Tamara Gimon

• Surgical, oncological and quality of life outcomes after Total Neoadjuvant Treatment (TNT) for locally advanced rectal cancer in Alberta

I have shown a strong commitment to oncology focused research in Alberta in my past as a surgical trainee and now as a faculty member. As a surgical resident in Calgary I worked alongside colorectal surgeons and pathologists on a project that highlighted the lack of complete reporting of histopathologic risk factors for malignant colorectal polyps in Alberta. These study findings were the driving force leading to the development of a province-wide synoptic reporting system for malignant colorectal polyps in the province of Alberta. During my colorectal fellowship my main research interest included examining the surgical outcomes after total neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer. While completing this work I concurrently completed a Master’s of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR) at the University of Toronto. Now as a new faculty member in Calgary, I have recently secured funding via the Meredith Campbell Helgeson Research Award in Colon Cancer and Surgical Oncology Endowment ($21,800) to continue research that focuses on the surgical, oncologic and quality of life outcomes of patients management with total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) for locally advanced rectal cancer in Alberta. This project will be a collaboration between colorectal surgery, medical oncology and radiation oncology. Our research goal is to evaluate the outcomes of patients with rectal cancer currently managed with TNT in Alberta in order to better inform local and provincial guidelines for rectal cancer management.