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Meet the team

Ellen WarnerEllen Warner

I’m Ellen Warner, a medical oncologist, founder and director of PYNK. For my first 20 years in practice I was totally oblivious to the unique medical and emotional issues young breast cancer patients face. In fact I thought they were lucky to be getting breast cancer when they were still healthy enough to get through the tough treatments! After my eyes were finally opened at a conference I attended, I was determined to gather together a team of passionate experts from all the relevant health disciplines to create a special program at Sunnybrook for young women with breast cancer - PYNK. Our major goal was to ensure that these young women would get the best possible medical care and maximum emotional support. We also hoped to enlighten oncology health care providers outside Sunnybrook with lectures and articles about how to better treat their young breast cancer patients. And, finally, we wanted to facilitate research specially focusing on young patients, so that (until we learn how to prevent breast cancer completely!), young women diagnosed with breast cancer in the future will have a better chance of cure, and fewer long-term treatment-related side effects. I'm thrilled that PYNK has made great strides in achieving all these goals!

Sandy VuongSandy Vuong

Hello, my name is Sandy Vuong and I am a Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA). Training and experience in oncology have familiarized me with the complexities of cancer and its treatments. I believe in a multidisciplinary approach to medicine, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive the best possible care. My focus in PYNK is on helping young women with breast cancer navigate through their treatment journey, and personalizing care that is tailored to their unique needs and goals. This includes addressing side effects of treatment, helping manage treatment-induced menopause, and providing education on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle during and after treatment. I connect patients with fertility counselling or other resources, and support them as they balance their healthcare with their personal and family life. I am honoured to be a part of the journey for young women with breast cancer, and hope to be someone patients can feel comfortable approaching about any questions and concerns.

Brooke MacDonaldBrooke MacDonald

My name is Brooke MacDonald and I am a Registered Social Worker (RSW). I completed my Masters of Social Work at the University of Toronto and have been working at Sunnybrook in the Odette Cancer Program since 2018. My role as a social worker in the PYNK program is to support patients both practically and emotionally. I provide assistance by connecting patients and families with community resources such as income support programs, transportation options, home care and community groups. I also provide emotional support and supportive counselling as needed. I work closely with the rest of the team to ensure our patient’s needs are addressed. My goal while working with PYNK patients and families is to be a source of ongoing support from diagnosis to post treatment recovery.

Kasia JerzakKasia Jerzak

I’m Kasia Jerzak, a medical oncologist at Sunnybrook. I was introduced to the breast cancer program for young women during my medical oncology fellowship training. I had the opportunity to work in the PYNK clinic and learn about the unique aspects of care for young women with breast cancer first-hand from Dr. Warner. Having an interest in translational cancer research, I decided to study the unique biological features of breast cancer in young women, particularly those who are diagnosed during pregnancy or within 24 months post-partum. With the mentorship of Dr. Warner and collaboration of Dr. Nofech-Mozes (staff pathologist and Director of Research in the Department of Anatomic Pathology at Sunnybrook), I helped to launch a research study that aims to measure hormonal and immune markers in the breast cancer tissue of women aged 40 and under. With further funding, we hope to perform state-of-the-art genetic analyses, and ultimately help identify innovative new treatments for young women battling breast cancer. Hence, I hope to contribute to PYNK not only as a medical oncologist, but also as a researcher to help improve the long-term outcomes of young women with breast cancer.

Karen FergusKaren Fergus

My name is Karen Fergus and I am a clinical psychologist with the Patient and Family Support team at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre and a professor of clinical psychology at York University. My research focuses on helping individuals improve their ability to cope with cancer in general and breast cancer in particular. My clinical practice and research with young women with breast cancer has helped me understand the unique psychosocial challenges they face as well as the very limited support services available to them. To address this gap, I founded the Young Women with Breast Cancer Peer Navigation and Support Program (2006-2010), a collaboration between the Odette Cancer Centre, Rethink Breast Cancer, Wellspring and Willow Breast Cancer Support. The program helped match newly diagnosed young women with trained volunteers with similar experience. Since becoming an executive member of PYNK, I have been involved in developing a number of online support programs for people affected by cancer and their families.

