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Leadership

BC Cancer is led by the executive team, comprised of senior staff in leadership positions across the organization.
About

BC Cancera provincial government-funded treatment and research organization, is an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). PHSA is responsible for governing, managing and funding BC Cancer, along with 10 other provincially mandated health care agencies. 

PHSA – one of six health authorities in British Columbia – is mandated to ensure the planning, coordination, accessibility, quality, efficiency and effectiveness of selected province-wide health care programs and services. It is the overall governing body of BC Cancer.

Provincial executive
Provincial executive team

Dr. Kim Nguyen Chi, Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Kim Nguyen Chi is a medical oncologist and clinical researcher. His research is in the area of genitourinary cancers with a focus on prostate cancer and investigational new drugs, including outcomes, Phase I-III clinical trials, neoadjuvant studies and mechanisms of treatment resistance. He has had peer-reviewed grant funding from the Canada Institutes of Health Research, National Cancer Institute of Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, the US Department of Defense, Movember and the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada. Dr. Chi also serves as Shrum Chair in Applied Genomics Research for Prostate Cancer.

Tracy Irwin, Chief Operating Officer

As chief operating officer, Tracy Irwin is accountable for day-to-day operations and execution on organizational action plans, including the strategic direction, planning and implementation of the key priorities outlined in B.C.'s 10-year Cancer Action Plan

Implementing change in a large and complex clinical environment is not a new challenge for Tracy. In her more than 20 years in health care, she has held a number of leadership roles with a focus on system transformation, clinical operations and facility redevelopment. Tracy joins us from her most recent position as the executive director, planning, transformation and organization development at Fraser Health and her career highlights include: leading primary and community care redesign, building innovation capacity, and establishing new in-person and virtual health services. She holds a Bachelor or Arts (Psychology) and a Masters of Health Administration from UBC and is an adjunct faculty member with UBC's School of Population and Public Health.

Dr. Helen Anderson, Senior Executive Medical Director, Provincial Systemic Therapy and Medical Programs
Dr. Helen Anderson is the senior executive medical director of Provincial Systemic Therapy and Medical Programs.  

Dr. Anderson has a long history and extensive leadership experience with BC Cancer. In addition to this role, she is also the interim executive medical director at BC Cancer - Victoria, where she previously served as department head for medical oncology. Dr. Anderson also previously held the role as division head for Oncology at Island Health. She is a clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia, and is a practicing medical oncologist specializing in lung cancer.

Dr. Anderson completed her training in internal medicine and medical oncology at the University of Auckland, before completing a Doctorate of Medicine at The University of London, England. She moved to B.C. in 2001, initially working in Vancouver before moving to the Island in 2003 where she has practiced since. Her other interests include pharmaceutical  policy and Health Technology Assessment.
Dr. François Bénard, Senior Executive Director, Research
Dr. François Bénard, Vice President, Research, BC Cancer
Dr. François Bénard is the senior executive director, research at BC Cancer. He is responsible for setting and facilitating a comprehensive cancer research strategy and agenda for British Columbia in collaboration with research leadership provincially, nationally and internationally

Dr. Bénard is an international leader in molecular imaging as well as an important part of the research community in British Columbia. His interests combine state-of-the art clinical care with a thriving translational research program in imaging and radionuclide therapy. After leading a highly successful molecular imaging program in Sherbrooke, Québec, he relocated to British Columbia in 2008, where he was awarded the BC Leadership Chair in Functional Cancer Imaging. He became head of the division of nuclear medicine at the University of British Columbia and scientific director of functional imaging at BC Cancer. Under his leadership, his team designed and built a new cyclotron and imaging facility, implemented a comprehensive preclinical imaging platform, set up research radiochemistry and radiopharmacology laboratories and expanded the clinical program. Dr. Bénard has also been highly successful in raising peer-reviewed funding to support the program, recently receiving a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Foundation Scheme grant totalling $1.4 million for the development of new radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Dr. Bénard has earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including most recently the 2015 Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering.

