Cancer Journey
Head, Oncology Nursing and Co-Director, Integrated Psychosocial, Supportive and Palliative Care Program, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre
Margaret Fitch chairs the Partnership’s Cancer Journey Advisory Group (formerly the Rebalance Focus Action Group). She is also Co-Director of the Integrated Psychosocial, Supportive and Palliative Care Program, head of Oncology Nursing, and an oncology nurse researcher at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre in Toronto. She is a professor in, and an associate member of, the School of Graduate Studies, and an associate professor of the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Fitch has received research grants to study numerous subjects, including fatigue measurement and management; patient experiences with cognitive changes; supportive care for, and changing roles of, patients with breast cancer; reducing psychosocial distress in cancer patients; evaluating patient education outcomes; identifying needs of male partners and children of women with breast cancer; evaluating supportive care for cancer patients; and perspectives on ovarian cancer in Canada.
Dr. Fitch has contributed over 150 articles and abstracts to peer-reviewed journals. She serves on the editorial board of the European Journal of Oncology Nursing and the review board of the Australian Journal of Nursing Research. She has presented at conferences in Canada and internationally.
Dr. Fitch has served in leadership positions and holds membership in the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, the Canadian Lung Association, the Ontario Respiratory Care Society, the Ontario Oncology Association for Health Professionals, the Canadian Association for Nurses in Oncology and the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology. She is a past president of the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care.
Dr. Fitch has served as a member of the National Cancer Institute of Canada’s board of directors and is currently serving as a member of the advisory board for the Institute of Cancer Research, Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Among the many awards Dr. Fitch has received are the Oncology Nursing Society International Award for Contributions in Cancer Care (2006), Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (2005) and Award of Excellence, Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (2004). She was recognized as a visiting professor to São Paulo University Faculty of Nursing (2007), Scholar in Residence, Kingston General Hospital/Queen’s University (2002) and Eminent Scientist of the Year, International Research Promotion Council (2000). She has received the Schering Lectureship, Canadian Oncology Nurses’ Association (1997) and the Award of Excellence in Research, Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology/Pharmacia (1995).
Dr. Fitch was a member of the Advisory Council on Cancer Control.
