Pathfinder’s Award Celebration
WHEN: Tuesday, December 11, 7:00pm - 9pm
WHERE: The Kerby Centre 1133 t Ave SW Calgary, Alberta
COST: Open to the public and free to attend

The Pathfinder Award is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the education, research, treatment, and support for men and their families dealing with prostate cancer.

Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed is our 2018 Pathfinder's Award recipient. She is a Professor in Health and Exercise Psychology in the Faculty of Kinesiology, and a Professor in the Department of Oncology in the CUMMING SCHOOL of Medicine, University of Calgary. She is a Research Associate with the Department of Psychosocial Resources at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.

Much of her work deals with physical activity for cancer survivors, the psychological factors that they experience, and focuses on improving their quality of life.

Nicole leads the Health and Wellness Lab, which focuses on delivering community-based, 12-week physical activity programs. For prostate cancer survivors and their families, this has included the TrueNTH Lifestyle Management Program.

Dr. Culos-Reed along with Dr. Lauren Capozzi, also founded the Thrive Centre, where many of the research programs begin. This currently includes the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE), program, which is offered at the Thrive Centre, Wellspring Calgary, City of Calgary Recreation Centres, and the YMCA.

Nicole is no stranger to PROSTAID Calgary having given several presentations to our meetings. Many of our members are beneficiaries of Nicole’s programs for which we are most grateful.

The 2017 recipient is renowned Calgary oncologist Dr. Dean Ruether. Dr. Ruether is a Medical Oncologist at the TBCC who has worked in the GU program for over 20 years. His undergraduate training was done at the University of Calgary and medical school completed at the University of Alberta.  Post graduate training in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology was completed at the University of Calgary with focus on Clinical Trials in GU, Endocrine and Neuroendcrine malignancies and Patient Education. He is an active member of the Medical Oncology training program, serves on a number of administrative capacities, as the Lead for local tumour group teams and is responsible for bringing clinical trials for the Endocrine and NET and Prostate patient population in Alberta.  Dr. Ruether is also the current Medical Director, Community Oncology, CancerCare Alberta for 4 regional and 11 community sites whose directive is to bring cancer care closer to home for Albertans.

In previous leadership roles for the local and provincial GU and Endocrine & Neuroendocrine programs in Alberta, Dr Ruether played a pivotal role in bringing clinical trials for patients affected by GU and Endocrine malignancies to Alberta.  Results of some of these trials have changed practice in both of these subspecialty areas of oncology. Dr Ruether has also been involved in a series of clinical trials looking at the benefits of providing consultation recordings to patients affected by GU, Breast, CNS and Neuroendocrine tumors.  Results of these trials have been instrumental in establishing a consultation recording service in Cancer Care Manitoba and work to establish a similar service as part of standard operations is underway here in Alberta. As the Medical Director for Community Oncology, Dr. Ruether has been successful in obtaining funding from the ACF to support the development of the necessary clinical infrastructure needed to provide access to clinical trials in 3 of our 4 regional cancer centers. Dr. Ruether has been involved as the local principal investigator in multiple phase 2 and 3 trials in the GU, Endocrine, Breast, and malignant hematology as well as a phase 1 trial in bladder cancer over a career spanning 22 years and is coauthor on more than 50 peer reviewed publications that have come out of participation in clinical research trials.

Dr. Ruether was awarded at the Kerby Centre in Calgary on December 10th. A large gathering at the venue and abroad via Skype were all there to congratulate a gracious and deserving winner.

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This year, we are proud to announce that Dr. Siraj Husain is the 2016 Pathfinder Award recipient. Dr. Husain has demonstrated the highest level of excellence and leadership, and contributed significant advancements in prostate cancer research and treatment.

Dr. Husain was awarded at the Kerby Centre in Calgary on December 15th. With special presentations from PROSTAID President Dave Lunn and Prostate Cancer survivor and Calgary meteorologist David Spence.

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The 2015 recipient is renowned Calgary urologist Dr. Bryan Donnelly. Dr. Donnelly is the Co-founder of the Prostate Cancer Centre and a true champion for men’s health and PSA Testing.

Dr. Donnelly was awarded at the Prostate Cancer Centre in Calgary on December 8th. It was a packed house and the winner was more than gracious as the crowd cheered during his acceptance.

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