Carla Bennett, RN, BScN
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario

Carla Bennett is a seasoned pediatric nursing leader with extensive experience spanning clinical care, education, and program management. She began her career at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, where she developed a foundational commitment to family-centered care. Her professional journey includes diverse roles in pediatric teaching hospitals across Canada and the United States, serving as a staff nurse, clinical team leader, coordinator, and program manager.

In 2000, Carla transitioned into senior administration as the Manager of the Pediatric ICU at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Upon returning to Canada, she led the Pediatric Oncology Program at London Health Sciences Centre, which marked the beginning of her long-standing involvement with the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). Since 2007, Carla has served in a leadership capacity at POGO, where she focuses on driving system-level improvements in childhood cancer care and survivorship.

Emily Burtwistle was diagnosed with a Ganglioglioma brain tumour at the age of seven. She underwent two brain tumour resections, a shunt revision, and completed two different chemotherapy protocols. A native of London, Ontario, Emily received a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Guelph and currently attends Western University’s Bachelor of Education program.

As a Registered Early Childhood Educator, Emily is happiest working with children, hiking in nature, crafting, or baking.

Stephanie Dufour, MD, FRCSC, REI
Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility – Ottawa Fertility Centre
Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology – Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Dr. Dufour is a specialist in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She is currently an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Ottawa. In addition, she practices Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Ottawa Fertility Centre and is affiliated with the CHEO Research Institute.

She received her medical degree from McGill University and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Université Laval. She subsequently completed subspecialty fellowship training in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology at CHEO and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Ottawa Fertility Centre. She also completed advanced training in fertility preservation at l’Université de Lille in France, an international center of excellence in ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation.

Her clinical and academic work focuses on the care of children and adolescents with complex gynecologic and medical conditions, with particular expertise in fertility preservation and oncofertility.

Sarah Gabura, RN, MN, NP-Pediatrics
Nurse Practitioner in Hematology/Oncology
Hospital for Sick Children

Sarah Gabura is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, specializing in pediatric hematology/oncology and survivorship care. Sarah has over 10 years of experience across hematology, oncology, bone marrow transplant, and cellular therapy in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings.

Currently practicing in Oncology AfterCare, Sarah provides risk-based long-term follow-up and survivorship care for patients more than five years post-treatment, with a focus on late effects surveillance, health promotion, and transition to community and/or adult care. Sarah previously practiced in Blood & Marrow Transplant/Cellular Therapy, where she managed medically complex and immunocompromised pediatric patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Sarah has a keen interest in advancing survivorship care and advocating for fertility preservation for pediatric cancer survivors. She continues to assist the SickKids AfterCare team in the implementation of the Transition Consultation at SickKids to support a seamless transition from pediatric to adult care.

Amy Givogue, NP, MN, BScN
Oncology & Aftercare Clinic, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
POGO Aftercare Clinic, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre

Amy Givogue is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in outpatient pediatric oncology and survivorship care at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. She has worked within the pediatric oncology program at CHEO since 2014, developing extensive experience supporting children and adolescents throughout treatment and into long-term follow-up. Her clinical focus is on the care of childhood cancer survivors, with particular interest in post-bone marrow transplant follow-up and the management of late effects related to chemotherapy, radiation, and transplant therapies. Amy is committed to helping survivors transition safely from active treatment to long-term survivorship by monitoring for treatment-related complications, supporting healthy development, and promoting quality of life.

She works closely with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive survivorship care that includes medical surveillance, patient and family education, and coordination with community providers. Amy is passionate about empowering survivors and their families with the knowledge and support needed to navigate life after cancer treatment.

Dr. Guolla is a Clinical Scholar in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at McMaster University where she completed her fellowship in 2023. She previously completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Ottawa, an MD at the University of Toronto, and postgraduate training in pediatrics at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is a PhD candidate in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University, supported by a CIHR Vanier Scholarship, and enrolled in the Clinician Investigator Program. Her PhD dissertation explores existing prediction models for the development of cardiovascular events and heart failure in survivors of cancer and their specific application to survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer. Dr Guolla is also the current Chair of the Young SIOP Network and sits on the board of directors for the International Society of Pediatric Oncology. Her clinical interests include malignant hematology, emerging therapies, survivorship, AYA oncology, and improving care for 2SLGBTQIA+ patients.

Eleanor Hendershot, NP
Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner
McMaster Children's Hospital

Eleanor Hendershot is a pediatric nurse practitioner. She works in pediatric oncology at McMaster Children’s Hospital in both active oncology and cancer survivorship. Eleanor received her Master of Nursing from the University of Toronto in 2003 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Ottawa in 1994. Over the course of her 30 year career in pediatric oncology nursing, Eleanor has worked at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Sickkids and now McMaster Children's Hospital. 

Eleanor has presented at numerous conferences on a variety of topics from cancer survivorship to the supportive care and treatment of patients with solid tumors. She has also authored and co-authored multiple manuscripts and several book chapters on pediatric solid tumors, supportive care and outpatient chemotherapy administration.

Donna Johnston, MD, FRCPC, FAAP 
Medical Director, Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario
Pediatric Oncologist, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)
Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa

Dr. Donna Johnston is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at CHEO and a full professor at the University of Ottawa. She completed her medical training at Queen’s University, residency at the University of Ottawa, and fellowship at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Her clinical and research focus includes acute myeloid leukemia (AML), neuro-oncology, supportive care, and medical education.

She is the Principal Investigator for the Children’s Oncology Group at CHEO and serves on its Myeloid and Cancer Control committees. In 2025, Dr. Johnston was appointed Medical Director of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), where she leads strategic clinical initiatives to improve childhood cancer care across the province. She has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and contributes actively to national and international pediatric oncology organizations.

Rebecca Levy, MD, FRCPC
Director, Onco-Dermatology Clinic
Hospital for Sick Children

Dr. Rebecca Levy was educated and trained at the University of Toronto, where she completed her undergraduate medical degree, pediatrics residency, and pediatric dermatology fellowship. She currently serves as a Staff Physician in the Division of Dermatology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, and as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Levy’s clinical and research interests include managing skin concerns in children with oncologic diagnoses and history of transplant, pediatric hidradenitis suppurativa, and laser therapy. Dr. Levy is active in education at all levels and is passionate about community capacity building through education initiatives. She is the Fellowship Director for the clinical pediatric dermatology fellowship program at SickKids and serves as Co-Director of the biennial SickKids Pediatric Dermatology Update conference.

Brooke Russell, PhD, CPsych
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Ottawa

Dr. Russell is a clinical psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Calgary in 2024. Her research focuses on fear of cancer recurrence and other psychosocial outcomes for survivors of childhood cancer. She is currently adapting the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Therapy intervention for adolescent and early young adult survivors of childhood cancer (FORT-AeYA) and leading the development of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Scale for Pediatric Survivors of Cancer (FCRS-Peds). Clinically, she works with children, adolescents, and young adults across the cancer trajectory. Dr. Russell has a strong interest in trauma-informed care and believes this approach is foundational to high-quality care for young people and their families.