Ms. Theresa Marie Underhill, Chief Operating Officer (COO) for
Cancer Care Nova Scotia is a senior executive with experience managing complex organizations and initiating large scale projects to effective completion in all sectors within the health system. Ms Underhill was elected Chair of CAPCA (Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies). In her current role as COO, she directs strategic, operational planning and policy development. In addition to supervising day-to-day operations, she analyzes trends in both the cancer system and the broader health care sector to ensure
CCNS is responsive and appropriate in its programs and activities. She provides national leadership and advice on issues related to cancer control, working closely with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and all provincial cancer agencies.
Theresa Marie brings to this position extensive experience in planning, policy development and program management in many aspects of the health system. Her past professional experiences include work with Health Canada, Atlantic Region, in the areas of policy, planning and intergovernmental relations. Committed to disease prevention, she has also chaired national committees on tobacco control and lifestyle modification. She holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education from Dalhousie University and a Masters in Health Services Administration from the University of Alberta.
Ms. Underhill can be reached at ccns.nshealth.ca
or (902) 473-4637.
Dr. Carman Giacomantonio, a surgical oncology specialist, was appointed Chief Medical Director of Cancer Care Nova Scotia in May 2010.
An associate professor with the Departments of Surgery and Pathology, and microbiology and immunology, Dalhousie University, Dr. Giacomantonio has practiced general surgery and surgical oncology at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, and general surgery at the IWK Health Centre since 1999. As Chair of Cancer Care Nova Scotia’s Surgical Oncology Network from 2005 - 2010, he has improved the quality of surgical care across the province.
Dr. Giacomantonio has a strong track record as a respected leader, educator, researcher and clinician. He received the Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Surgery in 2003 and the Resident Teaching Award, General Surgery, Department of Surgery in 2004.
His clinical interests include: breast cancer, melanoma, gastric cancer, sarcoma and metastatic adenocarcinoma. His research interests are focused in the biological mechanisms of metastases as well as nutrition, metabolism and cancer risk.
In his role as Chief Medical Director for Cancer Care Nova Scotia,
Dr. Giacomantonio is providing clinical leadership and direction to the organization and working closely with district health authorities, physicians and other health-care professionals to continue building partnerships and linkages within the health system and to facilitate an ongoing dialogue of defining and refining the best ways for Cancer Care Nova Scotia to support health professionals in ensuring their patients have access to high quality, standardized and evidence-based care.
Two areas of greater focus include: enhanced data collection and analysis, the foundation for sound decision making and further development and implementation of clinical standards of care. Like a road map, clinical standards of care outline the best route, based on the most recent data, research and clinical practice, for treating a specific cancer.
Dr. Giacomantonio can be reached at cdha.nshealth.ca or (902) 473-6873.