The 2025 POGO Awards Honour Excellence in Childhood Cancer Care
On Friday, November 7, the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) proudly celebrated the recipients of the 2025 POGO Awards. Since their inception in 1999, these awards have recognized the outstanding contributions of individuals across Ontario who are advancing childhood cancer care both within the province and beyond. Through their work in POGO partner hospitals, this year’s honourees embody POGO’s core values of partnership, collaboration, and excellence, and continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children, youth, families, and the broader pediatric oncology community.
Congratulations to the 2025 POGO Recognition Awards recipients: Lillian Sung, MD, PhD, FRCPC Champion Award (not pictured) Sumit Gupta, MD, PhD, FRCPC and Sue Zupanec, MN, NP Visionary Award (Team – Tie); Alisha Kassam, MD, MPH, FRCPC and the Southlake AYA Oncology Program Visionary Award (Team – Tie); Rebecca Mackenzie Community Partner Impact Award; Emma King BA, CHYS Early Career Professional; Lindsay Jibb, RN, PhD, CPHON Nursing Leadership Award. They are joined (centre) by POGO CEO Lauren Ettin and POGO Medical Director Donna Johnston.
POGO Champion Award
Lillian Sung, MD, PhD, FRCPC
In tribute to a career of seminal research, visionary leadership, and unwavering dedication that has improved childhood cancer care across Ontario and propelled progress worldwide.
POGO Visionary Award – Team (Tie)
Sumit Gupta, MD, PhD, FRCPC and Sue Zupanec MN NP
In acknowledgement of their trailblazing contributions that have transformed lives and shaped the future of pediatric leukemia treatment in Ontario and beyond.
POGO Visionary Award – Team (Tie)
Alisha Kassam, MD, MPH, FRCPC and the Southlake AYA Oncology Program
For their commitment to equitable, age-appropriate cancer care for adolescents and young adults in Ontario that has inspired system-wide change.
POGO Nursing Leadership Award
Lindsay Jibb, RN, PhD, CPHON
In recognition of her groundbreaking innovations that have contributed to advancing pediatric oncology nursing in Ontario and beyond.
POGO Early Career Professional Award
Emma King, BA CHYS
In recognition of her patient-centred approach and dedication to adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer.
POGO Community Partner Impact Award
Rebecca McKenzie
In honour of her impact through fundraising, partnership building, and generous support that has powerfully advanced POGO’s mission and serves as an inspiration to others across the province.
Learn more about the POGO Recognition Awards Program
2024 POGO Symposium Speakers Share Insights from their Sessions
The 2024 POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer headed to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where Ontario’s pediatric oncology community, which included representatives from POGO partner hospitals, gathered to learn, collaborate and connect.
Over 15 healthcare professionals across various disciplines presented on a range of topics. Here are some session recaps.
Ceilidh Eaton Russell from McMaster University spoke about “good parenting” when a child is seriously ill, sharing insights from oncology parents to offer practical strategies to support families affected by childhood cancer.
Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed from the University of Calgary focused on the important role of nutrition and exercise throughout a child’s cancer treatment.
Dr. Theodore Laetsch from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia addressed recent successes in developing new treatments for pediatric solid tumours and their profound impact on patient care.
Chantal St. Jules from The Hospital for Sick Children discussed the unique experiences of autistic children and youth with cancer, providing strategies to incorporate trauma-based and developmental supports into their care.
Dr. David Teachey from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia highlighted new therapies and immunotherapies to improve outcomes for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Dr. Jennifer Seelisch from London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) delved into the exploration and utilization of immuno-oncology therapy to treat Hodgkin Lymphoma and the potential to reduce the use of standard chemotherapy and radiation and their late effects.
Dr. Joerg Krueger from The Hospital for Sick Children talked about the challenges of access to cellular therapies and the initiatives to ensure that children in Canada have access to them in the future.
Congratulations to the 2024 POGO Recognition Awards Recipients
On Friday, November 8, the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) honoured the recipients of the 2024 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.
POGO Champion Award
Lee Dupuis, RPh, PhD
Pediatric Oncologist, Senior Scientist, Professor, Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children
In recognition of her dedication to improving the lives of childhood cancer patients, exceptional leadership in supportive care, and commitment to those she mentors and all with whom she collaborates, in Ontario and beyond.
POGO Visionary Award
Ian M. Wilson, MD
Pediatrician, Grand River Hospital
In recognition of his integral role in shaping the vision for the POGO Satellite Clinic Program, bringing childhood cancer care closer to home for families in communities across Ontario.
POGO Nursing Leadership Award
Tina Hamalainen, RN, BScN
POGO Interlink Team Leader, The Hospital for Sick Children
In recognition of her commitment to a patient-centred approach to childhood cancer care that improves the lives of young people and their families, and to a culture of learning in support of pediatric oncology teams.
POGO Community Partner Impact
The Slaight Family Foundation
In recognition of their exceptional and longstanding commitment to childhood cancer care, and landmark investment of $1,000,000 in the POGO School and Work Transitions Program.
Learn more about the POGO Recognition Awards Program
Forty Years of Progress in Childhood Cancer Care Focus of 2023 POGO Symposium
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, to 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 Ministry of Health-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.
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
By Denise Mills
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 in 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.
Childhood Cancer Survivors Share How Oncology Professionals Helped Shape Their Lives
POGO recruited five individuals whose lives have been impacted by a childhood cancer diagnosis and are now working in the field of pediatric oncology in different capacities, to work with Mike Lang, an expert in digital storytelling facilitation. Digital storytelling guides participants to use personal images and videos, voiceover narration, music, and various video-editing techniques to bring the meaningful moments of their life to the screen.
