CARO Lecturer
David Sher
Vice Chair of Clinical Operations and Quality, Medical Director, Chief of Head and Neck Radiation Oncology Service
David Sher, M.D., M.P.H., Professor, Chief of Head and Neck Radiation Oncology Service, and Vice Chair and Medical Director for Clinical Operations and Quality, graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and additionally completed his residency training at Harvard while concurrently earning a master’s degree in public health.
A board-certified radiation oncologist, Dr. Sher is an active participant in several national committees of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and is an associate senior editor for the prominent International Journal of Radiation Oncology ● Biology ● Physics. Dr. Sher has extensive experience in the formal teaching of residents, fellows, and post-docs, and has authored numerous papers advancing the field of radiation oncology.
Treating head and neck cancer has been Dr. Sher’s focus since the beginning of his medical career. He additionally has a strong interest in treating patients with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and founded the SBRT program at Dana Farber Cancer Institute / Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Sher holds a secondary appointment at UT Southwestern in the Department of Clinical Science’s Division of Outcomes and Health Services Research. In this role, he will lead efforts to further characterize the benefits of different types of radiation treatments, including heavy particle therapy.
In 2019, Dr. Sher was named a Texas Monthly Super Doctor Rising Star.
Gold Medal and Gordon Richards Lecture
Gerard Morton
Dr. Gerard Morton is a Radiation Oncologist at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, and Professor at the University of Toronto. He loves poetry and spending time outdoors. His initial medical and clinical oncology training was in Ireland. He has a clinical and academic focus in genito-urinary malignancies, and has over 160 peer reviewed publications, mostly on prostate cancer. His particular interest is in brachytherapy, where he has led practice changing clinical trials of this modality. He has had a major role in developing formal brachytherapy training in Canada. He is past chair of the ASTRO GU Committee and former Director of the American Brachytherapy Society and CARO Board member. He is associate editor of Brachytherapy and sits on the editorial board of Radiotherapy and Oncology. He has been an invited speaker and visiting professor at many major centers throughout North America, Europe and Australia and is a Fellow of the American Brachytherapy Society.
Jean Roy Lecturer
Alina Sturdza
Dr Alina Sturdza is a graduate of the Radiation Medicine Programme of the University of Toronto, Canada and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada.
She completed a fellowship at the Gynaecological Oncology Brachytherapy Department of the Medical University of Vienna (Prof Richard Pötter) through a NCIC grant (2008 – 2009).
Since 2009 is staff in the Radiation Oncology Department of the Medical University of Vienna and since 2015 the Gynaecologic Cancer Radiation Oncology Site Leader.
She is an ESTRO Education Council since 2024 and lead of the Euro BT Fellowship if GEC ESTRO, member of the Steering Committee of the Gynae Oncology Group in the Comprehensive Cancer Centre Vienna, member of the CCC-Fellowship Committee, Member of the ESGO-ESTRO-ESP Endometrial Cancer Guidelines working group, an ESMO Radiation Oncology representative for World Health Organization’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, and a Gyn GEC ESTRO group member. Since 2019 is Co-Chair of the Alumni Club of the Radiation Medicine Programme of the University of Toronto.
Areas of Interest: definitive radiation treatment of cervical cancer, endometrial, vaginal cancers recurrences from gynaecological malignancies and reirradiation through image guided brachytherapy, cancer in the elderly, brachytherapy training for young radiation oncologist. Dr. Sturdza is local PI for numerous studies, including RetroEMBRACE and EMBRACE.
Dr Sturdza authored and co-authored 90 peer reviewed journal articles and wrote over 10 book chapters.
Theme Symposium Speakers
Siavash Atrchian
Dr. Siavash Atrchian is a Radiation Oncologist at BC Cancer and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia (UBC). His clinical expertise lies in the use of advanced radiation therapies for lung, gastrointestinal, and breast cancers, with a particular focus on Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR).
Dr. Atrchian received his medical degree from Tehran University, completed his residency in Radiation Oncology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and pursued a clinical fellowship at UBC. He is an active clinical researcher and has contributed as an author and co-author to numerous national and international studies published in leading peer-reviewed journals. His academic interests include SABR, patient-centered care, clinical outcomes research, and quality improvement initiatives.
In addition to his clinical and research roles, Dr. Atrchian is dedicated to medical education and mentorship. He is also the Founder and Chair of the SABR Canada Conference, the only national meeting in Canada devoted exclusively to SABR, which fosters national collaboration and innovation in the field.
