Academic Staff
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 (RUBY),
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. Christina Minami, MD, MFA, MS
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. Christina Minami, MD, MFA, MS
Dr. Christina Minami, MD, MFA, MS
Dr. Christina Minami, MD, MFA, MS
Dr. Christina Minami is a breast surgical oncologist and general surgeon at Foothills Medical Centre and the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Dr. Minami completed her General Surgery residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL, and is board-certified by the American College of Surgeons. She completed a breast
Dr. Christina Minami is a breast surgical oncologist and general surgeon at Foothills Medical Centre and the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Dr. Minami completed her General Surgery residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL, and is board-certified by the American College of Surgeons. She completed a breast surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Prior to relocating to Calgary, she was on faculty at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. Dr. Minami's research focuses on shared decision making, physician practice patterns, and outcomes in the arena of geriatric breast oncology. Her previous work has been funded by the National Institute on Aging, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Cancer Society. This work has been both quantitative and qualitative in nature, leveraging large national cancer-specific datasets, administrative claims data, as well as semi-structured interview and recorded treatment conversation data to understand treatment experiences and outcomes in older adults with cancer.
Dr. Darren Brenner, BSc, MSc, PhD
Dr. Christina Minami, MD, MFA, MS
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
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. Christina Minami, MD, MFA, MS
Dr. Darren Brenner, BSc, MSc, PhD
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 Can
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. Anne-Marie Brisson, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle, MD, MSc, MMEd, FRCSC
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle, MD, MSc, MMEd, FRCSC
Dr. Anne-Marie Brisson is a practicing radiologist in Calgary and Clinical Assistant Professor for the Department of Radiology at the Cummings School of Medicine. She has an interest in improvement of breast imaging practices and guidelines, as well as in optimization of imaging resources utilization. Dr. Brisson compl
Dr. Anne-Marie Brisson is a practicing radiologist in Calgary and Clinical Assistant Professor for the Department of Radiology at the Cummings School of Medicine. She has an interest in improvement of breast imaging practices and guidelines, as well as in optimization of imaging resources utilization. Dr. Brisson completed her medical degree at McGill University and her Diagnostic Radiology Residency at the University of Calgary. She completed a fellowship in Breast Imaging at the New-York Presbyterian Hospital with Cornell University before returning to Calgary to practice.
Dr. Natalie Logie, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle, MD, MSc, MMEd, FRCSC
Dr. Sangjune Laurence Lee, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Dr. Natalie Logie is a Radiation Oncologist in the Department of Oncology at Alberta Health Services and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. She received her MD at the University of Alberta (2011) and completed residency at the University of Alberta in Radiation Oncology (2016) followed by fello
Dr. Natalie Logie is a Radiation Oncologist in the Department of Oncology at Alberta Health Services and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. She received her MD at the University of Alberta (2011) and completed residency at the University of Alberta in Radiation Oncology (2016) followed by fellowship specializing in pediatric radiation oncology and proton therapy at the University of Florida Proton Institute, Jacksonville (2017). She is dual certified radiation oncologist in both Canada (FRCPC) and USA (DABR).
She has an interest in both pediatric and AYA oncology outcomes/survivorship and is active in clinical outcomes research with work published in medical journals and textbooks. Dr. Logie has presented her research at peer-reviewed conferences such as the Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society (PROS) and American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), where she was awarded “Best Oral Presentation” at PROS in 2024, “Best Poster Session” at PROS in 2017, and “Best of ASTRO” in 2015. Dr. Logie is actively involved in clinical trials acting as local PI for RT:CHARM Phase III Randomized Trial of Hypofractionated Post Mastectomy Radiation with Breast Reconstruction.
Dr. Logie holds leadership positions within AHS, acting as the Breast and Pediatric Tumor Team RT Lead for Calgary and is the Co-Chair for the Provinicial Pediatric Tumor Team. She is Assistant Program Director for the University of Calgary radiation oncology residency program.
Dr. Sangjune Laurence Lee, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Dr. Sangjune Laurence Lee, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Dr. Sangjune Laurence Lee, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Dr. Sangjune Laurence Lee is radiation oncologist specializing in breast and gastro-intestinal malignancies. He is the clinical lead for the MR-Linac program at the University of Calgary and has an interest in bridging technology and oncology to improve cancer outcomes. He has a master’s degree in biomedical engineering fr
Dr. Sangjune Laurence Lee is radiation oncologist specializing in breast and gastro-intestinal malignancies. He is the clinical lead for the MR-Linac program at the University of Calgary and has an interest in bridging technology and oncology to improve cancer outcomes. He has a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, an MD from the University of Toronto and undertook residency training at the University of Toronto and fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Dr. Roger Tsang, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Sangjune Laurence Lee, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Dr. Roger Tsang, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Tsang is a staff medical oncologist at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary. He obtained his MD with Special Training in Research at the University of Alberta, followed by Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology residency training in Edmonton. He completed a Translational Oncology research fellowship at UCLA in
Dr. Tsang is a staff medical oncologist at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary. He obtained his MD with Special Training in Research at the University of Alberta, followed by Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology residency training in Edmonton. He completed a Translational Oncology research fellowship at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. In 2020, he received an Evidence-Based Medicine teaching award from the Medical Oncology residency training program. He is passionate about health informatics, and the intersection of information technology, data science, and clinical medicine to enhance patient care and improve outcomes. Since 2018, he has served as a Medical Informatics Lead in Medical Oncology, Calgary Zone, with AHS Connect Care.