Kevin Hare, Senior Executive Director, Operations
Kevin Hare, Senior Executive Director, Operations
Kevin Hare is the senior executive director, operations at BC Cancer. In this role, Kevin is responsible for overseeing all operations to enable cancer care for the province of B.C. to be planned provincially and delivered regionally. With a diverse clinical background in critical care, urology, and clinical research and a career spanning more than 20 years, Kevin joins us from his most recent position at Fraser Health as executive director, clinical quality and strategic priorities. His education training started at Regis University where he was awarded a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and followed that with a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Denver – Daniels School of Business. 
Dr. Devin Schellenberg, Senior Executive Medical Director, Provincial Radiation Therapy and Medical Programs
Dr. Devin Schellenberg is a radiation oncologist, and is the senior executive medical director of Provincial Radiation Therapy and Medical Programs. In this role, Dr. Schellenberg has oversight of various provincial programs including: Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Therapeutics, Oral Oncology, Radiation Therapy, Surgical Oncology, Supportive Care, as well as Screening and Prevention.  He reports to Dr. Kim Chi, executive vice president & chief medical officer, and works in concert with Dr. Helen Anderson senior executive director, Provincial System Therapy and Medical Programs, and Tammie Currie, executive director, Provincial Programs.

In addition to this role, Dr. Schellenberg is a clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia's (UBC) Department of Surgery. He previously served as the department head of radiation oncology at BC Cancer – Surrey, and as head of the Clinical Trials Unit at BC Cancer – Abbotsford. He chairs the Radiation Working Group within the Thoracic Disease Site of CCTG (Canadian Clinical Trials Group) and is also a founding member of the Canadian Pulmonary Radiotherapy Investigators (CAPRI). Dr. Schellenberg completed medical school at UBC, and his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Toronto and UBC. He also completed a fellowship at Stanford University in California, with a research focus on Stereotactic Body Radiation.

Dr. Elaine Wai, Senior Executive Director, Medical Affairs
Dr. Elaine Wai is the senior executive director of Medical Affairs. 

Dr. Wai is responsible for the overall strategic leadership of BC Cancer's Medical Affairs portfolio. She is accountable for overseeing medical staff compliance with established regulations, and ensures appropriate clinical quality assurance, quality improvement, risk management, and patient safety strategies are in place.

Prior to this role, Dr. Wai was a radiation oncologist at BC Cancer - Victoria and head of the Department of Radiation Oncology in Victoria. She is a clinical professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Wai completed medical school and residency in radiation oncology at UBC, followed by fellowship training in health services research at the Radiation Oncology Research Unit, Kingston Regional Cancer Centre/Queen's University, while earning a Master's degree in Clinical Epidemiology from Harvard University.  
Warren Clarmont, Executive Director, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety
Warren Clarmont is the executive director of Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety. In this role, Warren is accountable for ensuring that as BC Cancer actions priorities within B.C.'s 10-year Cancer Action Plan, it is done in a way that includes meaningful engagement with Indigenous people and communities. Warren also holds the executive team accountable for clear and measurable priorities to demonstrate progress against recommendations and foundational obligations from the In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care report and additional foundational documents.

Warren previously held the role of provincial director, Indigenous Cancer Control at BC Cancer, leading the implementation of the Indigenous Cancer Strategy. Warren was born in the Hazelton area, which is located in the northwest central part of B.C., and he is a member of the Gitxsan First Nation through his mother, with French and English roots on his father's side. Prior to joining BC Cancer in 2018, Warren spent 14 years working for the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres leading the Indigenous health policy team. Warren is a cancer survivor and currently resides in Victoria with his wife and 2 children in the traditional and unceded territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) peoples, otherwise known as the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations."


Tammy Currie, Executive Director, Provincial Programs
Tammy Currie is the executive director for Provincial Programs at BC Cancer. She is responsible for supporting, provincially, all of the major clinical programs and medical directors across BC Cancer, to enable cancer care for the province to be planned provincially and delivered regionally.

With a career spanning four decades, dedicated to oncology, Tammy has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in cancer care. She has a long history with BC Cancer and has held numerous clinical and leadership positions across the province since joining in 1995.

Tammy graduated as a radiation therapist from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, and completed advanced certification and additional certification in CT Imaging before completing her BSc (Hons) in Radiation Therapy. She obtained additional certification in Risk Management and Safety in Health Services, as well as her extra fellowship through the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement.
Regional and provincial leadership
The executive medical director and executive director roles act in partnership for the management of BC Cancer’s services and programs within each of its six regional centres. This dyad partnership requires collaboration, flexibility, innovation and efficient and effective decision making to meet the changing needs of multiple stakeholders, including patients, families, staff and agency partners.

Executive directors oversee management and administration of operations for respective regional centres, and for the development, implementation and assessment of strategies, programs and services. They develop priorities that support the integration of community, regional and provincial patient-centred care and ensure that standards of care and quality are maintained across services. They also oversee resource requirements such as equipment, space, staff and supplies and plan, monitor and report on specific aspects of administrative and clinical services budgets.

