South African Children’s Cancer Study Group
SIOP - PODC Workshops
- Welcome Letter
- First Announcement
- Speakers
- Programme
- Registration
- Accommodation
- General info
- Sponsors
- Committee
Supported by:
Speakers
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Verity Ahern Verity was appointed a staff specialist at Westmead Hospital in Sydney in 1996 following specialty training at Westmead, a Fellowship in paediatric radiation oncology in Toronto, Canada, and then three years at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in London in a busy breast cancer practice. She is now the Director of the Sydney West Radiation Oncology Network (Westmead, Nepean, Blacktown). Verity has been the principal investigator of several national and international breast cancer clinical trials in which women from Westmead have participated. She is the Trial Chairperson of the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group trial “PET scans for locally advanced breast cancer and diagnostic MRI to determine the extent of operation and radiotherapy (PET LABRADOR) and is co-chair of the Breast Sub-group of the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group. Verity is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group of North America, Chaired the Paediatric Special Interest Group of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists for five years, and was a founding member of a biennial teaching course in paediatric radiotherapy under the auspices of the RANZCR. She chairs a national fortnightly video-conference for paediatric radiotherapy. |
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Yavuz Anacak Dr. Yavuz Anacak is a Professor of Radiation Oncology and Head of the Radiation Oncology Department at the Ege University School of Medicine in Izmir, Turkey. He is member of Pediatric radiation Oncology Society (PROS) ,Turkish Pediatric Oncology Society (TPOG) and member of the Pediatric Cancers Working Group of the Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology Society (TROD) where he also represents TROD at ESTRO and UICC. His main clinical and scientific research includes pediatric cancers, sarcomas, CNS tumors, lymphomas, and also nationwide planning for radiotherapy infrastructure and strategies to enhance radiotherapy capacity low and middle income countries. Prof.Yavuz ANACAK, MD Head, Department of Radiation Oncology Ege University School of Medicine & Hospital Izmir, Turkey yavuz.anacak@ege.edu.tr ph: +90-555-4412803 |
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Simon Bailey Simon Bailey is a Professor of Neuro –Oncology and consultant paediatric oncologist based at the Great North Childrens Hospital and University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. He trained in paediatric oncology in Newcastle upon Tyne and became a consultant in 2001. He has a PhD awarded in 1999 and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. His research interests include molecular biomarkers in medulloblastoma, diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas and delivery of risk adapted protocols to resource challenged countries. He is the European lead for high risk medulloblastoma and the chair of the UK CCLG PNET group. |
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Victor S Blanchette Dr Victor Blanchette is staff haematologist/oncologist in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada and Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. He is Senior Associate Scientist (emeritus) in the Research Institute, and Medical Director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Care Hemophilia and Thrombosis and Hemostasis Programmes in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. He is medical director of the SickKids-Caribbean Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Initiative in the Center for Global Child Health and Chair of the International Prophylaxis Study Group. Dr Blanchette's research interests are in the area of the congenital and acquired bleeding disorders of children. He is Director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Care Hemophilia Program at SickKids, and Chair of the International Prophylaxis Study Group (IPSG). Dr. Blanchette is recipient of the Canadian Pediatric Society 2009 Alan Ross Award, the Canadian Blood Services 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award, and the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 2012 Distinguished Career Award. Dr Blanchette is an elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United Kingdom. |
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Eric Bouffet Dr. Bouffet is a Professor of Pediatrics and Inaugural Garron Family Chair at the Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto. He is an attending neuro-oncologist and head of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Programme at the Hospital for Sick Children. He has over 350 publications and is involved in several multicentre cooperative studies within Canada, Europe and the Children’s Oncology Group. Dr. Bouffet will start his term as SIOP president elect in 2015. |
