Dr. May Lynn Quan, MD, BSc, Msc, FRCSC
Dr. May Lynn Quan, MD, BSc, Msc, FRCSC
Dr. May Lynn Quan, MD, BSc, Msc, FRCSC
Dr. May Lynn Quan is the Scientific Director for SPHERE and a breast surgical oncologist and health services researcher, holding over $10 million in research funding to study the quality and delivery of breast cancer care. Currently, Dr. Quan is the co-principal investigator for Reducing the Burden of Breast Cancer (RU
Dr. May Lynn Quan is the Scientific Director for SPHERE and a breast surgical oncologist and health services researcher, holding over $10 million in research funding to study the quality and delivery of breast cancer care. Currently, Dr. Quan is the co-principal investigator for Reducing the Burden of Breast Cancer (RUBY), a pan-Canadian research study looking at breast cancer in young women, as well as a professor in the Department of Surgery, Oncology and Communities Health Studies at the University of Calgary. She has an MD from MacMaster University, MSc in Epidemiology from the University of Calgary, undertook her residency in Calgary and fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Dr. Yuan (Shawn) Xu, MD, MSc, PhD
Dr. May Lynn Quan, MD, BSc, Msc, FRCSC
Dr. May Lynn Quan, MD, BSc, Msc, FRCSC
Dr. Yuan (Shawn) Xu is a health data and services researcher and assistant professor in the Departments of Oncology, Community Health Science and Surgery at the University of Calgary. His interests lie in developing methods to leverage multidimensional health data, including electronic health data and administrative da
Dr. Yuan (Shawn) Xu is a health data and services researcher and assistant professor in the Departments of Oncology, Community Health Science and Surgery at the University of Calgary. His interests lie in developing methods to leverage multidimensional health data, including electronic health data and administrative data, to boost the outcome of health service studies. Dr. Yuan (Shawn) Xu's research also serves to generate real-world evidence to support medical decision-making at the health-system and point-care levels in cancer care.
Dr. Alison Laws, MD MPH FRCSC
Dr. May Lynn Quan, MD, BSc, Msc, FRCSC
Dr. Darren Brenner, BSc, MSc, PhD
Dr Alison Laws is a practicing breast surgeon in Calgary and Assistant Professor of Surgery and Oncology. She has an interest in breast cancer risk and academic experience in evaluating multiple health services initiatives including the implementation of a High-Risk Breast Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Darren Brenner, BSc, MSc, PhD
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle, MD, MSc, MMEd, FRCSC
Dr. Darren Brenner, BSc, MSc, PhD
Dr. Darren Brenner is a molecular cancer epidemiologist whose research is focused on the intersection of lifestyle, genetics and molecular pathways in the development of several cancers. Dr. Brenner is currently leading studies to examine the utility of biomarkers in the prediction of cancer risk, as well as examining the impact of life
Dr. Darren Brenner is a molecular cancer epidemiologist whose research is focused on the intersection of lifestyle, genetics and molecular pathways in the development of several cancers. Dr. Brenner is currently leading studies to examine the utility of biomarkers in the prediction of cancer risk, as well as examining the impact of lifestyle and environmental factors on relevant genetic and molecular pathways in colorectal, breast and lung cancer risk. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Oncology at Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary.
Dr. Lisa Barbera, MD, MPH, FRCSC
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle, MD, MSc, MMEd, FRCSC
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle, MD, MSc, MMEd, FRCSC
Dr. Barbera is a nationally and internationally recognized health services researcher and radiation oncologist. In 2018 she moved from Toronto to Calgary to become the Head of Radiation Oncology at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and the University of Calgary. Her academic areas of interest include health services research
Dr. Barbera is a nationally and internationally recognized health services researcher and radiation oncologist. In 2018 she moved from Toronto to Calgary to become the Head of Radiation Oncology at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and the University of Calgary. Her academic areas of interest include health services research, quality of care and symptom management using large sources of administrative health care data. She has published extensively on health service use at the end of life in cancer patients. She has also completed extensive work using a unique patient reported symptom dataset from Ontario. As the former lead of Cancer Care Ontario’s Patient Reported Outcome Program she has considerable knowledge and experience with using patient reported outcomes in routine care. Her active clinical practice is in breast cancer. She also has years of experience treating gynecologic malignancies.
