Public Engagement – Strength in Community

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

October 17, 2026October 17, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: #podcasting, Advocacy, Canada, cancer, cancer care for transgender, chosen family, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, sexual and gender diversity, St. John's Leave a comment

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!

September 27, 2026September 27, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: academic partners, Advocacy, Canada, cancer, childhood cancers, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, patient leaders, patient partners, pediatric cancer, Podcast, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, St. John's Leave a comment

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!

September 17, 2026September 17, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Advocacy, cancer, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, patient partners, Podcast, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, science communication, St. John's Leave a comment

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/

August 17, 2026August 17, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Advocacy, Canada, cancer, Cancer Care, cancer care for transgender, gender-affirming care, gender-diverse, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, St. John's, Trans Support NL, transgender Leave a comment

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 🙂

August 15, 2026August 15, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Advocacy, Atlantic Canada, Canada, cancer, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Patient voice, Podcast, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, St. John's Leave a comment

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

June 15, 2026June 15, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: ACC PAC (Atlantic Cancer Consortium_Patient Advisory Committee), Blog, Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Advocacy, Canada, cancer, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, patient partnerships, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach Leave a comment

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

June 15, 2026June 15, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: Blog, Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Advocacy, cancer, community contributions, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, Recognitions, St. John's Leave a comment

We are celebrating our 5th year together!

The Public Interest Group on Cancer is proud to celebrate its 5th anniversary.

We have been active since May 2021, and undersigned impact public engagement and advocacy activities – take a look:

May 4, 2026May 4, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Advocacy, Canada, cancer, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, Public Outreach, St. John's Leave a comment

The Public Interest Group on Cancer invites interested folks to their study!

***Recruitment has started***

The Public Interest Group on Cancer invites interested folks to their study!

PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY:
This study aims to understand how public members and stakeholders envision cancer and cancer care in the future.

The interested individuals will attend a townhall. The townhalls will bring together members of the public, the Public Interest Group on Cancer, and other stakeholders. We plan ideally up to 3 townhalls. At least one of these townhalls is planned to be in-person in St. John’s.

At the end of this project, we anticipate creating list of public priorities, recommendations for the cancer care program, research suggestions for researchers, and a draft vision statement for cancer care. The townhall findings will also help us design a new study.

ELIGIBILITY:
If you are 19 years or older and living in NL, you are eligible to take part in this study.

To learn more about this study and register for a townhall, please click on this link: https://mun.yul1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5upDCP9BFxgctRc

Thank you.

Sept 28, 2026.

March 18, 2026September 28, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: Public Interest Group on Cancer ResearchTags: Advocacy, Canada, cancer, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Public Engagement, Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, St. John's Leave a comment

The 2nd scholarly manuscript by the ACC PAC is now published

We are pleased to note that we – the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee (ACC PAC) – have just published our 2nd scholarly paper!! 💓

In this paper, we describe our experience with organizing a Public Conference on Precision Medicine (March 15, 2025) for Atlantic Canadians, self-reflections, feedback received and lessons learnt for future public partnerships and conferences

Take a look!!

What an impressive track-record – The ACC PAC was formed in Jan 2024, and this is our second manuscript peer-reviewed and published freely available to global audience

Congrats everyone – hope more to come!

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21501319261420572

February 19, 2026February 19, 2026 by sevtapsavas Categories: ACC PAC (Atlantic Cancer Consortium_Patient Advisory Committee), BlogTags: Advocacy, advocate, Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee, Canada, cancer, Marathon of Hope, Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Patient advisors, PEI, Public Engagement Leave a comment

Tag: Public Engagement

Episode 33 – Sexual and gender diverse individuals, and cancer care

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Episode 32 – Pediatric cancers and evolution of a patient leader

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Episode 31 – Advocacy

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Episode 30 – Health care and cancer care for transgender and gender diverse individuals

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Episode 29 – Patient voice in cancer

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What have we learnt by working with public partners?

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proud moments….

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We are celebrating our 5th year together!

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The Public Interest Group on Cancer invites interested folks to their study!

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The 2nd scholarly manuscript by the ACC PAC is now published

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