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Hester Burger Hester Burger is the current Head of Division of Medical Physics at Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town. She specializes in Radiotherapy Medical Physics with interest in Treatment Planning and Stereotactic Radiosurgery. Ms Burger is also involved in the experiential and theoretical training of Medical Physicists and Radiation Oncology Registrars. Ms Hester Burger Hester.Burger@uct.ac.za Medical Physics Department LC32 Radiation Oncology Groote Schuur Hospital Anzio Road Observatory Cape Town 7925 |
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Christian Carrie I am radiation oncologist (MD) ; head of the radiotherapy department of Centre Leon Berard in Lyon since 1992 . My main topics are pediatrics , prostate cancer , sarcoma and Lung .I am member of the ESTYRo , ASTRO, ASCO, SIOP , and PROS .I am funder member of the PROS , member of the SIOP scientific committee, |
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Michelle Carrihill Paediatric endocrinologist MBChB, University of Cape Town 1994 Diploma in Child Health (South African Colleges of Medicine) 1998 Fellowship of the College of Paediatricians (South Africa) 2003 Certificate in Endocrinology and Metabolism (College of Paediatricians, South Africa) 2006 Master of Philosophy (University of Cape Town) Paediatric Endocrinology 2008 Awarded the SEMDSA Research Fellowship 2004-2006 Currently a senior consultant in paediatric endocrinology at Groote Schuur and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and consultant to the Adolescent Ward, Groote Schuur Hospital. |
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Anne-Louise Cruickshank Anne-Louise’s commitment to Haemophilia Care began in 1991 when she worked at the Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Unit at Johannesburg Hospital. In 2001 she relocated to Cape Town and took up the position of Western Cape Haemophilia Nurse Co-ordinator, based at Groote Schuur Hospital. In this role she is responsible for co-ordinating care for patients in the Western Cape Province, outreach to patients in both the Western and Eastern Cape provinces, training of patients in home therapy as well as managing and providing the day-to-day care to patients in the greater Cape Town area. In 1996, Anne-Louise was awarded the Arthur Robertson travelling fellowship by the Haemophilia Foundation. The fellowship gave her the opportunity to travel to the Canada to spend time at the Hospital for Sick Children Hospital in and St. Michael's Hospital Toronto, Ontario to receive more training at the haemophilia centers. Together with Anne Gillham and Jill Smith (Australia), Anne-Louise developed the curriculum and training material for the WFH-recognised Haemophilia Nurses’ Training Course. Over 750 nurses have benefited from this training to date. Her passion for training has taken her to all 9 Provinces of South Africa as well as to Namibia, Kenya, Lesotho and Mauritius. She has established a support group for Women with Bleeding Disorders, this being the first of its kind in South Africa. Anne-Louise has been a study co-ordinator on both local and international clinical trials and has contributed to a number of publications. Anne-Louise has served as Chairman of the South African Haemophilia Nurses’ Committee, and is currently the Secretary of South African Haemophilia Foundation Medical and Scientific Advisory Council. She is a committed member of the SA Haemophilia Foundation, and active participant of the ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids) initiative. |
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Alan Davidson Professor Davidson is the head of the Paediatric Haematology-Oncology Service at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The service treats 130 new cases of childhood cancer each year, and advises a large network of shared carers across sub-Saharan Africa with the help of a telemedicine platform. He is the past chair of the South African Children’s Cancer Study Group. His interests include paediatric brain tumours, genetic syndromes predisposing to childhood cancer, stem cell transplantation for primary immunodeficiency and adapted therapy regimens for low and middle income settings. |
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Natia Esiashvili Biography In 2015, Natia Esiashvili, MD, was named Chief Quality Officer in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. A board certified radiation oncologist, Dr. Esiashvili specializes in the treatment of complex pediatric cancers and hematological malignancies in adults. In addition, Dr. Esiashvili is involved in using radiotherapy as a component of the bone marrow transplantation program. Dr. Esiashvili is the recipient of an international scholarship grant from the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology. She was elected to serve on an executive committee of the Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society for leading programs for a low - and middle-income countries worldwide. As a field expert, she has spoken at a number of national and international conferences and participated in committees and working groups charged with developing treatment guidelines, clinical trials and late effects screening guidelines. Dr.Esiashvili is a clinical member of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Additionally, she holds memberships with the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American College of Radiology, Children's Oncology Group, and Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society, among others. Education Dr.Esiashvili earned her MD from Tbilisi State Medical University in her home country, the Republic of Georgia. She completed her residency in radiation oncology at Emory UniversityHospital in Atlanta where she is served as chief resident. |
