Parenthood and Radiation Oncology: Challenges, Triumphs and Opportunities to Create an Inclusive Culture
This interactive speaker session will explore the challenges and opportunities parents in Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics face. By the end of this session, we hope to increase awareness of policy advancements and opportunities to support parents in medicine and empower attendees with knowledge to navigate the transition to and from parental leave. Our speakers represent birthing and non-birthing parents, hold varying roles and titles in Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, and provide unique cross-national perspective of both U.S. and Canadian policies.
Allison Rau, MD
University of Calgary
ModeratorDr. Allison Rau is currently a third-year Radiation Oncology resident at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She obtained a Master’s of Science in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of Toronto, and a MD from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Her highlighted interests include resident wellness, gender equity and inclusion of women in the field of Radiation Oncology. She is currently the Vice-chair for the Society of Women in Radiation Oncology (SWRO). |
Jeffrey Cao, MD, MBA
Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation
SpeakerDr. Jeffrey Cao completed his BSc Honors in Pharmacology and MD from the University of Alberta and residency in Radiation Oncology at the University of Western Ontario, where he served on the Board of PAIRO, and earned his MBA at the Ivey School of Business. Dr. Cao was awarded the CARO Elekta Fellowship for research at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver and then received the inaugural CPQR Fellowship with the Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation. Dr. Cao is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary and is the Provincial Tumor Team Lead for Alberta Health Services Cancer Care Alberta. His other subspecialty focus is in Hematological Malignancies including Total Body Irradiation. He is happily married and a proud parent to four children brought into the world during residency, Fellowship, locum and as staff attending. |
Adrianna Masters, MD, PhD
University of Louisville
SpeakerDr. Adrianna Masters is an assistant professor at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville. She is the residency program director and specializes in central nervous system and gynecologic cancers. She is engaged in research related to gender equity in the workplace and disparities in patient cancer outcomes. She has been an active participant in SWRO since the founding of the organization and is active in ASTRO and other national organizations such as ACRO and NRG. |
Kelly Paradis, PhD
University of Michigan
SpeakerDr. Kelly Paradis is an Associate Professor of Medical Physics and the Associate Chair of Wellbeing and Equity in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Michigan Medicine. She is also a clinical faculty ombudsperson for the University of Michigan Medical School. She has two daughters, ages 4 and 6, and co-authored the book Parenting on the Frontlines. |
Jessica Schuster, MD
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
SpeakerDr. Jessica Schuster is Clinical Associate Professor and Associate Program Director and Regional Radiation Oncology Director in the Department of Human Oncology at the University of Wisconsin. She is the Chief of Service Radiation Oncology at the William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. Dr. Schuster is Editor in Chief of Curie ACRO journal on Cureus and serves as co-chair of the ASTRO Women in Radiation Oncology Affinity Group’s Family Planning workgroup. |
