Colon Cancer Canada selected the talented team from Mount Sinai for a number of reasons including the fact that a few of them have been involved with us since our very modest beginnings. In addition, these fine surgeons, researchers & doctors are the leaders in their field and we felt that they very deserving of the recognition.
The 2010 Gala was a great event that saw approximately 400 people enjoy an evening that included a raffle, auctions and great food. We raised over $180,000 at the 2010 event.
>> Gala Photos NOW Available! (click here)
Gala of Hope Details
Each year we have the privilege of honouring exceptional individuals for their on-going support and efforts in the area of colorectal cancer research, treatment and prevention. In 2010 we are extremely proud to pay tribute to the Mount Sinai Hospital GI Surgical Oncology Team.
Dr. Zane Cohen trained in the General Surgery Residency Program at the University of Toronto and did two years of immunological and transplantation research at the University of Toronto and at the London Hospital in London, England. Dr. Cohen did clinical colon and rectal surgical training at St. Mark's Hospital in London, England and with Professor Kock in Gothenburg, Sweden. He has always had an interest in inflammatory bowel disease and pioneered work in the development of the Kock pouch and pelvic pouch for patients with ulcerative colitis. He has also been instrumental in popularizing the double staple technique for rectal cancer surgery.
Dr. Alexandra Easson graduated from medical school at Queen's University and completed her General Surgery Residency at the University of Ottawa. Subsequently, she spent 2 years as a Research Fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston investigating the effects of cancer cachexia on liver metabolism. She went on to complete a two year Clinical Fellowship in Surgical Oncology at the University of Toronto. Her major clinical and research are in the management of breast, melanoma, colorectal and anal malignancies, in particular the surgical management of symptoms in the palliative setting.
Dr. Rebecca Gladdy is a graduate of Queen's University Medical School and did her General Surgery Training and a PhD in cancer genetics at the University of Toronto. After a Clinical Fellowship in Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer Centre in New York City, NY, she joined the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute as an Associate Scientist in 2008 and has an independently funded research program focused on functional genomics and selective therapies of solid tumours. Her clinical interests include colon and gastric cancer as well as soft tissue sarcoma.
Dr. Robert Gryfe completed a B.Sc at McGill University and his MD at the University of Toronto. Following medical school, he completed his General Surgery Residency and a Colon and Rectal surgery Fellowship at the University of Toronto and a Laparascopic Surgery Fellowship at the Centre for Minimal Access Surgery (CMAS) at McMaster University. Dr. Gryfe's clinical practice focuses on the surgical management of patients with colon and rectal cancer and inherited colorectal cancer syndromes such as Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP).
Dr. Helen MacRae graduated from the University of Alberta Medical School, and trained in the General Surgery Residency program at the University of Alberta, completing a Master's Degree in Surgical Education at Southern Illinois University. She completed clinical fellowship training in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Toronto, and did further training in Surgical Education. Her areas of clinical expertise include minimal access surgery for inflammatory bowel disease and colon and rectal cancer. Her research is focused on surgical skill acquisition and assessment. She is the author of 60 peer-reviewed papers.
Dr. Andrea McCart attended the University of Western Ontario for her undergraduate, medical school, and general surgery residency training. She completed a surgical oncology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda MD, where she spent 4 years investigating vaccinia virus for cancer therapy. She has a major research commitment with ongoing studies using vaccinia virus for cancer therapy as a Scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute in the Division of Experimental Therapeutics.
Dr. Robin McLeod received a B.Sc and MD from the University of Alberta. Following this, she completed training in General Surgery at the University of Toronto, Colorectal Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, as well as training in clinical epidemiology at McMaster University. Dr. McLeod's clinical and research interests are colorectal cancer, IBD and evidence based medicine. She has led several multicentre Canadian clinical trials in colorectal surgery.
Dr. Carol Swallow graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School, and trained in the General Surgery residency program at the University of Toronto, completing a PhD in cell biology and surgical sepsis. After this, she completed clinical fellowship training in Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre. Her areas of clinical expertise include advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer, retroperitoneal sarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumour, and gastric cancer.