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Amar Gajjar Amar Gajjar studied medicine and completed his internship at Grant Medical College in Bombay, India. He completed a Research Fellowship at the University of Oklahoma and did his Pediatric Internship and Residency at All Children’s Hospital. He was Chief Pediatric Resident at All Children’s Hospital from 1988-1989. He completed his Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at St. Jude (1989-1992) and completed an additional year of Fellowship in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology. Dr Gajjar joined the Department of Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 1993 as an Assistant Member. He was appointed as Division Director of Neuro Oncology in 2002, promoted to Full Member (Professor) in 2004 and in 2005 he was appointed Co-Leader, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program. In recognition of his academic excellence in 2007, was awarded the Scott and Tracie Hamilton Endowed Chair in Brain Tumor Research. Nationally, Dr. Gajjar was recognized for academic leadership by being appointed Chair of the Brain Tumor Committee in the Children’s Oncology Group. Currently, he is the Co-Chair, Department of Oncology. |
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Anthony Figaji Tony Figaji is the Professor and Head of Paediatric Neurosurgery at the University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. His research interests broadly centre on acute brain pathophysiology and he currently runs projects on biomarkers, mediators of brain inflammation, and microdialysis-based brain chemistry and cerebral drug recovery. He also leads a capacity-building project on molecular biology of pediatric brain tumours. He is head of the Neurocritical Care and the Intraoperative Neurophysiology programs, for which he runs a fellowship program in each. He holds the National Research Foundation SARChI Chair of Clinical Neurosciences and is vice president of the International Neurotrauma Society. |
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Mark Gaze Mark Gaze is a consultant in clinical oncology at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts. His expertise is in paediatric and molecular radiotherapy. In the past he has been Chairman of both the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group’s Radiotherapy Group, and the CCLG itself. His particular research interests are in the management of neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, and he has been the lead for radiotherapy for both the relevant European clinical research groups, SIOPEN and EpSSG. Other interests include quality assurance in paediatric radiotherapy, and functional imaging as related to paediatric oncology. |
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Yasmin Goga Yasmin Goga is a paediatric clinical haematologist. She obtained her MBBCH from the University of Witwatersrand, and then completed her FCPaeds(CMSA). This was followed by a Certificate in Clinical Haematology - Paeds(CMSA) and a Masters in Bioethics and Health Law (Wits). She has worked in the paediatric haematology oncology unit at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, and the Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre at King Edward Hospital, Durban, South Africa since 2003. Her areas of interest include thalassaemia and haemophilia. She has been involved in the South African Thalassaemia Guidelines, as well as the Haemophilia registry and low-dose prophylaxis protocol. |
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Marc Hendricks Marc Hendricks works as a paediatric oncologist at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, where he trained as a paediatrician and then as an oncologist (2001-2007). Marc’s clinical work spans the broad remit of paediatric cancers including neuro-oncology, transplantation medicine and benign haematology. He teaches at under- and post-graduate level for the University of Cape Town and is an examiner for the College of Paediatricians of South Africa and for the sub-specialist certificate in oncology. His responsibilities include training and master’s research supervision for local and African supernumery fellows and he is an invited lecturer for the Tanzanian Masters Programme in Paediatric Oncology at Muhimbili University Hospital in Dar-as-Salaam. Marc is an active member of the South African Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG), serving as the national secretary from 2006-2010 and is currently a member of the national executive committee. Marc is the current co-custodian of the South African Children’s Tumour Registry along with Professor David Reynders from Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria. He remains enthusiastically involved in outreach to shared cared centres in George and East London. He serves as co-chair of the weekly Red Cross online education and support platform to these centres and others, including Uganda and Ghana via C4K. As a member of SIOP he has participated in collaborations around supportive care recommendations for LMICs as well as guidelines for standard risk medulloblastoma. Marc lives in Cape Town and in his spare time is a musician, song writer, dog lover and avid cook. |
