Mary Gospodarowicz MD, FRCPC, FRCR (Hon)

Professor & Chair

The Department of Radiation Oncology of the University of Toronto is one of the largest academic departments of radiation oncology in the world. The faculty currently includes 78 radiation oncologists, 36 physicists, 28 medical radiation technologists, 2 biologists, 1 professional educator, as well as 6 cross-appointed faculty members.

The Department’s vision is Excellence and Leadership in Radiation Medicine Research, Education and Clinical Practice. Our mission is to advance the science and practice of radiation medicine. The research, clinical practice and education activities of the Department are conducted at three sites: the Princess Margaret Hospital, one of the three hospitals that form University Health Network, the Odette Cancer Centre affiliated with the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences.

Members of the Department treat over 10,000 new cancer patients each year. The Department provides academic supervision for the Diploma/Bachelor of Medical Radiation Sciences degree program conducted in partnership with The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences. The Department has developed a graduate program granting a Master of Medical Radiation Sciences degree.

The University of Toronto Department of Radiation Oncology has a large postgraduate training program in radiation oncology, which is fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The goal of this five-year program is to train future academic leaders in radiation oncology. Each year, residents are recruited from the graduating class of Canadian medical schools. This program offers a comprehensive curriculum in the clinical and basic sciences of radiation oncology, research, teaching, and leadership. The Department also has a very active Fellowship Program.

Currently, 25 fellows from all around the world are engaged in 1 to 2 years of additional study in specific areas of research and clinical practice. A Continuing Education Program is responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating traditional and innovative continuing education activities for health care professionals within Departmental, university and community settings. Research interests in this program lie in the areas of acquisition of professional knowledge and interprofessional education.

A large proportion of the faculty is engaged in a number of comprehensive research programs ranging from the basic laboratory radiation research, through to rich translational research programs focused on linking the laboratory with the clinic, and the translation of the advances in technology to the clinic. A full clinical research program that includes clinical trials complements these efforts, and is supplemented by a growing population based research initiatives. The Department is now recognized for its strong basic, translational and clinical research program in tumour hypoxia.

The Department takes a full advantage of the recent advances in imaging and technology to study the role of functional imaging in radiation therapy planning, with CT PET and functional MR and accuracy in the radiation therapy delivery including study of an on-line volume imaging system. Through research, the Department is moving quickly towards fully image guided radiation therapy planning and delivery.