At just 15 years old, Vinesha Ramasamy faced a diagnosis that would change her life: a rare and aggressive form of high-grade osteosarcoma throughout an entire leg. Years earlier, she and her family had overcome what they thought was the biggest battle of their lives—fleeing Sri Lanka’s genocide against their oppressed Tamil Eelam indigenous people group.

Vinesha’s journey through cancer treatment, recurrence, survivorship and chronic illness has been anything but straightforward, continually marked by having to endure and survive a healthcare system that dismissed her intersectional identity and worked against her. Although her journey has brought about much trauma and limitation, Vinesha is reclaiming her voice to advocate for the many other patients and families like hers who fall between the gaps.

This session offers a deeply personal look at Vinesha’s resilience, the challenges she overcame, and the vital role that envisioning (im)possible futures has played in her survival. Through her story, we’ll explore the human side of cancer care and the profound impact that centring diverse perspectives in our lives, in our work, and in our healthcare ecosystem can have on a young life.

Join us to hear a glimpse of Vinesha’s moving journey and reflect on the wisdom and hope in diverse lived experience. Let that be our guide to mutual flourishing.

Sixty years ago, a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was a considered an incurable disease. Thanks to cytotoxic chemotherapy, cure rates have soared to 85%—a remarkable achievement, but one that has plateaued. Now, groundbreaking advances in immunotherapy are pushing the boundaries even further. This session explores how these innovations are not only improving survival rates but also transforming the treatment landscape to minimize both short- and long-term toxicities. Join us to discover how the next generation of ALL therapy is being defined today.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the historical development of contemporary ALL therapy and its current limitations.
• Identify genetic and response-based factors that influence prognosis and therapeutic decisions in ALL.
• Explain current applications and future potential of immunotherapy in the treatment of ALL.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) presents a wide spectrum of clinical challenges, especially in complex or atypical cases. This dynamic session will have leading ALL experts from across North America delving into the nuances of diagnosing and managing difficult ALL scenarios. Through an interactive review of real-world cases, participants will explore diverse presentations, diagnostic dilemmas, and evolving treatment strategies. Whether you're refining your clinical approach or seeking insights into emerging therapies, this session offers a valuable opportunity to enhance your decision-making in the face of ALL’s toughest dilemmas.

Learning Objectives

• Revise the diagnosis of difficult cases of acute lmyphoblastic leukemia, review challenges in management of difficult cases of ALL.

This presentation will include breakout groups where participants can collaborate to explore the unique medical and psychosocial needs of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patients. Together, they will examine practical strategies to support AYAs throughout treatment and into survivorship. By the end of the session, participants will have a strong foundation of knowledge to begin developing an AYA oncology program within their own centers.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• List the unique medical and psychosocial needs of AYAs.
• Explore strategies to improve communication, support, and continuity of care.
• Describe foundational steps for developing an AYA oncology program.

This introductory workshop equips pediatric oncology health care team members with a foundational understanding of quality improvement (QI). Participants will explore the role of QI in enhancing care and safety within pediatric oncology and gain hands-on experience applying practical tools to analyze and address real-world challenges

Learning Objectives

• Explain how to identify a QI project, learn and the steps to start a project in QI.

What is it like to be a family navigating pediatric cancer, where life-changing decisions are often made without your input? In this heartfelt session, childhood cancer survivor Oliver Acosta-Pickering and his mother, Dawn Pickering, share their powerful journey and advocate for a more inclusive, family-centered approach to care. Through their lived experience, they emphasize the importance of asking both children and parents how they feel, what they need, and recognizing their ability to contribute meaningfully to care decisions. Their story offers valuable insights into how listening, empathy, and empowerment can transform the treatment experience for young patients and their families.

This session will inspire healthcare professionals and educators to strengthen psychosocial support, foster trust and dignity, and elevate the voices of young patients and their families, ultimately transforming the treatment experience for children and families alike.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the importance of engaging pediatric patients in treatment discussions by understanding how listening to their perspectives can improve trust, empowerment, and the overall care experience.
• Identify strategies to integrate children’s voices and psychosocial supports into cancer care in order to promote better emotional well-being and treatment outcomes.

Caring for children with cancer at the end of life presents profound emotional and clinical challenges for multidisciplinary teams. This interactive session uses a compelling case study and elements of serious games to explore the complexities of collaborative decision-making and compassionate care. Participants will gain deeper insight into team dynamics and walk away with practical strategies to support patients, families, and each other during the most critical moments of care.

At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

• List strategies for navigating difficult conversations at the end of life in pediatric oncology settings.
• Employ techniques to support patients experiencing dyspnea.
• Demonstrate preparedness for managing a terminal bleed.

Children undergoing and following cancer treatment face unique challenges in maintaining immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases. This session will highlight recent developments in pediatric immunization protocols during and after cancer therapy.

Learning Objectives

• To review the measles outbreak and new post-exposure prophylaxis recommendations.
• To summarize other recent vaccine developments relevant for children with cancer

Learn about up-to-date research in pediatric oncology

Learning Objectives

• Analyze up to date research in pediatric oncology.