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Peter Hesseling He is emeritus professor in Paediatrics and Child Health at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Childrens Hospital, and former chairman of that department. He established the paediatric oncology service at that hospital in 1974, is a founder member of SIOP PODC and was the first chairman of SIOP Africa. He has been involved in clinical research and outreach programs in Namibia, Ghana, Malawi and Cameroon, and is author/co-author of > 100 peer reviewed papers. His focus the past 20 years has been the development of effective treatment strategies for Burkitt lymphoma, Wilms tumour, retinoblastoma and Kaposi sarcoma in African countries with limited resources. He is the clinical director of a World Child Cancer twinning program in Cameroon. |
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Trijn Israels Dr. Trijn Israels, VU University Medical Center, Department of Paediatric Hematology and Oncology - Outreach Program, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Dr Trijn Israels received her paediatric and paediatric oncology training at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam. In between she worked for two years as a general paediatrician in Blantyre, Malawi where she participated in clinical service and did some locally relevant research studies which resulted in a PhD ‘management of children with cancer in Malawi. In more recent years she co-chaired the SIOP PODC (Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries) committee and the PODC working Group on adapted treatment regimens. She currently coordinates the SIOP Africa / PODC Collaborative Wilms tumour project. |
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Tracy Kilborn MBChB, FRCR(UK) Dr Tracy Kilborn is the Head of Paediatric Radiology at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and the University of Cape Town. She completed her radiology training in Oxford, UK and did fellowships in paediatric imaging in Oxford and Toronto. She chairs the education portfolio within the South African Society of Paediatric Imaging and does outreach for the World Federation of Paediatric Imaging. Her main interests are paediatric oncology and neuroradiology. She is passionate about the safe and appropriate imaging of children and the teaching thereof. |
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Rolf-Dieter Kortmann Qualifications: Professor, Medicine Professional experience: 1984-1992 Registrar, Department of Radiology, Radiooncology Stuttgart, Essen, Tuebingen, Germany 1992-2004 Consultant Radiooncology, University of Tuebingen, Germany Since 2004 Head of Department, Department for Radiooncology and Radiation Therapy, University of Leipzig Special Interest: Paediatric Radiooncology, CNS Tumours, Quality Assurance The scientific expertise comprises quality control in radiation oncology with special emphasis on geometric precision of different radiotherapy technologies including craniospinal irradiation. After qualification for radiation oncology in 1992 scientific research focussed mainly on childhood brain tumours finally leading to the establishment of the German Study and Reference Centre for Paediatric Radiation Oncology in Childhood Brain Tumours. With the introduction of prospective brain tumour trials in Germany in the early 90s prospective quality control programmes for radiotherapy were introduced on a nation wide level. The activities also included prospective trials of SIOP (International Society for Paediatric Oncology) for medulloblastoma and intracranial germcell tumours. Since 2004 educational programmes have been created for the now independent countries of the former Soviet Union in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ESTRO). Currently ESTRO-PROS Teaching Courses are organized addressing radiation oncologists worldwide. |
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Jeffrey Kotzen I did a fellowship at Institute Gustave Roussy in Paris in 1992, and a 3 month training in conformal radiation therapy at Washington University St Louis in 1998. I have a wide interest in radiation Oncology including radiobiology, Hyperthermia, radiosurgery, neurooncology, Gyn Onclogy, Urology, and Paediatric Oncology. |
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Mariana Kruger Mariana Kruger is a paediatric oncologist and ethicist. She is currently a full professor and executive head of the department of Paediatrics and Child Health at Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch. She is currently African Continental President for the International Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP). She is a founder member (2003) and co-principal investigator of South African Research Ethics Training Initiative (SARETI), funded by Fogarty International Center, NIH, USA, which aims to build African research ethics review capacity. She has served on several ethics review committees (including as either chair or deputy chair for the last 10 years) and is currently a member of the Stellenbosch University Senate Ethics Review Committee. She has been principal investigator for several paediatric clinical trials with publications in paediatric oncology, paediatric HIV and research ethics. |
