This year’s $50K TFC research grant was awarded to Dr.  Annie Sawka for her project entitled “Physicians’ Opinions on Active Surveillance and Minimally Invasive Ablative Treatment of Small, Low Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Global Cross-sectional Survey”.   The primary objective is to conduct an online survey and describe, according to global region, physicians’ preferences with respect to management of small, low risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer (PTC).

Dr.  Annie Sawka is a Professor in the Department of Medicine (Endocrinology) and an Affiliate Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute.   She is the current Editor-in-Chief, of the journal, Thyroid, which is the flagship journal of the American Thyroid Association.  She is also the primary investigator on an ongoing pan-Canadian study offering patients the choice of active surveillance or surgery for primary management of small, low risk PTC.

The co-investigator on this application is Dr. Heather Lochnan, an expert in thyroid cancer, is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and past president of the CSEM.  Dr. Lochnan, as Assistant Dean of Continuing Professional Development brings, expertise in best practices for physician education and knowledge translation.