These stories, which premiered at the 2023 POGO Symposium in November, shed light on how the experience of having cancer as a young person, and the interactions with oncology professionals along the way, can shape a person's life profoundly. It is POGO’s hope that everyone who engages with these stories will learn something new about the childhood cancer experience, by seeing it through the eyes of survivors.
Alexx’s Story
Alexx was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia as a child.
Today, she is a child life specialist, using her firsthand experience as a childhood cancer survivor to advocate for children, youth, fellow survivors and their families with various diagnoses.
Lindsay’s Story
Lindsay was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma as a child.
Today, she is a pediatric oncology nurse, drawing from her personal journey as a childhood cancer survivor to care for children and youth with cancer.
Noor's Story
Noor had the misfortune of navigating both a cancer diagnosis and virtual school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by the oncology professionals who cared for her during treatment, she is now studying to become a nurse at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Eugene’s Story
Dr. Eugene Chang was a young medical student when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. His experiences as a patient helped him identify a gap in the system, which he has sought to fill since becoming Canada’s first physiatrist specializing in rehabilitation for cancer patients.
Kirsten’s Story
Kirsten is a two-time childhood cancer survivor and a young adult cancer survivor.
A strong advocate for childhood cancer and young adult cancer survivors, she now works as POGO's Program Coordinator for clinical and support programs.
Last updated: June 2024
Congratulations to the 2023 POGO Recognition Awards Recipients
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 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
Advancing Childhood Cancer Care in a Post-COVID World
A Synopsis of the 2021 POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer
The COVID-19 pandemic has healthcare providers and the families in our care literally hiding emotions behind masks. Family members cannot fully see the empathy we feel, and as providers, we are unable to use our traditional methods of providing compassionate care. Over the past 18 months, families have had to live their cancer journey in parallel with a global pandemic requiring multiple restrictions to hospital visits, with additional screening and COVID-19 testing. This has elevated levels of distress and burnout for families and hospital care teams alike. Recognizing this, the 2021 POGO Symposium planning committee sought to explore the issues of patient and caregiver distress and resilience, as well as healthcare provider burnout. As part of maintaining professional resiliency beyond the acuteness of COVID-19, the POGO Symposium provided an opportunity to learn about important clinical and diagnostic updates, and continued healthcare and scientific innovation.
Family Stories Remind of our Purpose
A parent testimonial opened day one and grounded us as pediatric oncology professionals in the “why” of our work. In sharing about her 14-year-old daughter’s cancer diagnoses, Guylaine Tremblay touched on the importance of psychosocial supports for all family members. On day two, the Saenz family gave real-life context to the challenge of accessing clinical trials that so many families face. These stories were powerful reminders of the impact a childhood cancer diagnosis has on the family and how the pediatric oncology community must better understand these needs and provide comprehensive and personalized support.
Care for Caregivers of all Stripes
When it comes to caregiver resilience after their child is diagnosed with cancer, we heard that 80% of families will adapt and be resilient based on our standardly-delivered supports and strategies. Of critical importance is finding a way to identify the remaining 20% who will need intensive psychosocial and possibly psychiatric support, and to ensure there are suitable professionals available for referral and intervention. Healthcare teams must also make room for self-compassion in our stressful and often chaotic work days, as we try to leverage available resources to assist families who require extra support.
Delivering Virtual Care to Survivors
The COVID-19 pandemic has also dramatically altered the way we deliver care, and especially aftercare to survivors, with the rapid implementation of virtual care. We learned what can be done well, what was of benefit to patients and families and what could be successfully carried forward in a post-pandemic world. New and innovative approaches to follow-up care include recognizing unique needs tied to the transition from acute care to survivorship clinics.
Clinical and Diagnostic Advances Bring New Hope
Of course new innovations in childhood cancer continue to emerge, and presentations on clinical and diagnostic advances added greatly to our learning. Work in the area of immune checkpoint inhibitors shows great success in treating Hodgkin lymphoma and promise for other diagnoses. It was exciting to hear about updates on CAR T for both B-cell leukemias and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one of the more difficult childhood cancers to treat. This brings signs of hope for improved outcomes with less toxic therapy approaches. Potentially ground-breaking work in liquid biopsy allows us to imagine a world where we no longer need invasive, surgical intervention to detect cancer both at diagnosis and during cancer surveillance.
Innovation Panel Explores Strategies for Canada
The POGO Symposium wrapped up with a slate of presentations and a panel discussion with luminaries in the field that tackled everything from innovative solutions to improve clinical trial access to how Canada can develop an innovation strategy that serves patients and the economy. The message that innovation is not only invention but the successful development and implementation of these inventions was very strong. This session also highlighted our collective challenge to make available new and often expensive therapies. The discussion presented the opportunity for all of us to consider how we can individually and in partnership move the needle on public policy for advances in pediatric cancer.
With something of interest for everyone, the 2021 POGO Symposium showcased the bravery of families to help us all learn from their stories and the tremendous dedication of professionals who continue to do everything possible to provide excellent care to every child diagnosed with cancer. My hope is that we were all encouraged to heed the challenge of harnessing innovation to transform the landscape of pediatric oncology care.
“Even during the most chaotic day it is important to take a moment to breathe and remember why we chose this very important work, and to be present with our patients and families.”
- Sue Zupanec
Written by Sue Zupanec, co-chair of the 2021 POGO Symposium Planning Committee, with contributions from her co-chair, Dr. David Hodgson, POGO Medical Director and Chair in Childhood Cancer Control.
Sue is a pediatric nurse practitioner in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Program at The Hospital for Sick Children, and Chair, Nursing Discipline of the Children's Oncology Group.