Executive medical directors are responsible for comprehensive delivery and management of medical programs for BC Cancer’s regional centres, including quality, safety, professional practice, medical staff development and support. They establish a framework and infrastructure for program delivery and planning and allocate and manage medical resources in the region, anticipating future changes that will affect service delivery. They drive the planning and delivery of medical services, and develop effective partnerships that enable the best patient outcomes and experiences.

For details about the leadership team in your area, click the location below or call the appropriate administration office:


Abbotsford
Rupinder Atwal, Interim Executive Director, BC Cancer – Abbotsford

Rupinder Atwal is the interim executive director at BC Cancer – Abbotsford, where she previously served as the centre's director, operations.

Rupinder first joined BC Cancer in 2012 as a radiation therapist, and has held various leadership positions at BC Cancer – Surrey, Vancouver and now Abbotsford. Her collective knowledge of diverse operations across the lower mainland has been instrumental in her ability to lead and work closely with multidisciplinary teams to develop and execute strategic initiatives that enhance patient care, streamline processes and drive organizational success.

Rupinder holds a Bachelor of Technology in Radiation Therapy from British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Advanced Certificate in Medical Resonance Imaging from BCIT, and a Masters of Radiotherapy and Oncology from Sheffield Hallam University.

Rupinder has a passion for on-going learning  and has a desire to expand her impact beyond clinical practice. She is dedicated to fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Dr. Evgeny Sadikov, Executive Medical Director, BC Cancer – Abbotsford
Dr. Evgeny Sadikov is the executive medical director at BC Cancer – Abbotsford, where he joined the team as a radiation oncologist in 2022. He is also a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia's Surgery Department.

Dr Sadikov is internationally trained in radiation, medical oncology and internal medicine. In 2004, Dr. Sadikov completed a radiation oncology expertise fellowship at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. He then served as a radiation oncologist at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre (ABCC), Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, and as a clinical professor at the University of Saskatchewan. In his role at ABCC, Dr. Sadikov was actively involved in establishing IMRT, HDR brachytherapy programs, as RTOG/NRG principal investigator for the site. Subsequently, Dr. Sadikov was appointed as medical director of the ABCC.

As executive medical director at Abbotsford centre, Dr. Sadikov is inspired to contribute to the ongoing growth and evolution of B.C.'s cancer system.
Kelowna
John Larmet, Executive Director, BC Cancer – Kelowna (Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre)

John Larmet, Senior Director, Regional Clinical Operations, BC Cancer – Kelowna (Sindi Aluwahlia Hawkins Centre)John Larmet is a Registered Nurse and possesses a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Nursing from the University of Saskatchewan. He has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including psychiatry, trauma surgery and burn units. He has broad operational leadership experience spanning over 20 years leading various departments, including surgical, emergency, ambulatory care and oncology in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. His leadership areas of interest are operational planning and delivery, emergency management, continuous quality improvement, process re-design, clinical research and innovation. John has participated in various collaborative research projects through the University of British Columbia, the University of British Columbia-Okanagan, and the University of Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) currently serving as chair of the CCHL Interior CCHL chapter. John is committed to lifelong learning and holds a Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation, is a fellow in quality improvement from Health Care Excellence Canada, and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Nursing through the University of Calgary.

Dr. Ross Halperin, Executive Medical Director, BC Cancer – Kelowna (Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre)

Dr. Ross Halperin, Regional Medical Director, BC Cancer – Kelowna (Sindi Aluwahlia Hawkins Centre)Dr. Ross Halperin, FRCPC, obtained his MD at the University of Alberta, completing his Radiation Oncology residency at the Cross Cancer Institute (CCI) in Edmonton, Alberta. After residency, he did a fellowship in lung cancer three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) at Washington University Mallinckrodt institute. Post fellowship, he joined the Radiation Oncology department at CCI in Edmonton, subsequently moving to Kelowna in 2003 to join BC Cancer – Kelowna’s Radiation Oncology department where he commenced its prostate brachytherapy program. Dr. Halperin has served as regional professional practice leader of radiation oncology at BC Cancer – Kelowna as well as interim vice president for radiation therapy, functional imaging, surgical and oral oncology at BC Cancer. He is a past president of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology and is a board member of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation. 

Prince George
Anne Case, Executive Director, BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North)

Anne Case is the executive director at BC Cancer – Prince George. She previously served as the centre's director, operations.

Anne is well-known to everyone at Prince George centre. As a registered nurse, Anne previously worked as a staff nurse, clinical nurse coordinator and manager of clinical operations at the centre. Her four years in the director role were eventful and included the COVID-19 pandemic and the centre's 2023 CST Cerner implementation.