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle, MD, MSc, MMEd, FRCSC
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle, MD, MSc, MMEd, FRCSC
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle, MD, MSc, MMEd, FRCSC
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle is a professor of surgery and oncology at the University of Calgary. She completed her medical training at Queen’s University, her plastic surgery residency at Western University, and her fellowships in microvascular surgery and cutaneous oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre and Tom Baker Cancer Centre respe
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle is a professor of surgery and oncology at the University of Calgary. She completed her medical training at Queen’s University, her plastic surgery residency at Western University, and her fellowships in microvascular surgery and cutaneous oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre and Tom Baker Cancer Centre respectively. Dr. Temple-Oberle completed her Masters in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and her Master of Medical Education at the University of Dundee.
Her practice focuses on melanoma, immediate lymphatic reconstruction, and breast and oncologic reconstruction. She is the lead of the Alberta Cutaneous Tumour Team. Her research focuses survivorship quality of life, such as minimizing morbidity of surgical therapies for melanoma and breast cancer.
Dr. Susan Isherwood, PhD Program Manager
Flora Yang, MDSA, MEng Data Quality Analyst
Rabia Raheel, IMG, CCRP Research Coordinator
Dr. Susan Isherwood has a background in qualitative research. After relocating to Canada from the UK, she moved into research administration, having previously been a faculty member in the Department of Politics at the University of Dundee. She is a project manager for the national RUBY study and brings a range of research management experience and knowledge to the program.
Rabia Raheel, IMG, CCRP Research Coordinator
Flora Yang, MDSA, MEng Data Quality Analyst
Rabia Raheel, IMG, CCRP Research Coordinator
Rabia Raheel is an international medical graduate with clinical and research experience. After moving from Pakistan to Canada in 2019 she focused her career in research. Before joining the SPHERE team, Rabia worked with UBC in spine research.
Flora Yang, MDSA, MEng Data Quality Analyst
Flora Yang, MDSA, MEng Data Quality Analyst
Flora Yang, MDSA, MEng Data Quality Analyst
Yue (Flora) Yang is a Data Quality analyst who brings technical expertise to ensure the quality and accuracy of healthcare data, analyze, and interpret data using statistical and machine learning techniques, and present results in ways to support decision-making in breast cancer research. She has a Master's degree in Data Science and Anal
Yue (Flora) Yang is a Data Quality analyst who brings technical expertise to ensure the quality and accuracy of healthcare data, analyze, and interpret data using statistical and machine learning techniques, and present results in ways to support decision-making in breast cancer research. She has a Master's degree in Data Science and Analytics from the University of Calgary and an Electrical Engineering degree from Nanchang University in China. Before joining the University of Calgary, Flora was a senior electrical engineer with 6 years of power system analysis, research work and experience in electric power research institute in China.
Ish Bains, Research Coordinator
Ish Bains, Research Coordinator
Flora Yang, MDSA, MEng Data Quality Analyst
Trainees
Robert Basmadjian
Janelle Cobb Information Design Assistant
Janelle Cobb Information Design Assistant
Robert is a PhD student in the Brenner Lab at the University of Calgary. His research specializes in breast cancer precision medicine in young women, including the development of outcome prediction models and genomic epidemiology.
Janelle Cobb Information Design Assistant
Janelle Cobb Information Design Assistant
Janelle Cobb Information Design Assistant
Janelle is a recent graduate of Mount Royal University, in Calgary, in the Bachelor of Communications Information Design program, with a minor in Marketing. She has a passion for design and brings valuable skills to the team through her knowledge in human-centric processes. Janelle has joined SPHERE to help develop Sapphire—a peer support
Janelle is a recent graduate of Mount Royal University, in Calgary, in the Bachelor of Communications Information Design program, with a minor in Marketing. She has a passion for design and brings valuable skills to the team through her knowledge in human-centric processes. Janelle has joined SPHERE to help develop Sapphire—a peer support app to support women going through diagnosis, treatment and life beyond breast cancer.
