Appointments Made to Cancer Control Advisory Committee

Significant work continues by the Provincial Government to reduce the impact of cancer and improve access to all cancer care services in the province with the establishment of the Provincial Cancer Control Advisory Committee, a key direction of Gaining Ground: A Provincial Cancer Control Policy Framework for Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The appointment of members to the advisory committee furthers our commitment as a government to fully implement our Cancer Control Policy Framework,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. “The aim of our provincial cancer control strategy, which we announced last year, is to promote cancer prevention, identify individuals at risk for cancer, coordinate care and increase access to supports and services. The members of the advisory committee have diverse backgrounds and bring with them their own experiences with cancer. Their advice and expertise will be invaluable as our government continues to enhance access to cancer care throughout the province.”

The members of the advisory committee are:

• Dr. Pradip Ganguly, Divisional Chief of Radiation Oncology, Eastern Health and chair of the committee;
• Bruce Cooper, Deputy Minister, Department of Health and Community Services;
• Katherine Chubbs, Vice-president of Cancer Care, Eastern Health;
• Dr. Michael Zuckerman, Vice-president of Medical Services, Central Health;
• Dr. Susan Gillam, Chief Executive Officer, Western Health;
• Boyd Rowe, Chief Executive Officer, Labrador-Grenfell Health;
• Dr. James Rourke, Dean of the School of Medicine, Memorial University;
• Matthew Piercey, Executive Director, Canadian Cancer Society – Newfoundland and Labrador Division;
• Geoff Eaton, Executive Director, Young Adult Cancer Canada;
• Rosemary Hedderson, cancer survivor;
• Margot Reid, volunteer and Honorary Life Member, Canadian Cancer Society; and,
• Dr. Thomas Costello, family physician.

The Provincial Cancer Control Advisory Committee will advise the Minister of Health and Community Services on priorities for action and progress, development and implementation of the provincial cancer control strategy. The committee may also be asked to consult with the cancer control community, both provincially and nationally, including patients, survivors, advocates and community organizations. The committee may also identify for the minister’s consideration additional evidence-based objectives or priority directions that have the potential to improve the control of cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The impacts of a cancer diagnosis are multiple and far-reaching, affecting not only the patient, but relatives and friends of the individual,” said Minister Kennedy. “Our government recognizes that burden and in the last eight years we have invested $133 million in cancer prevention and treatment. Our commitment is clearly evident and our establishment of an advisory committee furthers the important work in this area in our province.”

Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador provides funding to enhance cancer treatment in the province. The Provincial Government has committed a further $17.8 million for the expansion of the PET/CT cyclotron project. This initiative will see the consolidation of nuclear medicine services at one site and infrastructure for future expansion of the cancer care program, which will increase the total project cost to approximately $29.8 million. Budget 2011 also provides a record investment of $2.9 billion in health care to enhance access to programs and services across the province.

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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
Members of the Provincial Cancer Control Advisory Committee

Dr. Pradip Ganguly
Dr. Pradip Ganguly is the Divisional Chief of Radiation Oncology with Eastern Health and has been appointed as the Chair of the Cancer Control Advisory Committee.

Bruce Cooper
Bruce Cooper is the Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Community Services. Mr. Cooper has held several senior executive leadership positions in the public and non-profit sectors. He has served as Assistant Deputy Minister with the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, the Labour Relations Agency, and the Department of Health and Community Services and as the Assistant Secretary to Cabinet (Social Policy). Mr. Cooper has also served as the Executive Director and Registrar of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers and Assistant Executive Director of Health and Community Services – St. John’s Region. Mr. Cooper holds a Bachelor and Masters of Social Work from Memorial University.

Katherine Chubbs
Katherine Chubbs joined Eastern Health as Vice-president of Cancer Care on January 10, 2011. A graduate of the Western Memorial Regional School of Nursing, Ms. Chubbs spent the first few years of her career as a regional nurse in northern Labrador. She has held several leadership positions at regional and provincial levels, such as Director of Community Clinics, Director of Health Services, Director of Infection Prevention and Control, and Senior Consultant for the Health Professions Strategy in Alberta. She completed a certificate program in Northern Nursing, a Bachelor of Nursing degree, a Masters degree in Health Studies, and is a Certified Health Executive.

Dr. Michael Zuckerman
Dr. Michael Zuckerman joined Central Health in December of 2008 as Vice-president of Medical Services. Michael Zuckerman earned his Doctor of Medicine from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After completing medical school, Dr. Zuckerman did his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Zuckerman served as a prominent physician in the New York area and as the Medical Director of a large clinical system.

