Related story: COVID-19 Reveals Benefits of Home Visits for Families of Children with Cancer
POGO Pediatric Interlink Community Cancer Nurses understand the challenges of families whose children have cancer. They move with the patient and family between hospital, school, community and the home, and serve as the critical connection for children and families to access the support they need at all stages of cancer care.
POGO Interlink Nurses:
- Provide healthcare and health education
- Help families navigate the healthcare system so they can locate and access community and hospital resources
- Work with schools and communities to build support systems for children with cancer
- Teach community nurses involved in childhood cancer care
- Monitor, research and evaluate health service delivery
For more information, please read our brochure.
“We have a connection with our POGO nurse that we will never forget and I can’t imagine what we would have done without her, or the support we received from POGO.”
– Sherry Cranstone, Mom
Today, 11 POGO Interlink Nurses work across Ontario.
Barrie/Muskoka/Peterborough/Simcoe County
Pamela Watt, RN, BScN, MHSc
416-813-7654 ext. 201590
Email Pamela Watt
Dianne Dekkers, RN, BA
416-813-7654 ext. 201590
Email Dianne Dekkers
Hamilton
Jennifer Wolfenden, RN (Claire O’Halloran currently on leave)
905-521-2100 ext. 74005
Email Jennifer Wolfenden
London
Margaret Warden, RN, BScN
519-685-8300 ext. 57014
Email Margaret Warden
Ottawa
Graham Robinson, RN, BScN
613-737-7600 ext 3995
Email Graham Robinson
Isabelle Sjoberg, RN, BScN
613-738-3992 or 1-888-545-8898
Email Isabelle Sjoberg
Sudbury/Northern Ontario
Vicky Wilton, RN, BPHE
705-522-6237 ext. 2107 or 1-800-293-2309
Email Vicky Wilton
Peel/Halton/Dufferin County
Arvinder Aulakh, RN, BScN (Sally Casey currently on leave)
416-813-7868
Email Arvinder Aulakh
Toronto Central
Tina Hamalainen, RN, BScN
POGO Interlink Team Leader, Interim
416-813-2185 ext. 2
Email Tina Hamalainen
Cory Murphy, RN, BScN
416-813-2185 ext. 1
Email Cory Murphy
Toronto East/Durham/York Region
Sara Belot, RN, BScN
416-813-5693
Email Sara Belot
To learn more about how POGO Interlink Nurses work with families whose children have cancer, please contact Tina Hamalainen, POGO Interlink Team Leader.
Resources for Families
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. Download PDF.
Resources for Educators
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. Download PDF.
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. Visit the Children’s Hospital website to download Helping Schools Cope with Childhood Cancer.