Fellow Trainees
Melissa Wood BSc, MD, MSc
Cecily Stockley, MD, MPH, FRCSC
Melissa Wood BSc, MD, MSc
Dr. Melissa Wood is currently a Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellow at the University of Calgary. She obtained her undergraduate degree with a BSc in Microbiology and Immunology at UBC Vancouver, and her Doctor of Medicine from U of A. She completed her General Surgery Residency at the University of Saskatchewan and
Dr. Melissa Wood is currently a Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellow at the University of Calgary. She obtained her undergraduate degree with a BSc in Microbiology and Immunology at UBC Vancouver, and her Doctor of Medicine from U of A. She completed her General Surgery Residency at the University of Saskatchewan and obtained her Royal College Certifications in General Surgery and the Clinical Investigator Program (CIP) in 2022. She completed an MSc in Surgical Science and Practice with Distinction at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom as part of CIP. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog with her husband, downhill skiing, spin classes, road biking, and gardening. She has a diverse scope of research interests that span topics including surgical education, quality improvement, human factors, and surgical oncology.
Her current contributions to SPHERE include working with the RUBY project, investigating surgical decision making in young women with breast cancer and surgical decision making among hereditary breast cancer patients, leveraging technology to improve resilience among women with breast cancer, and investigating novel ways to support those with high-risk genetic mutations/syndromes in receiving appropriate cancer screening/surveillance.
Kadhim Taqi, MD, FRCSC
Cecily Stockley, MD, MPH, FRCSC
Melissa Wood BSc, MD, MSc
Dr. Kadhim Taqi is currently a Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellow at the University of Calgary. He obtained his MD with distinction from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman in 2015 and completed his General Surgery Residency at the University of British Columbia in 2023. He is planned to join the Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care
Dr. Kadhim Taqi is currently a Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellow at the University of Calgary. He obtained his MD with distinction from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman in 2015 and completed his General Surgery Residency at the University of British Columbia in 2023. He is planned to join the Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre (SQCCCRC) in Oman after his fellowship. He has won a few awards including the W.H Sutherland Memorial Award for outstanding resident in General surgery (2023), the J.H Ennis awards in Medicine for Breast Cancer Treatment (2023) and Gwyneth and J.T. Sandy Memorial award in excellence in surgical oncology (2022). In his free time, he enjoys exploring Alberta with his wife and 2 kids.
His current work with SPHERE includes working on a project evaluating the use of MRI in invasive lobular breast cancer, and another project investigating the use of staging workup in breast cancer in Alberta.
Cecily Stockley, MD, MPH, FRCSC
Cecily Stockley, MD, MPH, FRCSC
Cecily Stockley, MD, MPH, FRCSC
Cecily is a Complex General Surgical Oncology fellow at the University of Calgary. She completed her residency in General Surgery as well as a Master of Public Health at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her research interests include outcomes-based research with a particular interest in disparities impacting cancer care. She has done
Cecily is a Complex General Surgical Oncology fellow at the University of Calgary. She completed her residency in General Surgery as well as a Master of Public Health at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her research interests include outcomes-based research with a particular interest in disparities impacting cancer care. She has done work with the RUBY project and is currently working on a project related to Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ margin status. She is also contributing to a project related to care delivery for patients with hereditary breast cancer syndromes.