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Karin Lecuon Karin Lecuon completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pretoria in 1976. She qualified as an Ophthalmologist at UCT in 1986 and has worked as a consultant ophthalmologist at Groote Schuur Hospital since then. She obtained MSc (Community Eye Health) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2006. Her fields of interest are Ocular Oncology and Uveitis. |
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Katherine K. Matthay Dr. Katherine Matthay is the Mildred V. Strouss Professor of translational oncology at the UCSF School of Medicine and Benioff Children’s Hospital, and leader of the Pediatric Malignancies program in the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has extensive experience in clinical trials and translational research in pediatric cancer, with over 200 peer reviewed publications. She served as North American continental president for SIOP, and is currently the incoming president of the Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association. She established and leads the NANT consortium for targeted therapy of neuroblastoma. She is a leader in the development of targeted radiotherapy for neuroendocrine tumors with 131I-mIBG. In the Children’s Oncology Group, she initiated several landmark randomized trials in high-risk neuroblastoma, improving outcome with myeloablative therapy and with biologic targeted therapies. Katherine K. Matthay, MD Mildred V. Strouss Professor of Translational Pediatric Oncology UCSF School of Medicine and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Kate.Matthay@UCSF.edu |
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Michelle Meiring Dr Meiring is a Paediatrician with a special interest in Palliative Care. She convenes the paediatric elective of the Post-Graduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine at UCT and is the chairperson for PATCH-SA. Dr Meiring is the founder of a new organisation called Paedspal Cape Town that currently provides a hospital based PPC consultation service in Cape Town. The organisation plans to develop a new children’s hospice and both in and out patient palliative care units in the city. She is currently the recipient of a Discovery Foundation award and is conducting research in Paediatric Palliative care toward fulfilment of a PHD. |
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Heidi Meyer Heidi Meyer works as a Consultant Anaesthetist at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, and is directly involved in the provision of the anaesthesia led sedation service. She began her career in the UK, and has subsequently worked in both Australia and South Africa. She specialised in paediatric anaesthesia at St. George’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London. In March 2013, she relocated to the Cape Town, with her South African husband |
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Alastair John Ward Millar Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Surgery University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital DOB 15.11.1947 Qualifications: MBChB (UCT) 1972, FRCS (Edin) 1978, FRCS (Eng) 1979, DCH (Roy Coll Phys & Surg Eng) 1979, FRACS (Paediatric Surgery) 1984, FCS (SA) 2004.[by Peer Review] Alastair Millar qualified at the University of Cape Town in 1972. In the 42 years of his career, 34 years were spent as a paediatric surgeon, training initially in the United Kingdom and Australia before being appointed to the staff of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, as specialist paediatric surgeon in 1984, where he spent the major part of his professional time. He was appointed Full Professor and Chief Specialist in 2001. He held a Senior Faculty Position in the United Kingdom 2004 - 2007 [Birmingham Children’s Hospital as Clinical Lead in Paediatric Hepatico-pancreatico-biliary Surgery and Professor of Paediatric Transplantation] before returning to Cape Town in 2007 to take up the Charles F.M. Saint Chair in Paediatric Surgery at the University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. He has published extensively on paediatric surgical subjects with a particular interest in transplantation, hepatobiliary surgery, surgical oncology, trauma and surgery in Africa. He has authored over 200 articles in peer reviewed journal and contributed to 37 book chapters. He is currently President of the College of Paediatric Surgeons within the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. The highlight of his career was to be awarded the Sir Denis Browne Gold Medal by the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons in 2011 for Outstanding Services to Paediatric Surgery. He retired as Head of Department on January 31, 2013, but remains as Emeritus Professor in a teaching, service and training capacity. He is secretary general/treasurer of the World Federation of Associations of Paediatric Surgeons. He has been married to Sue [nee Hennessy] for 36 years. They have 3 children James, Christopher and Francesca |
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Elizabeth Molyneux Professor Elizabeth Molyneux is a paediatrician and ex head of the department, in the College of Medicine, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital/College of Medicine in Blantyre, Malawi were she has spent over 30 years living and working. Liz’s interests are wide and varied and having spent 10 years in Alder Hey Liverpool UK in oncology and then as clinical director of the emergency unit she has maintained these interests in Malawi. She developed a paediatric oncology service at the QECH for the southern half of the country and over the years has carried out a series of locally appropriate and feasible therapeutic trials for the most common children cancers, such as Burkitts lymphoma, Wilms tumour and retinoblastoma. |
