Expanding access to high-quality cancer care requires more than infrastructure. It depends on highly trained specialists, exposure to advanced technologies, and global collaboration that allows expertise to reach communities where it is needed most.
The Shah Family Foundation is proud to support the Shah Family Foundation Fellowship in Radiation Oncology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, with a commitment of more than $800,000 over five years. This investment supports a specialized clinical and research fellowship in central nervous system (CNS) and spine radiation oncology, training five radiation oncologists from India, one per year, at one of Canada’s leading cancer centres.
The fellowship is based at Sunnybrook’s Odette Cancer Centre and affiliated with the University of Toronto’s Department of Radiation Oncology, a globally recognized training environment. Under the leadership of Dr. Arjun Sahgal, Chief of Radiation Oncology at Sunnybrook and an internationally recognized expert in CNS and spine tumours, fellows receive advanced, hands-on training in the treatment of complex cancers.
Each fellow completes a one-year clinical and academic fellowship, gaining experience with Gamma Knife radiosurgery, spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and primary brain tumour radiation. Fellows also train on the world’s first MR linear accelerator (MR-Linac) for CNS tumours, enabling highly precise, image-guided treatments that are redefining standards of care.
Research and academic development are central to the program. Each fellow undertakes a dedicated research project, with opportunities to contribute to studies on radiosurgery outcomes, MR-Linac applications, and clinical trials. Fellows are expected to complete at least one manuscript and present their work at a national scientific meeting, strengthening research capacity and academic leadership upon their return home.
Designed for global impact, the fellowship partners with the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India to identify candidates positioned to apply their training within the Indian healthcare system. Graduates of Dr. Sahgal’s previous programs have gone on to establish CNS and spine oncology practices and academic careers, directly strengthening cancer care capacity in their home countries.
At the Shah Family Foundation, improving access to health care means investing in education, knowledge exchange, and the people who deliver care. Through this fellowship with Sunnybrook, the Foundation is proud to support a model that builds expertise, fosters international collaboration, and contributes to better cancer outcomes worldwide.