Resident Trainees
Katherine Fleshner, MD
Alysha Keehn, BSc, MD, MSc
Alysha Keehn, BSc, MD, MSc
Katherine completed medical school at Western University and is now a General Surgery resident at the University of Calgary. She is interested in outcomes-based epidemiology research and oncology. She is currently working on a project looking at regional differences in treatment of the axilla for breast cancer patients in
Katherine completed medical school at Western University and is now a General Surgery resident at the University of Calgary. She is interested in outcomes-based epidemiology research and oncology. She is currently working on a project looking at regional differences in treatment of the axilla for breast cancer patients in Alberta who were clinically downstaged after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. She hopes to continue to integrate clinical cancer research into her practice as a future academic surgeon
Alysha Keehn, BSc, MD, MSc
Alysha Keehn, BSc, MD, MSc
Alysha Keehn, BSc, MD, MSc
Dr. Alysha Keehn completed Medical School at the University of Calgary where she is currently completing her residency training in the specialty of General Surgery. During her residency she completed additional academic training through the Clinical Investigator Program and obtained a MSc in Health Services Research under
Dr. Alysha Keehn completed Medical School at the University of Calgary where she is currently completing her residency training in the specialty of General Surgery. During her residency she completed additional academic training through the Clinical Investigator Program and obtained a MSc in Health Services Research under the mentorship of Dr. May Lynn Quan. She aspires to obtain sub-specialty training in the field of surgical oncology and work as a surgeon-scientist, whereby her clinical work can inform her research and transform the way she and others care for patients.
Alysha is passionate about cancer care and her work is dedicated to improving patient experiences and outcomes through quality improvement and health services research. One particular focus of her work is dedicated to understanding the patient experience and giving patients a voice in the research agenda. Her master's thesis, in partnership with the Reducing the Burden of Breast Cancer in Young Women (RUBY) study, used a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting methodology to create a patient-oriented research agenda for young women with breast cancer.
Steven Langer
Alysha Keehn, BSc, MD, MSc
Christine Wang, MD, BSc Honors
Steven Langer is a General Surgery Resident at the University of Calgary.
Christine Wang, MD, BSc Honors
Emily Hanniman- Family Medicine
Christine Wang, MD, BSc Honors
Christine completed her medical school training at the University of British Columbia before coming to Calgary to start her General Surgery Residency. Her current project looks at surgical decision making for young women with Hereditary Breast cancer to determine if there are any impacts on disease and psychosocial outcome
Christine completed her medical school training at the University of British Columbia before coming to Calgary to start her General Surgery Residency. Her current project looks at surgical decision making for young women with Hereditary Breast cancer to determine if there are any impacts on disease and psychosocial outcomes. She hopes that the information gained in this project can help to guide and inform the decision making for young women with breast cancer, and she looks forwards to applying this research experience and skills into her future practice.
Mary Hou- General Surgery
Emily Hanniman- Family Medicine
Emily Hanniman- Family Medicine
Mary Hou is a General Surgery resident at the University of Calgary. She has participated in many projects since her undergraduate studies in topics ranging from the physiology of pre-term labour to understanding predictors of COVID severity. Mary hopes to integrate her research knowledge into her future career as a physician.
Emily Hanniman- Family Medicine
Emily Hanniman- Family Medicine
Emily Hanniman- Family Medicine
Emily, BSc in Neuroscience, is a resident in Family Medicine at the University of Calgary. Her passion for community and women’s health motivated her to join the SPHERE project. Emily applies her research experience and medical education to support SPHERE by reviewing patient charts and collecting data pertaining to breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, pathology and social challenges.
Emily Heath- General Surgery
Emily Heath- General Surgery
Emily Heath- General Surgery
Emily completed an MSc at the University Toronto followed by medical school at Western University. She is currently resident in General Surgery at the University of Calgary. Her current research is focused on quality improvement, exploring factors associated with unplanned emergency department visits in Alberta after mastectomy from the patient perspective.
Medical Student Trainees
Jade Pyo - Medical Student
Jade is a medical student at Cumming School of Medicine. She completed a bachelor’s degree in physiology at the University of Alberta. Jade has completed a master's degree in animal science at the University of Alberta, working with neonatal calves and studying their gut development. Jade has some rehabilitation medicine experience (Occup
Jade is a medical student at Cumming School of Medicine. She completed a bachelor’s degree in physiology at the University of Alberta. Jade has completed a master's degree in animal science at the University of Alberta, working with neonatal calves and studying their gut development. Jade has some rehabilitation medicine experience (Occupational Therapy).
Jade's role at SPHERE is to help with various research projects. and is very excited to have joined the team.
