In Memory of Pamela Catton — Cancer Leader, Educator and Visionary

An educator and a mentor to a generation of radiation oncologists passed away on December 23, 2014. Pamela Catton was a Professor and Vice-Chair of Education at the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto and a Radiation Oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. She bravely fought the same disease that she spent her career treating and researching.

Catharine Whiteside, former Dean of U of T’s Faculty of Medicine, remembers Catton as “a beacon of innovation in health professions education at the University of Toronto, and across Canada. Her learner-centred approach was rooted in her deep passion for education excellence and genuine concern for every student and trainee.”

Catton, who hailed from a family of radiation oncologists, was an internationally renowned educator. She developed a Bachelors program in Medical Radiation Sciences at U of T and the Michener Institute, which has trained over 1,500 radiation therapists, imaging technologists and nuclear medicine technologists — many of whom are leaders across Canada. She was a strong supporter of interprofessional education, and she helped create the Clinical Specialist Radiation Therapist role, which ten cancer centres across Ontario have adopted.

“Pam was an inspiring mentor, who believed in everyone’s capacity to thrive in our academic environment,” says Professor Fei-Fei Liu, Professor and Chair in the Department of Radiation Oncology at U of T and Chief of Princess Margaret’s Radiation Medicine Program. “She would pour her entire energy and soul into ensuring that all trainees and junior faculties achieve success. She has mentored and influenced an entire generation of radiation medicine professionals, who are now leading their own programs nationally and internationally.”

Catton made many contributions to the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO). She was instrumental in the creation of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation — the philanthropic arm of CARO — and served as its Board Chair from 2011 to 2013. At the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Catton established ELLICSR: Health, Wellness, and Cancer Survivorship Centre, a pioneering centre that empowers cancer patients to improve their health and well-being.

Across Canada, radiation medicine professionals learned from Catton. “Pam Catton was not only my mentor, leader and inspiration,” says Mary Hooey, who worked with Catton at Princess Margaret. “She was my friend. Her guidance and encouragement always inspired me to do better.”

Catton’s dedication to the field was celebrated through many awards, including the 2014 Margaret Hay Edwards Achievement Medal from the American Association for Cancer Education. Also in 2014, Radiation Oncology Professor and former Chair Mary Gospodarowicz, who is also the Medical Director of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, hosted an event to celebrate Catton’s career and legacy.

“Pamela Catton was a ‘force majeure’ in health education, patient education and in cancer care,” says Sarita Verma, Associate Vice-Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions, and Special Advisor to the Dean at the Faculty of Medicine.

“She was well known as a leader and energetic change-maker in postgraduate education. Pam was an inspiration and a role model for me. She was the teacher and leader who successfully combined humour with warmth and strength of purpose. She will be missed by all of us and especially in postgraduate medical education — we will benefit for a long time from her vision and her great wisdom.”

Catton is survived by her husband Dr. Stephen Witchell, as well as immediate and extended family.