every childhood cancer patient and their family in Ontario.
School Support for Children with Cancer answers the many questions parents have following their child’s cancer diagnosis about going to school and maintaining friendships.
Video Education for Childhood Cancer Care at Home is a novel video-based series for parents and caregivers that helps improve understanding and confidence in the care of children newly diagnosed with cancer, after the first discharge from hospital.
Children with Cancer: A Guide for Educators is a practical guide developed by POGO Interlink Nurses for educators and administrators striving to support children and adolescents throughout their cancer journey.
Helping Schools Cope with Childhood Cancer
Developed by the psychology department at Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences, Helping Schools Cope with Childhood Cancer gives educators information, suggestions, and the confidence to meet the needs of children with cancer, their families and their classmates and peers.