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Thurandrie Naiker Dr Thurandrie Naiker is a Radiation oncologist at Groote Schuur Hospital. She is involved in Breast Cancer, Brain tumours, paediatric radiotherapy as well as sarcomas in this institution. She completed her undergraduate training at the university of the Witwatersrand in 2001 . After a period in England gaining exposure to the field of Radiation Oncology, she chose to specialise in Radiation Oncology at Groote Schuur. Recently her, as interest in Paediatric radiotherapy has grown, she has been involved in treating these patients in combined approach with Red cross Hospital. Professor Jeanette Parkes whose niche is paediatric radiotherapy has been involved in mentoring her. |
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Nicolas Novitzky ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Professor Novitzky has contributed to chapters in books and 92 research publications in local and international peer-reviewed and educational journals. He has been a Principle Investigator for over 27 clinical trials relating to Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia (CML), Multiple Myeloma (MM), Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, etc. His main areas of interest include haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, immune reconstitution following immune depleting therapies, stem cell biology and clonal malignant disorders. |
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Llewellyn Padayachy Llewellyn is a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. He is involved in the running of a very busy unit that covers the full spectrum of neurosurgical disorders in children. He has a strong academic and research interest, particularly in the areas of non-invasive monitoring, intra-operative imaging, microsurgical technique and adjunctive techniques in brain tumor surgery. He has made numerous presentations at national and international neurosurgery meetings, and has published on these subjects. He also serves on the executive committee of international neurosurgical societies. |
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Janet Poole Professor Janet Poole was born and grew up in Johannesburg. She qualified as MBBCh from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1978. She then specialized in Paediatrics qualifying in 1986. She began her Paediatric Haematology Oncology Career at the Johannesburg Hospital. She moved to Baragwanath Hospital in 1989 as Head of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology when Professor Lorna MacDougall retired. In 1997, she became a Principal Specialist and moved back to the Johannesburg Hospital to head the Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Clinic there. She is also registered as a sub-specialist in Oncology. She has been very active in the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation, a parent NGO which supports children diagnosed with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders. She is also an active member in the SACCSG, and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP). She was the Continental President of SIOP in Africa from 2007 to 2010. In the late 90’s, she and a colleague Dr Stelios Poyiadjis formulated the St. Siluan Warning signs for Childhood Cancer. These were endorsed by SIOP and the SACCSG, and since have been adopted by CHOC in their awareness campaign for childhood cancer. Her special interests include Haemoglobinopathies (especially β-Thalassaemia Major) and the management of Iron overload , Wilm’s Tumour in South Africa, Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in South Africa, and Retinoblastoma. |
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Jeannette Parks Jeannette Parkes is a clinical and Radiation Oncologist at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Groote Schuur Hospitaland University of Cape Town. She is an Associate Professor and currently Acting Head of department. She runs the portfolios of adult and Paediatric Neuro-oncology, Sarcoma clinic and Paediatric radiotherapy. She has an interest in Stereotactic radiosurgery. Dr Parkes is a senior examiner and office bearer for the College of Radiation Oncology of South Africa. She is co-convenor of UCT’s Access to Care course designed to teach Radiation Oncology in developing countries. Dr Parkes is part of several SIOP PODC committees, tasked with writing guidelines and protocols for treatment of children in developing countries. |
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Catherine Patte
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Komala Pillay Dr Komala Pillay [MBChB, FCPath (SA), FRCPath(UK), MMed Anat Path (UCT)] is the paediatric histopathologist at Red Cross Children's hospital since 2007; the scope of service includes routine and specialised surgical pathology, referrals, frozen sections, cytology, electron microscopy and academic autopsies. She is a graduate of the International Paediatric Pathology Association Advanced Course in Paediatric Pathology (2010-2014) and is a convenor for the Mphil in Paediatric Pathology (the most recent graduate is Dr Patricia Okiro from Kenya), and involved in undergraduate and postgraduate research (50 publications) and teaching which included visits to the Eastern Cape (SA) and Nigeria. |