Core Staff
Dr. Susan Isherwood, PhD Program Manager
Janelle Cobb, Information Design Assistant
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
Janelle Cobb, Information Design Assistant
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.
Janelle Cobb, Information Design Assistant
Janelle Cobb, Information Design Assistant
Janelle Cobb, Information Design Assistant
Janelle is a 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 user-centric research and design. Janelle has joined SPHERE to help develop Sapphire—a peer suppo
Janelle is a 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 user-centric research and design. Janelle has joined SPHERE to help develop Sapphire—a peer support app to support women going through diagnosis, treatment and life beyond breast cancer. Janelle also does various communication tasks for the team including social media, presentation layout, poster design and participant recruitment materials.
Julia Downey, Research Coordinator
Caitlin Larrigan- Research Assistant
Janelle Cobb, Information Design Assistant
Julia is a master’s student in the epidemiology program at the University of Calgary.
In 2017 she obtained a BSc in microbiology from UBCO, and subsequently went on to work as a clinical research coordinator at both BC Cancer and AHS. Alongside her work in clinical trials, she has collaborated on several research projects in melanoma and b
Julia is a master’s student in the epidemiology program at the University of Calgary.
In 2017 she obtained a BSc in microbiology from UBCO, and subsequently went on to work as a clinical research coordinator at both BC Cancer and AHS. Alongside her work in clinical trials, she has collaborated on several research projects in melanoma and breast cancer surgical oncology.
Her master’s research focuses on using patient preferences to identify non-inferiority margins for rheumatology treatments, in order to inform clinical decision-making.
Caitlin Larrigan- Research Assistant
Caitlin Larrigan- Research Assistant
Caitlin Larrigan- Research Assistant
Caitlin Larrigan is a recent graduate of Thompson Rivers University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Biology. She is currently a summer research student with SPHERE Calgary, where she contributes to ethics applications and study protocol preparation for the GeneScreen project. She is interested in clinical research and
Caitlin Larrigan is a recent graduate of Thompson Rivers University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Biology. She is currently a summer research student with SPHERE Calgary, where she contributes to ethics applications and study protocol preparation for the GeneScreen project. She is interested in clinical research and health system improvement, particularly in how study design and research findings translate into patient care. Caitlin is excited to contribute to the SPHERE team and further develop her experience in clinical research.
Resident Trainees
Christine Wang, MD, BSc Honors
Christine Wang, MD, BSc Honors
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
Christine Wang, MD, BSc Honors
Christine Wang, MD, BSc Honors
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.
Medical Student Trainees
Benjamin Darby- Medical Student
Benjamin Darby- Medical Student
Benjamin Darby- Medical Student
Benjamin is currently a medical student at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. He completed his bachelor’s degree in exercise and health physiology at the University of Calgary. His current project is assessing the implementation of an innovative magnetic localization technique for breast cancer.
Sophie Yonan-Medical Student
Benjamin Darby- Medical Student
Benjamin Darby- Medical Student
Sophie is a recent graduate of the University of Calgary, where she earned a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree in Biomedical Sciences. She was recruited to work on EMERALD, a project investigating cancer treatment-induced menopause in young cancer patients. She conducted women's health research throughout her undergraduate degree and is excited to continue this journey at SPHERE.
Students
Kira Ting
Isabella Davenport
Isabella Davenport
Kira is an undergraduate student pursuing an Honours degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology at the University of Calgary. This summer, she is researching the current communication tools available to physicians in geriatric oncology, with hopes to develop more effective tools for communicating with the older adult population.
Kira is an undergraduate student pursuing an Honours degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology at the University of Calgary. This summer, she is researching the current communication tools available to physicians in geriatric oncology, with hopes to develop more effective tools for communicating with the older adult population. Additionally, she will be looking at the efficacy of surveillance mammograms in older adults. Kira is excited to learn more about the clinical research process during her time with SPHERE.
Isabella Davenport
Isabella Davenport
Isabella Davenport
Isabella Davenport is an undergraduate student in nursing at the University of Calgary. This summer, she started working on her own research project through the Alberta Innovates studentship program. Isabella’s project aims to assess the online informational needs of young women with breast cancer. With her project, Isabella hopes to aid
Isabella Davenport is an undergraduate student in nursing at the University of Calgary. This summer, she started working on her own research project through the Alberta Innovates studentship program. Isabella’s project aims to assess the online informational needs of young women with breast cancer. With her project, Isabella hopes to aid future resource development to better suit the needs of young women. She is excited to work with the SPHERE team and learn more about the research process.
