A UCalgary award supports two graduate nursing students at oncology conference in Newfoundland

In celebration of National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 15, we are celebrating the generosity and impact of our philanthropic community on advancing research and student experience and opportunities. 

Thanks to the Jack and Helen Rauch Memorial Endowment Fund, two UCalgary nursing graduate students specializing in oncology nursing had an opportunity to further connect with other Canadian oncology nurses and to improve their professional knowledge in patient engagement and interdisciplinary practice at a national conference in October. 

The Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO/ACIO) holds an annual conference that’s a week of education and collaboration in practice, leadership and research for oncology nurses. This year, it was held Oct. 24 to 27 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.  

John Larmet is currently the executive director of Professional Practice, Learning and Development at Health Services Authority/BC Cancer. He’s also a current Doctor of Nursing (DN) student at UCalgary. Sandip Dhaliwal is a clinical research nurse (hematology) at the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre (ACCCC) and a PhD candidate at UCalgary Nursing.   

Larmet and Dhaliwal are the recipients of awards funded by the Jack and Helen Rauch Memorial Endowment Fund. It was in established in 1980 in memory of the late Jack and Helen Rauch by friends and family. The endowment supports the enhancement of educational opportunities in emotional and physical care of cancer patients.  

We asked Larmet and Dhaliwal to share more about their oncology nursing careers, perspectives on cancer care in BC and Alberta and their experiences in Newfoundland last month.   

What inspired you to go into a nursing career and specifically in cancer care?  

JL: My grandmother was a nurse with the British Army during WW2 and my mother was a certified nursing assistant and worked in paediatrics at the Royal Alex in Edmonton.  I started university attending the Royal Military College in St. Jean, Quebec in engineering and quickly realized that I wanted to work in a people profession helping others.  Why cancer care…I sort of fell into it and have not looked back 15 years later.  

SD: My mum was a nurse in India and though she did not pursue nursing in Canada, she loved being a nurse and spoke highly of it. I followed in her footsteps and found my calling in nursing. I was first exposed to cancer care during my final preceptorship on Unit 57 at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre (now known as Unit 105/119 at ACCCC).  

My patients have taught me so much about grace, tenacity, forgiveness, love, and remaining steadfast in the face of life and death. I can recount all the meaningful moments I have cried with patients, held their hand as they took their last breath and done happy dances with them after they found out they were in remission. Even at times in my career when I questioned where I belonged or considered leaving cancer care, my heart brought me back to it. Thank goodness it did. 

What is the focus of your research and graduate studies at UCalgary Nursing? 

JL: I am focusing on the barriers and facilitators using the CFIR (Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research) framework to determine why an evidenced-based practice tool, specifically the ESAS-r (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised), is not more broadly adopted and used within the organization.   

SD: The focus of my thesis research is on understanding the family dynamics of emerging adults (aged 18-29) diagnosed with blood cancer. Through my clinical practice, I came to realize that when a cancer diagnosis affects emerging adults, they are affected by a sort of double transition, one of emerging adulthood and one of cancer. My hope is to better understand how a cancer diagnosis affects parent-child and sibling dyad roles, boundaries and interactions. My goal is to help health-care professionals bridge an identified gap in knowledge and professional practice in supporting emerging adults diagnosed with blood cancer and their family members with their relational needs and concerns. 

How would you describe the state of cancer care in BC and Alberta? 
JL: Cancer care will affect one in two of the Canadian population, so this work in the field of cancer care, supporting professional practice, patients and families is critical. 

CANO was an excellent opportunity to learn from others across the country to see what exciting work, initiatives, research and leading practices that any (one or other) provinces can learn from. 

SD: The new cancer centre opened in Calgary, Alberta in October 2024 and holds many opportunities for positively changing care. It houses both inpatient and outpatient care, making it the largest cancer centre in Canada. What makes the centre special is the unique integration of cancer research with care and emphasis on bringing “bench to bedside.”  

ACCCC has a designated space on the 2nd floor specifically for Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) care, which I foresee will change the way AYAs experience their cancer and are cared for during their diagnosis. They will have a space to connect with other AYAs in cancer contexts where they have historically felt siloed due to their age. 