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Prof. Kathy Pritchard-Jones Kathy Pritchard-Jones, Professor of Paediatric Oncology, University College London Kathy Pritchard-Jones is Professor of Paediatric Oncology at UCL Institute of Child Health and a consultant oncologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Kathy has extensive experience of delivering complex care and enabling research, running international clinical trials and a translational research laboratory focussed on childhood kidney cancers. She was Chair of SIOP Europe Clinical Trials committee (2004-7) and President of SIOP Europe (2007-9). Kathy has published over 200 articles, including collaborative research with a medical sociologist on information needs and issues surrounding consent for clinical trials and tissue banking for research from children and adolescents with cancer and their families. |
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Paul Rogers BSc, MBChB, DCH, FRCPC, FRCP(Lond), MBA Dr. Paul Rogers is a Clinical Professor, Pediatric Oncology/Hematology/BMT at the University of British Columbia & BC Children’s Hospital Vancouver, Canada. For the past 35 years, Dr. Rogers has worked in tertiary, university affiliated hospitals with clinical, teaching, research (clinical trials) and administrative responsibilities. He is the former Head of the Division of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology/BMT at BC Children’s Hospital. He has been a Principal investigator with the Children's Oncology (COG). He is a former member of the Canadian Partners Against Cancer (CPAC) Advisory Council and currently a co-chair of the Canadian National Task force for Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patients with cancer. One of Dr. Rogers’ research interests is in nutritional support for children with cancer. He is the former Chairman of the Nutritional Committee for COG, which develops nutritional clinical / translational research and intervention studies for children with malignancies. |
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David Reynders I did my undergraduate training at the University of Pretoria upon qualifying I moved to London where I worked mainly in paediatrics and obtained my membership to the Royal College of paediatrics and child health (MRCPCH) In 2001 I returned to Pretoria where I completed my South African paediatric training. In 2007 I spent a year as a clinical fellow in paediatric bone marrow transplant at Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital. I’m currently the head of the paediatric oncology unit at Steve Biko academic hospital. I’ve a keen interest in paediatric bone marrow transplant. |
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Clare Stannard Prof Clare Stannard, Radiation Oncology Department, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town Semi-retired Radiaton Oncologist. Born in England, MB.BS at Guy’s Hospital Medical School, University of London. Came to South Africa 1968. Married Ivor Davies, had 4 children, worked part-time in Radiation Oncology for 10 years before specialising. 1983 FF Rad Onc.SA. Special interests and publications: treatment of tumours in and around the eye, brachytherapy of eye, orbit and mouth, neutron therapy of salivary gland tumours. |
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Diana Steinmann
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Denise Sheer Denise Sheer obtained a BSc and BSc(Hons) at University of the Witwatersrand, and a D.Phil from the University of Oxford. After a post-doctoral research fellowship, she became Head of the Human Cytogenetics Laboratory at Cancer Research UK, London, where she worked on cancer genetics and chromosome architecture. Since moving to Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2006, she has focused her research on children’s low-grade gliomas. She has identified critical genetic aberrations that activate the MAPK pathway and deciphered the molecular mechanims leading to these aberrations, and is currently conducting detailed epigenetic analysis of these tumours. |
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Ariane Spitaels Paediatrician and Endocrinologist MBChB (UCT), DCH(SA), FCPaedsSA Senior Specialist in the Paediatric Endocrine Diabetes Unit at Red Cross Children’s and Groote Schuur Hospitals Consultant in the Department of Paediatric Medicine, FHS UCT |
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Caron Strahlendorf MB.BCh, FCP, FRCPCCaron is currently Associate Clinical Professor and Division Head of the Division of Pediatric Oncology/ Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplant, Department of Pediatrics, UBC, Vancouver, Canada. A graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School in Johannesburg, she has been an oncologist for 20 years since completing pediatric and subspecialty medical training in South Africa, England and Canada. Her research interests are in hematopoietic stem cells and their role in pediatric solid tumors and in medical bioethics and end-of life care. Caron also has a long-standing interest in global health. Among her many leadership roles at BCCH, she is the site principal investigator for the Children’s Oncology Group clinical trials network, Director of the Pediatric Apheresis Program, and co-chair of the Clinical Research Ethics Board. |