Dr. Susan Gillam
Dr. Susan Gillam is the Chief Executive Officer for the Western Regional Health Authority. Dr. Gillam is a registered nurse and holds a Master of Nursing from Memorial University, and a Master of Science Administration from University of Notre Dame and a PhD from McGill University. She is also a member of a number of provincial and national boards including: Expert Analytic Advisory Group, Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2009 to present; National Collaborating Centre for Health Determinants, National Advisory Board, 2007 to present; and, Senior Quality Work Life Committee, 2010 to present.

Boyd Rowe
Boyd Rowe has been involved with the health system in Newfoundland and Labrador for 35 years. Mr. Rowe was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Labrador-Grenfell Health in 2005. Prior to that appointment he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Health Labrador Corporation; Assistant Executive Director (Administrative Services) with the Health Labrador Corporation; and, Assistant Executive Director and Hospital Administrator for Grenfell Regional Health Services. Mr. Rowe holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University of Newfoundland and is a graduate of the Health Services Management Program administered through the Canadian Hospital Association.

Dr. James Rourke
Dr. James Rourke has served as Dean of Medicine and Professor of Family Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland since his appointment April 5, 2004. He previously served as Assistant Dean of Rural Regional Medicine at the University of Western Ontario, where he was a professor in the Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Rourke is Chair of the Association of Faculties of Medicine Canada 2009-2011 and Co-Leader of the Future Medical Education in Canada MD Education and PG Education project. He graduated with his MD from the University of Western Ontario in 1976, where he completed his Family Medicine training in 1978 and his Masters of Clinical Science (Family Medicine) in 1993. He is certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada in family medicine and emergency medicine and was awarded Fellowship in 1990. Dr. Rourke has a long-standing interest in rural medicine and medical education and is a recognized leader at provincial, national and international levels.

Matthew Piercey
Matthew Piercey is the Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Division of the Canadian Cancer Society. He has previously served in such leadership roles as the Smokers’ Helpline Coordinator with the Nova Scotia Division of the Canada Cancer Society and most recently as the Executive Director with the Rabbittown Community Centre.

Geoff Eaton
Geoff Eaton is a two-time cancer survivor and the founder and Executive Director of Young Adult Cancer Canada. Mr. Eaton is currently serving on the Adolescent Young Adult Task Force and the National Survivorship Working Group, initiatives of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. He and his wife Karen have three children, Adia, Mira and Kane.

Rosemary Hedderson
Rosemary Hedderson was born September 6, 1954 in the community of Marysvale. In 1977 she married Tom Hedderson and they moved to Georgetown where they reside today. Ms. Hedderson attended Memorial University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education. She attended Mount St. Vincent University in Nova Scotia and received a Masters in Education in 1991. She taught in the Conception Bay North area for 30 years until she retired in 2004. On May 13, 2009 Ms. Hedderson was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Two years later, after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation she is now a cancer survivor. During those two years, Ms. Hedderson has bonded with many cancer patients and is very passionate about staying involved in this regard. Ms. Hedderson and her husband have two daughters, Christa and Julia.

Margot Reid
Margot Reid has been a key volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society for 60 years, demonstrating exceptional leadership in the many roles she has held in the Newfoundland and Labrador division. Ms. Reid has been on a mission to fight for life and beat cancer since 1951. From participating in the province’s first door-to-door campaign to making bandages by hand to establishing Daffodil Days and the Volunteer Driving Program, her many contributions are commendable. She also served a term as division president from 1982 to 1984. She remains committed to the organization as a dedicated advocate, volunteer and committee member for the Festival of Trees annual event.

Dr. Thomas Costello
Dr. Thomas Costello is a Newfoundland born Memorial University Medical School graduate, class of 1980 and completed his internship in Regina to be prepared to return to rural practice. He has completed his Certification of the College of Family Physicians and is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Dr. Costello is an Assistant Clinical Professor, Discipline of Family Medicine at Memorial University and is heavily involved in teaching all levels of medical students. Dr. Costello is a Past President of the Newfoundland Chapter of the Canadian College of Family Practice and Past President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association. Currently, Dr. Costello is a Primary Care Family Physician in Wabush, Labrador and the Occupational Physician for Wabush Mines, a large mining corporation in Labrador West.

2011 06 15                                                                          1:55 p.m.