YoninaYonina Juni

I'm Yonina Juni. I joined PYNK in 2020 as a research assistant, to support various studies under Dr. Warner that specially focus on young women. In addition to PYNK, I am also the Sunnybrook coordinator for RUBY, a pan-Canadian program that is recruiting 1,500 young breast cancer patients and collecting clinical and psychological data. Having friends and relatives who have experienced breast cancer, and as a woman with an interest in fertility, I am happy to have the opportunity to make a difference as a friendly face on the journey. I hope to facilitate the growth of our research program, provide accurate and complete data, and support our PYNK partners throughout their participation in our research studies, and beyond.​

Alexandra LandsbergAlexandra Landsberg

I am Alexandra Landsberg. I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 27, in 1996, over 21 years ago. I met Dr. Warner four years after my diagnosis, when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and wanted a second opinion. We could see that Dr. Warner cared about her patient's well being and that meant both quality of life and quantity of life. We knew she was the right person to help us both. I switched hospitals and oncologists and she has been our oncologist since that first meeting. A few years later, Dr. Warner asked for my thoughts on a program like PYNK. I remember crying and wishing so much that something like that had been available to me. I was not fortunate enough to have a program like PYNK and that was so difficult as I was so young. I immediately jumped at the chance to help her make PYNK a reality as I wanted to help other young women and try and avoid what I had gone through. Having a program like PYNK gives women with breast cancer the message that there are many others like them and that the PYNK team is aware that these women have special needs based on their stage in life. I have been part of the PYNK executive since 2005 when we started our monthly meetings and one of my missions is to fundraise so that we can continue to help young women cope with the devastating diagnosis. I am currently working on my third fundraiser for PYNK, a second major joint fundraiser with Na’amat Canada Toronto, and am privileged to be part of the PYNK team.

Shelley McGirrShelley McGirr

PYNK supporter and member of the Sunnybrook Foundation Board (2013-2019). Almost 20 years ago, I was treated for breast cancer at the Odette Cancer Centre. Throughout my numerous chemotherapy and radiation treatments, I met many other women travelling a similar path. I was particularly touched by a number of young women I met through this time. These young women faced unique challenges and worries in addition to their treatment. I’ll never forget a young mom sitting waiting for her chemo treatment. She had lost her hair and was there waiting with two young twin babies, who also appeared bald. She was juggling them on her knee with help from her mother as she waited for her turn in the chemo chair. She explained to me that her husband worked construction and just couldn’t take any more time off work so this was the best arrangement she could come up with for that day. That young mother has no idea of the impact she had on me. When Dr Warner introduced the PYNK project, her vision resonated with me. And her passion for finding a way to address the unique needs of young women with breast cancer was contagious. I believe PYNK provides important resources and support to these young women and their families as well as leadership and participation in important research and clinical trials. I am forever grateful for the care I received at Sunnybrook and I am so delighted to be a supporter of PYNK.

ReaRea Lawee

My name is Rea Lawee. I am a wife and a mother to three beautiful children. As a breast cancer survivor I am a thriver and an advocate. I know firsthand the impact a cancer diagnosis can have; it affects you physically, emotionally and socially. I can attest that all cancer patients and their families deserve a strong network of support, easily accessible resources as well as a safe place to share their experiences, fears and emotions. Over the past 5 years, I have been actively fundraising to help raise awareness and vital funds for breast cancer research. This past October, I launched 'Rea’s Survive and Thrive for PYNK' to help young women with breast cancer thrive and flourish. I intend to make this a yearly, FUN filled, high ENERGY event! I am truly honored to be a part of the PYNK team and to fulfill my passion to help others in any way I can.