Dr. Atrchian currently serves as the British Columbia Director on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO).
William Foster, MD, FRCPC
Education :
M.D. Université Laval 2003
Residency in Radiation Oncology in Quebec City 2003-2008
Certification in Radiation oncology from the Royal College of physicians and surgeons of Canada 2008
Fellowship in GU oncology and brachytherapy from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) completed in 2009
Since 2009, Radiation oncologist and brachytherapist at the CHU de Quebec Université Laval and associate researcher at the Centre de recherche du CHU de Quebec.
Clinical interests in GYN and GU oncology, with a specific interest in image-guided interstitial brachytherapy. Actively involved with the use of the MRLinac in the clinics.
Involved with CARO as part of the ASM committee in the past and as a sitting member on the board of directors (Quebec representative)
Paritcipation in multiple research projects/publications, mostly in brachytherapy, with a specific interest in image-guidance (Ultrasound based, MR based and also EM tracking of applicators) and also dose optimisation algorithms (IPSA, GMCO). Also actively involved in projects looking at decision aid / improvement of patient involment in well-informed decision making for treatment of prostate cancer.
Shaun Loewen
Dr. Shaun Loewen is a Radiation Oncologist at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine. His clinical expertise includes neuro-oncology, gastrointestinal cancers, and the use of stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in the management of malignant and benign disease. His research interests include clinical outcomes and technical advances with stereotactic body radiotherapy, health services research, oncology workforce planning, and medical education. Formerly the Chair of the CARO Human Resources Committee from 2015 to 2022, he presently serves as the Prairies Director on the CARO Board of Directors and as the co-Chair of the CARO Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Indigenous Care Committee (EDIIC).
[photo coming soon]
Barbara-Ann Millar
Dr. Barbara-Ann Millar, MBChB(Hons), MRCP, FRCR, FRCPC, is a Radiation Oncology Staff physician at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto and Associate Professor in the department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto.
Her initial training in medicine and oncology took place in Scotland and England and she was trained in both medical and radiation oncology as a clinical oncology specialist. After a Fellowship period at Princess Margaret, she was appointed as staff at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in 2004.
Her clinical practice is predominantly in the management of CNS malignancies, both benign and malignant, and in the treatment of brain metastases. She is the CNS site group leader for the Radiation Medicine Program and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre multidisciplinary site lead for CNS and ocular oncology.
In addition to her clinical practice, she has pursued an active medical education role in both residency and faculty development. She was the Residency Program Director at the Department of Radiation Oncology at University of Toronto, prior to becoming Chair of the Specialty Committee for Radiation Oncology at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada which she completed in 2023 but is still involved in the committee’s work at this time. She is the Director of Faculty Development and Continuing Professional Development at the Department of Radiation Oncology at University of Toronto and leads and engages in many local, national and international medical teaching and faculty development programs including PMH Young Leaders and GOLD/BOLD programs, Canadian Leaders in Medical Education (CLIME) and FLiRO (Foundations of Leadership in Radiation Oncology).
She is interested in the developing needs of learners and faculty in the evolving practice of radiation oncology and enabling and creating opportunities for ongoing individual and group development and learning.
Teri Stuckless
Dr Teri Stuckless graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University and completed residency training in radiation oncology at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. She is the Senior Medical Director for the Eastern Urban Zone of NL Health Services, a radiation oncologist at the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre and Associate Professor in the Discipline of Oncology at MUN. Areas of clinical practice include management of gynecologic and gastrointestinal malignancies. Research interests include human resource management, survivorship, and well-being.
Women in Radiation Medicine
Lindsay Rowe
Lecture: Finding Focus: What Excellence Taught Me
Dr. Lindsay Rowe is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta with clinical and research expertise in genitourinary (GU) and central nervous system (CNS) malignancies. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Dr. Rowe completed her undergraduate studies at Queen’s University, followed by medical training at the University of Alberta. She pursued a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NCI) in Bethesda, Maryland, where she also served as an assistant research physician until 2019. Board certified in both the United States and Canada, Dr. Rowe is actively engaged in Edmonton’s Gamma Knife program as well as resident education and mentorship. Dr. Rowe resides in Edmonton with her family and enjoys mountain biking and playing soccer.
[Photo coming soon]