A bi-cultural person of Indigenous Kaska Dena and settler ancestry, Anne is a relational leader who values partnerships, trust, curiosity and authenticity. She enjoys connecting with the earth and practicing cultural traditions as well as building relations with people. Anne is an active participant of the Northern Community Hub and is committed to working with integrity, reciprocal accountability and a focus on building strong partnerships with community, BC Cancer, PHSA and governments with objectivity and openness.

Dr. Robert Olson, Executive Medical Director, BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North)

Dr. Robert Olson is a radiation oncologist and executive medical director at BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North). He is well-known to many at BC Cancer, having initially practiced in Vancouver, and was the first physician hired to BC Cancer – Prince George when it opened in 2012.

Dr. Olson previously served as the centre's Radiation Oncology department head, research lead and fellowship director, and as a national and international leader in radiation therapy research. He has led a number of clinical trials delivering high-precision radiation therapy (SABR) and pilot projects that bring this innovative treatment closer to home for patients living in the North and throughout B.C.

Clinically, Dr. Olson primarily treats head & neck, breast and palliative cancer patients. He is a professor at UBC in the Department of Surgery, Division of Radiation Oncology and Developmental Radiotherapeutics, as well as division head of Radiation Oncology provincially at UBC, and associate head of research for the Department of Surgery at UBC provincially.

Surrey
Susan Schroeder, Executive Director, BC Cancer – Surrey
Susan Schroeder is the executive director, regional operations at BC Cancer – Surrey. 

Years of clinical experience as a speech-language pathologist across education sector and health care rehabilitation, and pediatric subspecialty services has been foundational to her over two decades in health care leadership roles. Her leadership roles have included strategic planning of provincial systems, accreditation leadership, quality program leadership and senior directorship of daily operations across oncology care, pediatric acute care, rehabilitative services and public health sector. 

Susan has led major projects focused on infrastructure improvements, effectively led diverse interdisciplinary care teams, and championed innovative models of care keeping patients centred as the priority.

Her leadership philosophy centres on collaborative engagement, ensuring diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the healthcare process.  Spanning her career is a tireless dedication to disrupting systemic inequities in the health care system and creating collaborative opportunities for teams to navigate change, backed by strong managerial skills and relentless passion for patient-centred care. Susan has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards including: 3M Health Care Quality Team Awards (CCHL), The Medbuy Quality Leader Award (IHI), Excellence in Education Award (PHSA) and Robert Zed Young Health Leader Award (CCHL).

Dr. Sylvie Bourque, Executive Medical Director, BC Cancer – Surrey
Dr. Sylvie Bourque is a medical oncologist and executive medical director at BC Cancer – Surrey. She is a familiar face at the centre, having joined the team in 2012 as a medical oncologist, and serving as director, Clinical Trials from 2013 to 2017, and head of Medical Oncology at the centre since 2019.

Dr. Bourque is also a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia's Department of Medicine. She has previously held the role of medical oncologist at the Moncton Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was division head of Oncology. Clinically, Dr. Bourque primarily treats locally advanced breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancers.

Vancouver
Tracey Rannie, Executive Director, BC Cancer – Vancouver

Tracey Rannie is the executive director of BC Cancer – Vancouver. She began her career in health care in 1996, after graduating from Cariboo College with a degree in nursing. She then worked locally and overseas, and returned to Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in 2022 where she held a number of roles including front-line nursing, program educator at Sprott Shaw, and a variety of management and leadership roles.

Tracey came to BC Cancer from RIH and the Regional Trauma Network, where she held the position as executive director. Her proven ability to lead has allowed her to make sound decisions in tough circumstances and build on her passion to improve the experiences of patients, staff, and physicians. Tracey's desire to share knowledge and work in a collaborative environment speaks to her belief that an organization is only as strong as its people.

Dr. Dan Renouf, Executive Medical Director, BC Cancer Vancouver

Dr. Dan Renouf is the executive medical director and a medical oncologist at BC Cancer - Vancouver. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alberta and completed his internal medicine and medical oncology training at the University of British Columbia and BC Cancer. He undertook further training in early drug development and gastrointestinal oncology at Princess Margaret Hospital and the University of Toronto, and obtained a Masters of Public Health from Harvard University.

Victoria
Ruby Gidda, Interim Executive Director, BC Cancer – Victoria
Ruby Gidda is the interim executive director at BC Cancer – Victoria. She previously served as executive director at BC Cancer – Abbotsford.

Ruby has more than 24 years of experience in health care with a strong background in clinical operations and strategic planning. She has worked as a registered nurse in a variety of clinical settings, including surgical, medical, labour and delivery, home support, sexual health, community and population public health. The leadership positions Ruby has held include portfolios in include population public health and community care, professional practice leader, and oncology.

