Committees

The BC Cancer Surgery Network is made up of three committees:  

​Develops and promotes surgical quality improvement endeavours, practice guidelines and standards in surgical oncology for the province.

Purpose

To develop and promote surgical quality improvement endeavours, practice guidelines and standards in surgical oncology for the province. The Clinical Practice Committee will work closely with the Research & Outcomes Evaluation Committee on developing outcomes reporting mechanisms and models.

Mandate
  • Understand and promote the ideals and goals of the Surgery Network
  • Act as a liaison between existing clinical practice groups (i.e. clinical practice guidelines committees supported by Ministry of Health and BCMA) and BC Cancer Surgical Oncology Council & Network
  • Review care maps, practice guidelines and other clinical material before distribution (i.e. ensures guidelines are in a consistent, standardized format)
  • Act as a clearinghouse for surgical oncology clinical practice guidelines in BC
  • Review practice guidelines related to surgical oncology that have already been endorsed by other organizations (i.e. waitlist times established by CSSO)
  • Provide a “second-opinion” review of initiatives and endorse clinical practice guidelines, standards and care maps
  • Provide input and advice into promoting clinical practice initiatives (including educational opportunities and communications strategies)
  • Review and recommend clinical standards relating to surgical oncology that are provincial in scope (especially as they relate to hospital or ambulatory practice)
  • Regularly review clinical practice documents and send back to BC Cancer Surgical Tumour Group for review
  • Develop mechanisms to monitor adherence to standards and outcomes
Members
  • Dr. Tom Wallace, chair
  • Regional cancer surgical leads
  • Surgical tumour group chairs
Current activities

Peer-reviewed best practice surgical guidelines are being developed, which will be directly linked to the BC Cancer Cancer Management Guidelines. They will be based on outcome measurement, multidisciplinary assessment, critical mass (skill/volume), technology and infrastructure. Care processes reflecting the most appropriate treatment plans will result.

Provincial Breast Cancer Guideline

We are delighted to announce the completion of the first provincial guideline for "Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer" (PDF). This guideline has been created by Dr. Allen Hayashi and members of the Breast Cancer Surgical Tumour Group. The guideline provides technical information about how to perform sentinel lymph node mapping. A second guideline, providing information on whether or not sentinel lymph node mapping should be done as a stand-alone procedure, is currently being created.

History/archive
 

Develops and implements professional development opportunities that will lead to improved surgical oncology practice and increased knowledge in the field of surgical oncology, as well as improve communication between the Council and the surgeons of BC.

Terms of Reference (PDF).

Purpose

To provide professional development opportunities to surgeons across BC, in a variety of formats, and to enhance communication between the Council and the surgeons of BC. Committee members will provide guidance in developing and implementing a professional development program that will lead to improved surgical oncology practice and increased knowledge in the field of surgical oncology, as well as improve communication between the Council, its members and the surgeons of BC.

Members
  • Dr. Heather Stuart (Chair, Executive Editor, Newsletter)
  • Dr. Sita Ollek
  • Dr. Mohammadali Khorasani
Key objectives of the CPD-KT Committee
  • Understand and promote the ideals and goals of the BC Cancer Surgery Network
  • Assess professional development needs of members and incorporate needs assessment into the development of educational programs and communication tools
  • Provide professional development opportunities in a variety of clinical speciality areas, in a variety of formats (courses, seminars, distance education), throughout BC annually
  • Provide outcome measurements to demonstrate impact of its professional development programs and assess effectiveness of communication tools and strategies
  • Provide educational opportunities with Maintenance of Certification accreditation
  • Provide professional development sessions linked with professional associations such as the BC Surgical Society
  • Identify education and communication resources already in existence
  • Promote study and research in the area of surgical CPD-KT
  • Publish a newsletter with information on the BC Cancer Surgical Oncology Council & Network including administrative, clinical, educational and research updates (2-3 issues annually)
  • Support the BC Cancer Surgical Oncology Council Standing Committees in their communication with members
  • Maintain and update the BC Cancer Surgery Network web pages
  • Promote the use of electronic resources to facilitate communication (i.e. videoconferencing, Extranet technology)
Past educational events
  • BC Cancer Surgery Network Spring Update 2022: Colorectal and Breast Cancer, April 10, 2022
  • BC Cancer Surgery Network Fall Update 2019: Management of Not So Rare Cancers, October 5, 2019, Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, BC
  • BC Cancer Surgery Network Fall Update 2018: Head & Neck Endocrine Tumours, October 13, 2018, Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, BC
  • BC Cancer Surgery Network Fall Update 2017: Colorectal Cancer, October 14, 2017, Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, BC
  • BC Cancer Surgery Network Fall Update 2016: Management of Liver, Pancreas, Melanoma and Breast Cancers, October 22, 2016, Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, BC
  • BC Cancer Surgery Network Fall Update 2015: Upper and Lower GI Tract Cancers, November 7, 2015, Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, BC
  • BC Cancer Surgery Network Fall Update 2014: Breast Cancer: Current Controversies, October 18, 2014, Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, BC
  • BC Cancer Surgery Network Fall Update 2013: Endocrine Cancers, November 2, 2013, Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, BC

    History/archive
    • Internet Course for Surgeons: A course provided in conjunction with the College of Physicians & Surgeons is nearing completion and will be available on the SON website. It will take you through all steps of an internet search to answer clinical questions. When available, there will be a direct link from this page.
    • Certification Program: One of the core features of the council & network is a strong educational focus. A continuing education/maintenance of certification program has been developed to provide learning opportunities for all surgeons in BC who provide oncologic care. Various formats are offered.
    • Education Needs Assessment: In early December, 2001, the BC Surgical Oncology Council and Network distributed an Education, Communications and Research Needs Assessment Questionnaire to the surgeons in the province of BC. The short form was sent to all surgeons and additional material requesting areas of educational need, was sent to seven key specialties. Copies can be viewed below:
    Related sites

    Dedicated journals in surgical oncology:

    College of Family Physicians and Surgeons of BC

    The Society of Surgical Oncology - useful for their annotated bibliography, education section, guidelines and online symposia

    The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - related sites menu

    If you have questions about the CME Committee please email SurgeryNetwork@bccancer.bc.ca. Please note that this is an administrative inbox with no connection to any clinical services.​

Supports research and evaluation activities of the Surgery Network by providing guidance and assistance to network surgeons with research projects, feasibility studies and measurement of practice improvement.

Terms of Reference (PDF).

What the ROE committee can do for you

The skills of the members of the ROE Committee and the Surgery Network staff enable us to help and advise you on:

  • Study design/research outline
  • Statistical methodology
  • Extract data from existing databases within BC Cancer
  • Data collection
  • Database design
  • Database creation
  • Data integration
  • Statistical analysis
  • Data reporting

If you are interested in submitting a research proposal, please refer to the Project Proposal Guidelines.

Research and Outcomes Evaluation Committee members
  • Dr. Janice Kwon (Chair)
  • Dr. Eitan Prisman
  • Dr. Francis Zih
  • Dr. Sita Ollek
  • Dr. Mohammadali Sohrab Khorasani​