Grand River joins Princess Margaret’s care network

KITCHENER, Ont. – This spring, the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre will be the second cancer centre in the province to join the Princess Margaret Cancer Care Network to share world class expertise and bring enhanced access to cancer services, clinical trials and research to the residents of Waterloo Wellington.

“This partnership will strengthen ties between our two centres and provide streamlined access to clinical trials, advanced molecular testing, and other innovations for patients being seen at the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre,” said Dr. Keith Stewart, VP Cancer, UHN, and director of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Dr. Stewart and Jane Martin (pictured) – VP of Regional Programs & Clinical Support Services, Grand River Hospital, and regional VP Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program – sign the certificate of partnership which sees the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre become the second member of the Princess Margaret Cancer Care Network.

Waterloo Wellington residents already benefit from some of the best cancer care provincially through the Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program. With cancer surgery wait times among the best in the province, residents also receive best-practice colorectal cancer screening, and endoscopy care that has recently expanded to introduce new and innovative options to improve outcomes and provide enhanced care, closer to home.

“We’re thrilled to join the Princess Margaret Cancer Care Network and continue the great work happening locally,” says Dr. Gregory Knight, Grand River Hospital chief of Oncology. “This partnership will enable care teams across participating organizations to collaborate, share information and resources and create new opportunities for care and research for the patients we serve. This is a really exciting opportunity for two exceptional organizations to come together and leverage their respective strengths, with the goal of continuing to improve cancer care and access for Ontarians.”

The partnership will largely focus on clinical trials, healthcare provider and patient education, molecular testing and cancer genomics. Clinicians will also be able to learn from each other and collaborate on challenging cases, bringing more expertise to local patients.

“This partnership demonstrates our strategic commitment to relentlessly pursue strong partnerships and innovative solutions to deliver exceptional healthcare experiences for patients,” says Ms. Martin.

“The aim of the Princess Margaret Cancer Care Network is to facilitate access to knowledge, expertise, and innovations available in our centre, while supporting collaborative care and existing relationships and initiatives,” said Dr. Andrea Bezjak, a radiation oncologist and Medical Director of the PM Cancer Care Network.

The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Grand River Regional Cancer Centre are regional cancer centres within the province aligned with the provincial priorities outlined by Ontario Health – Cancer Care Ontario.