Ruby first joined BC Cancer – Abbotsford in 2017, and held the positions of clinical manager and regional nursing lead. She then transitioned into the senior practice leader role in 2018. Shortly after, Ruby stepped into the executive director role and also took on the role of executive director, Professional Practice Nursing and Allied Health in early 2020. In addition to strategic and operational planning, Ruby has a passion for education and has held a multitude of teaching roles. Ruby is also the current co-chair of the BC Cancer Summit.  

Ruby holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Victoria, and a Masters of Education from Simon Fraser University. Ruby also holds certified nursing practice in Contraceptive Management and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Ruby is pursuing further education at Queen's University and currently enrolled in their Health Quality PhD program. Ruby's ongoing professional and academic commitment is an asset to the organization.

When not working at BC Cancer, Ruby is a part-time instructor at her alma mater BCIT – a position she has maintained for nearly thirteen years, and works as clinic nurse for Options for Sexual Health in Abbotsford since 2007.

Dr. Stacy Miller, Executive Medical Director, BC Cancer – Victoria 

Dr. Stacy Miller is a radiation oncologist and executive medical director at BC Cancer - Victoria. She previously served as executive medical director at BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North), where she also formerly held a role as physician leader. 

As a physician leader in the North, Dr. Miller focused on BC Cancer's vision to bring cancer care closer to home, both within BC Cancer and in partnership with the Community Oncology Network including leveraging telehealth solutions to facilitate remote care where possible. She is looking forward to becoming a member of the Cancer Care Team on Vancouver Island.

Dr. Miller is originally from the west coast and moved to Prince George in 2012 for the opening of BC Cancer – Prince George (Centre for the North). In 2024, Dr. Miller moved to Vancouver Island to join the BC Cancer – Victoria team. She trained at the University of British Columbia with a residency at BC Cancer and a subsequent international fellowship in Sydney, Australia. Clinically, she is involved in the treatment of several types of cancer, with a special interest in genitourinary cancer and sarcoma as well as radiation for oligometastatic cancers and rapid access to palliative radiotherapy.


Provincial

Dr. Fabio Feldman, Executive Director, Prevention, Screening, Hereditary Cancer Program and Quality, Safety & Accreditation
Dr. Fabio Feldman is the executive director for Prevention, Screening, Hereditary Cancer Program and Quality, Safety & Accreditation. He is responsible for cancer prevention initiatives, all four screening programs (Breast, Lung, Cervix and Colon) as well as the Hereditary Cancer Program. Fabio is also responsible for the Quality, Safety & Accreditation portfolio at BC Cancer. He oversees all aspects of direct service, education, training and research activities within the portfolio, and facilitates collaboration among internal and external clinical, research, administrative and operational stakeholders in support of program goals.

Fabio previously held various leadership roles within Fraser Health including director, Clinical Quality & Patient Safety, and was responsible for the Falls & Injury Prevention team, Patient Care Quality Office, and Patient Safety Learning System (PSLS). With over 15 years of experience in health care, he is an accomplished leader in prevention programs and quality improvement. He is also recognized for his ability to lead and collaborate with diverse teams, and integrate research into practice.

Fabio obtained his PhD in Biomechanics at Simon Fraser University with a focus on the prevention of falls and hip fractures. He has held positions as an adjunct professor at the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University and as a faculty member of the Safer Healthcare Now!

Dr. Leah Lambert, Executive Director and Senior Scientist, Nursing and Allied Health Research and Knowledge Translation
Dr. Leah Lambert is the executive director and a senior scientist for the Nursing and Allied Health Research and Knowledge Translation department at BC Cancer. In this role, Leah and her team lead collaborative research and knowledge mobilization initiatives in partnership with health care practitioners, health system leaders, policymakers, and patients to generate evidence-informed improvements in care, better patient outcomes and increased system performance.

Leah also holds a cross appointment as a clinical assistant at the University of British Columbia's (UBC) School of Nursing. During her PhD at UBC, Leah was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategic Training in Health Research (CIHR-STIHR) Psychosocial Oncology Research Training Fellowship and a four-year UBC Doctoral Fellowship, as well as several distinction awards including two UBC Faculty of Applied Science Graduate Awards on the basis of outstanding scholarship. She was the first embedded researcher at BC Cancer to hold a CIHR and Michael Smith Health Research BC's Health System Impact Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Leah takes an equity first approach to study the health service needs of people diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers, and expanding multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving within the care system. She has a special interest in examining how cancer care practices, policies and systems are contributing to health and health care inequities and investigating strategies to enhance equity-oriented cancer care.

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