Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. David Hodgson as Medical Director of POGO and next incumbent of the POGO Chair in Childhood Cancer Control at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Hodgson’s stellar accomplishments, expertise and experience in the care of children with malignant disease and pediatric cancer control will strengthen POGO’s many efforts to champion childhood cancer control and POGO’s mandate to advance pediatric cancer care and control in Ontario and internationally. Dr. Hodgson assumes his new roles November 1, 2016.
Dr. Hodgson is an internationally recognized pediatric radiation oncologist who has made significant clinical and research contributions through his role at SickKids and his work at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre where he is the Site Group Lead for Pediatrics in the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Director of POGO’s Adult Pediatric AfterCare Clinic. He is a Professor in the Departments of Radiation Oncology, and Health Policy Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. He serves as Vice-chair of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Hodgkin Lymphoma Steering Committee and as a member of the Childhood Cancer Survivorship (CCSS) External Advisory Board. He has a stellar and long-standing track record in health services research and is cross-appointed to the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), having previously served as Associate Director of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (HPME). Dr. Hodgson comes to the POGO leadership position with a major clinical interest in lymphoma, in particular Hodgkin lymphoma, and in the late effects of cancer and the treatment of pediatric cancer survivors.
POGO created the linked position of POGO Chair in Childhood Cancer Control and Medical Director in 2000 so that Ontario would always have dedicated, seasoned, visionary leadership to ensure a well-integrated, evidence-based cancer delivery system for children with malignant disease. The organization works collaboratively with all stakeholders to implement this vision, generating successive long-range Provincial Pediatric Oncology Plans (PPOPs) that have, over many years, greatly enhanced Ontario’s childhood cancer care system.
Dr. Corin Greenberg, POGO’s Chief Executive Officer, summarizes the mandate of the POGO Chair/Medical Director as follows: “The POGO Chair and Medical Director must lead with extraordinary wisdom and charisma to achieve informed and whole-hearted consensus among providers, hospitals and other key stakeholders. The incumbent brings to POGO tables not only an academic outlook, clinical acumen and a unique grasp of research, education and health care delivery savvy, but also the rare ability to ignite a passion to work on behalf of the population and to inspire collaboration. Dr. Hodgson will hold the central role in POGO’s medical directorate—responsible for maintaining the keen interest and participation of the professional pediatric oncology community in endeavours that ensure a continuing state-of-the-art system.”
Dr. Trevor Young, Dean of Medicine, University of Toronto and Vice Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions, adds, “Dr. David Hodgson is a skilled researcher and physician. Thanks to his extensive experience and determined leadership, he will help POGO advance childhood cancer care through strong collaborations in research and education. This work will benefit the almost 4,000 families in Ontario who have a child receiving cancer treatment or follow-up care. On behalf of the University of Toronto, I congratulate Dr. Hodgson on his new role and I am pleased with his continued association with the Faculty of Medicine.”