Under construction
A new study on pediatric cancers in NL is recruiting!
Under construction
Author: sevtapsavas
Episode 33 – Sexual and gender diverse individuals, and cancer care
As the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, we are excited to present this podcast to you!
We have had the pleasure of having Margo Kennedy and Lauren Squires (from Princess Margaret Hospital, Sex and Gender Diversity in Cancer Care unit, Toronto), and Sydney Knapman (from Trans Support NL, St. John’s), as our guests today!
This is a continuation of our podcasts on transgender health, most recent one aired last month featuring one of our guests – Sydney.
During this episode, we talked about several points as it related to health and healthcare for sex and gender diverse individuals, including:
1. What is sex and gender diversity?
2. Why and how was the Sex and Gender Diversity in Cancer Care unit formed?
3. Which kind of services does this unit provide?
4. How is the local context here in Newfoundland and Labrador in terms of progress in medical care and cancer care tailored for the needs of transgender and gender diverse individuals?
5. How can research regarding sex and gender diversity help improve healthcare services and outcomes?
6. How can we all contribute to dialogs to improve conditions for sex and gender diverse individuals?
Take a look at this very informative podcast!
#NewfoundlandAndLabrador #2SLGBTQIA+ #Cancer #CancerCare #Chosenfamily #Podcasting #PublicEngagement #PublicOutreach #SexAndGender #SexAndGenderDiversity #TransgenderHealth
University Health Network Princess Margaret Hospital
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ITzHGHrRkNIsvx5efapBO?si=R83KJUm-SwqD-XKQciK6ow
So much to celebrate…
This September is a bit special for me. It commemorates the 50th year of me “going to school”. As a scientist and academician, I am very excited about this accomplishment.
I hope we will invest in education more in NL and elsewhere, as when there is a strong public education, even the least privileged can excel.
I was also honoured with Inspired Innovation Award (adult category) by St. John’s YWCA “as an innovator and pioneer in the academic public engagement space..”.
I thank my parents for giving my siblings and I the best conditions they could offer to help us pursue education and all.
I do not do everything myself: I also gratefully acknowledge my students, assistants, collaborators, and public partners and advocates who I have worked with for their critical roles in everything I do.
Thank you YWCA for this special honour.
Episode 32 – Pediatric cancers and evolution of a patient leader
We are excited to present this podcast!
We have had the pleasure of having Suad Ismail as our guest today! Suad is a mom, survivor of pediatric cancer, social worker, patient advocate and leader, and an amazing speaker.
Suad and Sevtap talked about two topics that are their shared interest: Pediatric cancers and patient partnerships. They touched the following questions:
- What are pediatric cancers?
- Suad’s pediatric cancer story full of challenges as well as resilience
- Importance of seeing both the system and patient side
- How to bridge research and healthcare system with patient experience, and why?
- Active engagement of patients in everything from knowing their rights in clinic to reach out to others who may help them realize their goals
We cannot thank Suad enough for this very energizing and eye-opening podcast.
Take a look!
Episode 31 – Advocacy
As the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, we are excited to present this podcast to you!
We have had the pleasure of having Stephanie Howlett today! She is one of our most frequent guests, and also a very prolific one!
Stephanie and Sevtap talked about a topic that is dear to their hearts: Advocacy.
- What does advocacy mean to us?
- What do we advocate for?
- How do we advocate?
- What are the upsides of advocacy?
- What are the downsides of advocacy?
- What tips would we give to others about advocacy?
Take a look!
Our new study on pediatric cancers and social and stigma related experiences is now published!
We are very pleased to share that our study on pediatric cancers and social and stigma related experiences is now published: https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/33/8/494
As it is our tradition, we also published a public summary of this study: you can find it here: https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/op-ed-childhood-cancers-nl
For better days ahead!
Episode 30 – Health care and cancer care for transgender and gender diverse individuals
Quinn Jesso and Sydney Knapman from Trans Support NL had a chat with Sevtap Savas on healthcare and cancer care for individualstransgender and gender-diverse, what gender affirming care looks like, what barriers exist in accessing healthcare and cancer care, and more.
Take a look 🙂
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5QxNZFHbC3iDftWGsQ1Uov?si=Cm8vEYJ_Q0aU78J1AHeN8A
For their gender affirming care toolkit, please visit: https://tsnl.org/nl-gender-affirming-care-toolkit/
Episode 29 – Patient voice in cancer
We are pleased to share this podcast with Stephanie Howlett, Judy D. Whitty, Tracy Slaney, and Sevtap Savas on Patient Voice in Cancer: what it means? how it looks? what can be done to further progress it?
Take a look 🙂
What have we learnt by working with public partners?
Hey folks,
I made two presentations as part of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) annual conference – one about the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research and the other about the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee.
We learnt and grew together – both of these presentations paint a picture of different experiences and learning – take a look
Sevtap Savas, PhD. St. John’s, June 15, 2026
proud moments….
This past week was full of joy, pride, and appreciation 🙂
I have received two awards for our work done by my team and patient partners 🙂 What an amazing feeling.
First one was the Innovation Award by the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO): https://www.capo.ca/CAPO-Innovation-Award
The second one was the Seniors of Distinction award by the Department of Seniors, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador – another amazing recognition 🙂 https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2026/exec/0611n03/
Folks, I am happy that our efforts are making an impact. Together, we can do so much more.
Better days ahead.
Sevtap Savas, PhD. St. John’s, June 15, 2026