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Ann van Eyssen Dr Ann van Eyssen currently works as a Paediatric Oncologist at Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town where she completed her training in 2010. She returned to this position in 2103 after working as a fellow in the Division Hematology/Oncology/BMT at BC Children's Hospital in Canada |
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Caroline van Rij Caroline van Rij MD Caroline van Rij obtained her MD in medicine in 1999 at the University of Groningen. In 2006 she finished her training in Radiation Oncology at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam. Currently she is working at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. She specializes in Pediatric Radiation Oncology, Brain tumors and Uveal Melanoma. |
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Anel van Zyl Dr van Zyl is a pediatric oncologist who works as a consultant at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, Cape Town. She qualified as a paediatrician in 2006, before completing her training in Paediatric Oncology at Tygerberg hospital in 2008. She is a member of SIOP, SACCSG (South African Children’s Cancer Study Group) and SAHF MASAC (South African Haemophilia Foundation Medical and Scientific Advisory Council). Dr van Zyl has a keen interest in benign haematological disorders, especially sickle cell disease and inherited bleeding disorders, and has been the director of the paediatric Haemophilia clinic at Tygerberg hospital since 2008. |
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Monica Vaithilingum Paediatric Haematologist in private practice for thirteen years at the Netcare Parklands Hospital in Durban , KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. I manage patients with general Paediatric, as well as benign and malignant Haematology and solid tumour diagnoses. I have an accredited chemotherapy unit. Prior to 2002, I was a consultant in the Academic Paediatric Unit for seven years at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine; involved in training of undergraduates and postgraduates and research. I am currently the Chair of the South African Children's Cancer Study Group |
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Dr. Sheila Weitzman University Appointments Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Hospital Appointments Senior Staff Oncologist, the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Dr. Sheila Weitzman is a senior oncologist in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, and Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. She received her undergraduate medical training and postgraduate training in paediatrics in South Africa. Following a haematology/oncology fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children, she joined the full-time faculty in the Division. Her major interests are in Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the Histiocytic disorders. She has 164 peer reviewed publications, has written 24 book chapters and has co-edited a book on Histiocytic disorders. She has a particular interest in international oncology and is a member of the executive committee of ASLAN, an organization formed to improve pediatric cancer care in Ethiopia and a member of the executive committee of the Sickkids-Caribbean initiative to improve outcomes for children with cancer and blood diseases in the Caribbean |
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Julie Wetter Undergraduate training at UCT Specialist training in Radiation Oncology in Bloemfontein (University of the Free State) Consultant Radiation Oncologist at Groote Schuur Hospital 2006 to date – treating tumours of the Head and Neck, Eyes and Skin |
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Richard J Wood Dr Richard J Wood attended Medical School at the University of Stellenbosch. He then had 3 years of General Surgery training in London and completed his MRCS. He continued his General Surgery training at Groote Schuur in Cape Town before changing to Paediadric Surgery in 2007. He completed a 4 year Paediatric Surgery Fellowship at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. After completing training Richard went into practice but remained at Red Cross on a part time basis concentrating on colorectal, oncology and vascular access. During this time Richard published the Red Cross experience of Urogenital Rhabdomyosarcoma’s, the largest single center series in the literature. In 2014 Richard moved to the United States to undergo further sub-speciality training, in colorectal and pelvic reconstructive surgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He has subsequently been appointed as a Paediatric Surgeon at the Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction (CCPR). This is the only center of it’s kind in the United States with a fully integrated team of Paediatric Colorectal, Urology, Gynaecology and GI motility specialists working together. In addition all pelvic and pre-sacral tumours are managed by surgical oncology and CCPR. Richard is actively involved in research and has presented at various International meetings. |
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