What were some highlights and key takeaways for you from the CANO conference?   
JL: I was impressed by the plenary, poster and concurrent sessions but most of all the concurrent sessions where I was able to learn leading practices from other cancer jurisdictions from across the country. The ability to network, make connections and learn from one another was paramount.    

SD: Connecting with students in the doctoral student network and collaborating with clinical nurse specialists from Manitoba and Ontario to re-establish an AYA Oncology special interest group within CANO. Travelling to beautiful St. John’s, Newfoundland for the conference was the cherry on top! 

In my practice, many AYAs with hematologic cancers present in an acute stage requiring immediate attention and conversations about fertility can be forgotten about or complicated by the urgency of treatment and financial expenses. I appreciated engaging in discussions about onco-fertility preservation options and learning how I can advocate for these populations in this space.  

How was the support from the Jack and Helen Rauch Memorial Endowment significant to you? 

JL: Receiving this award is not just a financial aid to me; it is a symbol of belief and encouragement in my aspirations and dreams on working towards completing my doctoral studies in nursing at the University of Calgary. Your investment in my conference attendance and more importantly, my education will have a profound and lasting impact on my academic journey and work with BC Cancer. 

I was able to connect with oncology staff, leaders and difference makers from across the country, pursuing opportunities for personal and professional growth that enrich my educational experience.  

I am committed to maintaining a high standard of academic achievement and making the most of the opportunities afforded to me to make a difference in the care and treatment for oncology patients across the province and nationally.   

SD: The knowledge I garnered and connections I made from attendance at the conference will shape my career and research moving forward, which would not have been possible without support from the Jack and Helen Rauch Memorial Endowment. Since the conference was held on the East Coast, attending it required fiscal resources, and before receiving the award, I did not believe I could attend. 

The award provided me with an opportunity to network, collaborate and learn from fellow researchers in my field.  

What’s next for you in your career? 

JL: Completing my doctoral studies. 

SD: I hope to complete my PhD thesis and utilize it to inform psychosocial oncology care for emerging adults and their families. In the long-term, I hope to continue to contribute to research and practice at the intersection of psychosocial oncology and emerging adulthood.  

John Larmet, Executive Director of Professional Practice, Learning and Development, Health Services Authority/BC Cancer 

John holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Saskatchewan. He has worked in a variety of clinical settings including child, adolescent, adult and forensic psychiatry, trauma and plastics surgery and burn units. He has broad operational leadership experience spanning more than 20 years leading various departments, including clinical, surgical, emergency and ambulatory care units in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. His areas of interest are operational planning and delivery, emergency management, quality improvement, process design, clinical research and patient and family experience.  

He has participated in various collaborative research projects through the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business, Operations Research, Health Quality Council of Saskatchewan – Provincial Breast Health initiative and the Saskatchewan Provincial Emergency Department Patient Experience survey, Mercuri Research group, with the School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders, holds a Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation, has completed a Health Care Canada Excellence (EXTRA-fellowship) and is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing program at the University of Calgary. 

Sandip Dhaliwal, clinical research nurse (hematology), Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre  

Sandip graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Calgary in 2016. She did her final preceptorship on Unit 57, an inpatient hematology and blood and marrow transplant unit at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and continued to work there after graduation.  

Sandip was recently featured in Avenue Calgary magazine as one of 18 trailblazers shaping the future of cancer treatment, research and care. She was nominated for this feature by her supervisor, Dr. Nancy Moules, as a part of the OWN.CANCER campaign for the opening of the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre (ACCCC) in Calgary, Alberta. 

Sandip is currently a clinical research nurse for hematology at the new centre. She manages each patient on a clinical trial on a case-by-case basis, requiring advanced knowledge of cancer pathophysiology, diagnostic imaging modalities, and pharmacology. Her role includes screening patients for trials, triaging/assessing patients, reporting adverse events, and managing side effects of treatments with attention to underlying comorbidities. 

Sandip is also currently a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary. Her doctoral research, supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council doctoral award and her supervisor Dr. Nancy Moules, is aimed at better understanding how a diagnosis of blood cancer affects the parent-child and sibling relationships of emerging adults.