Education
Program Contact
Shazia Donachie
Program Coordinator, PGME for Medical Oncology
Department of Oncology
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
800 Commissioners Road East
London, Ontario N6A 5W9
t. 519.685.8600 x57433
e. shazia.donachie@lhsc.on.ca
Related Links
Medical Oncology Program
Welcome from the Division of Medical Oncology Residency Program Director
Western University’s Medical Oncology Postgraduate Training Program is a hidden gem within Southwestern Ontario and we are fortunate to have over 20 faculty with a wealth of specialized skill and knowledge in all aspects of research and education, most of whom have advanced degrees, training and experience in their respective areas.
The two-year program offers a diverse array of exceptional training in all core competencies outlined by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Our program is comprehensive and designed to train residents to work with diverse patient populations and in diverse practice settings. Residents in our program have access to many additional clinical, academic and research training opportunities throughout the program.
The most unique feature of our program is that the residents in Medical Oncology work one-on-one with the medical oncologists. This affords the greatest amount of teaching and commitment to excellence as residents develop independent diagnostic and therapeutic skills over the two-year training period. Also, towards the end of the first year of training, the residents participate in a weekly Resident Longitudinal clinic, and has its own primary nurse assigned to work with the resident. Residents attend to patients in this clinic until the completion of their oncology training. This allows the residents to manage patients throughout the full course of their treatment, and augments their clinical skills, confidence and consultant level abilities in order to be better prepared for independent practice.
The residency program is conducted at one main site within the London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP) which is part of the Victoria Campus of London Health Sciences Centre. However, several Medical Oncologists also run weekly clinics in 2 peripheral community hospitals in St. Thomas and Woodstock, which allows the residents the opportunity for built-in community oncology experience.
We welcome you to further explore the information herein that further supports our commitment to training and education in the Medical Oncology Residency program.
Dr. Paul Stewart
Division of Medical Oncology Residency Program Director
Western University, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Residents and Fellows
PGY4
- Dr. C. Browne
PGY5
Dr. S. Ali | Dr. D. Maj | Dr. T. Xiao |
Fellows
- Dr. S. Fasih (Breast)
- Dr. A. Rajeh (GU)
- Dr. S. Verma (Lung)
Application and Appointment of Trainees
Medical Staff: Medical Oncologists
- Dr. P. Blanchette, Medical Oncologist & UGME Co-Program Director
- Dr. D. Breadner, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. S. Climans, Neuro-Oncologist
- Dr. S. Ernst, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. R. Fernandes, Medical Oncologist & Fellowship Director
- Dr. D. Giffoni, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. K. Hahn, Medical Oncologist & Department Chief
- Dr. S. Kuruvilla, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. J. Lenehan, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. D. Logan, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. A. Lohmann, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. M. MacDonald - Neuro-Oncologist
- Dr. H. Mithoowani - Medical Oncologist
- Dr. V. Panuganty, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. K. Potvin, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. J. Raphael, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. M. Sanatani, Medical Oncologist & CBME Lead
- Dr. P. Stewart, Medical Oncologist & Residency Program Director
- Dr. E. Tsvetkova, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. M. Vincent, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. S. Welch, Medical Oncologist & Department Chair
- Dr. C. Watling, Neuro-Oncologist
- Dr. E. Winquist, Medical Oncologist
- Dr. J. Younus, Medical Oncologist
Training Requirements for Entry into Program
Academic Curriculum
Academic Half Day
Residents are required to attend the Medical Oncology Academic Half Day at LRCP once a week. Teaching sessions are designed to prepare residents not only for the Royal College exam, but life outside the program, and foster a fulfilling and successful career. Topics include:
- Disease Sites
- Clinical Trials
- Ethics
- Communication
- Wellness
- Professionalism
- Finances
- Career Planning
Residents can also expect to be challenged during other learning opportunities such as practice exams, while soaking up new ideas and knowledge through rounds, and journal clubs. Opportunities include:
- Disease Site Group Meetings
- Resident Rounds (weekly)
- Practice Oral Exams (every other month)
- Practice Written Exam (every other month)
- Multi-disciplinary Tumour Boards (present a case every rotation)
- ASCO ITE (annually)
- Grand Rounds - weekly lecture series featuring speakers from all disciplines, across the globe
- Resident Grand Rounds - annual presentation to help residents prepare for conference season
- OSCE Exam (annually)
- Basic Science Self-Study Reports
- Resident Journal Club (quarterly)
- Faculty Journal Club
- Resident Research Rounds (annual)
- Serious Illness Conversation Workshop (annually)
Clinical Curriculum
The Residencey Program consists of 18 blocks of outpatient medical oncology clinics that are disease site specific. Residents do two blocks of Hematology, which can be done in London, or at a peripheral site in Windsor based on the resident's preference and schedule availability. Residents will also complete one block each in Radiation Oncology. Palliative Care, and Medical Oncology Ward Services (MOWS). Three blocks are available for elective experiences with significant flexibility in time and use, based on the needs of the resident and agreed upon by the Program Director.
Research Resources
- Cancer Research Laboratories: The cancer research laboratories of the London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP) and Western University are located within the LRCP. Translational research fellowships are also available through the Department of Oncology to those completing the required two years of Medical Oncology training.
- Western University: Western is one of Canada’s premiere universities with world-class faculty offering research and advanced training opportunities in many areas related to medical oncology e.g. Immunology, Pharmacology, Genetics, Epidemiology and Biostatics.
- Clinical Trials Centre:The clinical trials centre of the LRCP is one of the largest oncology clinical trial centres in Canada. There are Phase II and Phase III clinical trials in progress for many disease sites. Phase I facilities are being developed in conjunction with the Department of Pharmacology and the Cancer Research Laboratories.
Longitudinal Clinic
Resident Research
- Integrate best available evidence into practice
- Contribute to the creation and dissemination of knowledge and practices applicable to health
The curriculum includes a monthly session on various elements of Research Methodology, Critical Appraisals, and Epidemiology of cancer. To apply the principles from the Research Scholar Curriculum, this program also encompasses Resident Journal Club (every second month) and Resident Research Rounds (formal appraisals 1 sessions/year).
Residents will be required to present their research outcomes to the following:
- 1 abstract submission for each resident to an international conference
- 1 publications
- FLIMS or ESMO workshop
- Resident to present at MO Faculty Journal Club
Medical Oncology Ward Services (MOWS)
Enhanced Skills in Oncology Program
In collaboration with the Department of Family Medicine, the Medical Oncology program provides family physicians with knowledge and skills to care for patients with cancer. The program is open to family medicine residents who have successfully completed their training in an accredited Canadian residency program. The General Practitioner-Oncology (GP-O) model is a step above what the typical family physician would provide in oncological care to patients and has been around for over twenty years in Canada. Residents will gain experience in a wide variety of tumour sites. The bulk of activities will be outpatient oriented and will occur in a Multi-disciplinary setting. Much of the training will occur at the London Regional Cancer Program at London Health Sciences Centre (Victoria Campus) but may also occur at the Windsor Regional Hospital. A strong focus will be managing oncology emergencies and managing problems in the chemotherapy suite.
Current Resident
Dr. Anish Tejura, 2023 - 2024
Program Alumni
Dr. Daphne Southcott, 2019 - 2020
Dr. Priya Patel, 2020 - 2021
Dr. Nicholas Chandna, 2022 - 2023
For more information, please visit our Enhanced Skills - Family Medicine - Western University page.
Contact Us
For more information on the Medical Oncology Program, contact us at MedOnc.ChiefResident@lhsc.on.ca.