This presentation explores the urgent need to strengthen care delivery for children receiving blinatumomab, drawing on caregiver experiences and clinical insights. We will highlight both the promise of improved outcomes, and the real-world challenges families face in managing complex at-home infusions. Key next steps for research, education, and system-level support will be outlined to ensure equitable, high-quality care across pediatric oncology settings.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the unique challenges and facilitators of home- and outpatient-based blinatumomab delivery for children with leukemia, based on caregiver and clinical perspectives.
• Recognize the urgent system-level and educational gaps that impact the quality, safety, and equity of blinatumomab care delivery in pediatric oncology.
• Identify practical strategies and next steps to strengthen caregiver preparation, interdisciplinary support, and institutional infrastructure for blinatumomab administration.
• Integrate lessons learned from caregiver experiences into clinical practice, research design, and policy development to optimize outcomes for children and families.

This session offers a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of central nervous system (CNS) embryonal brain tumors (EBTs) in young children, highlighting both historical and ongoing therapeutic challenges. Attendees will gain insight into the evolution of treatment approaches and the complexities that continue to shape clinical decision-making today. The session will also introduce “DECRYPT Babybrain”, a Canadian-led clinical trial designed to address key gaps in care and improve outcomes for this vulnerable population. Join us for a forward-looking discussion on innovation, collaboration, and the future of pediatric neuro-oncology.

Learning Objectives

• To discuss the current epidemiologic and molecular landscape of young child central nervous system embryonal brain tumours (CNS EBTs).
• To describe the current therapies and challenges for very young children with CNS EBTs.
• To review the objectives and hopeful impact of the Canadian clinical trial for young child CNS EBT: DECRYPT Babybrain.

Learn about up-to-date research in pediatric oncology

Learning Objectives

• Analyze up to date research in pediatric oncology.

Dr. Michael Kaufmann. the author of Drugs, Lies, Docs: A doctor’s memoir of addiction recovery and more, will use his personal experiences as a physician in distress and his role as an addiction medicine physician and founding Director of the Physician Health Program of the Ontario Medical Association to discuss how to deal with a colleague in distress.

Learning Objectives

• Identify and intervene in hidden struggles of addiction among health care colleagues
• advocate for health care provider wellbeing by embracing vulnerability and supporting access to peer support pathways for recovery

Join us for a dynamic and collaborative round table session where professionals from across the pediatric oncology spectrum come together to candidly explore the challenges they face in their roles and share diverse, practical strategies for navigating them. Through facilitated discussion and peer exchange, participants will gain insight into the realities of others in their profession, uncover common themes, and explore innovative approaches to problem-solving. Whether you're navigating resource constraints, or complex care coordination, this session offers a space to learn, reflect, and connect.

Learning Objectives

• Learn about challenges faced by others in your profession and different management strategies.

Hospitalization and cancer treatment can be deeply distressing experiences for children and youth. This collaborative session explores how trauma-informed principles can be applied in pediatric care to recognize, prevent, and respond to potentially traumatic medical events. Attendees will gain actionable strategies and interventions designed to support emotional safety and resilience in young patients—empowering healthcare professionals and educators to make a meaningful difference during some of life’s most challenging moments.

Learning Objectives

• Define and assess for trauma symptoms in pediatric oncology population.
• Explain the principles of trauma informed care.
• Relate the principles of trauma informed care to concrete interventions during procedural supports.

Inspired by the format of Taylor Swift’s iconic ERAs Tour, this dynamic and creative session takes attendees on a journey through the evolution of Wilms Tumor care—from its initial discovery to groundbreaking treatments and the development of clinical trials that have dramatically improved patient outcomes. Each "ERA" highlights key milestones in research and care, brought to life with embedded audio clips that enhance engagement and reinforce learning. This session promises to be both informative and entertaining, offering a fresh perspective on the history and future of Wilms Tumor treatment.

At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of Wilms Tumor epidemiology and clinical presentation to guide surveillance and diagnostic evaluation for children at risk due to genetic syndromes or presenting with relevant signs and symptoms.
• Describe the evolution of Wilms Tumor treatment, from initial discoveries to current standard-of-care therapies and explain how risk stratification has shaped clinical trial development.
• Evaluate prognostic data and its integration into the upcoming Children’s Oncology Group protocol for risk-stratified treatment of Stage I–IV Favorable Histology Wilms Tumor.

This presentation will include breakout groups where participants can collaborate to explore the unique medical and psychosocial needs of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patients. Together, they will examine practical strategies to support AYAs throughout treatment and into survivorship. By the end of the session, participants will have a strong foundation of knowledge to begin developing an AYA oncology program within their own centers.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• List the unique medical and psychosocial needs of AYAs.
• Explore strategies to improve communication, support, and continuity of care.
• Describe foundational steps for developing an AYA oncology program.

This introductory workshop equips pediatric oncology health care team members with a foundational understanding of quality improvement (QI). Participants will explore the role of QI in enhancing care and safety within pediatric oncology and gain hands-on experience applying practical tools to analyze and address real-world challenges.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how to identify a QI project, learn and the steps to start a project in QI.

Starting a career in pediatric oncology comes with unique challenges and opportunities. This session offers practical insights and strategies for early-career professionals, including fellows and young investigators, to thrive in this demanding yet rewarding field. Learn from experienced voices about overcoming early hurdles, finding mentorship, and shaping a fulfilling career path in pediatric oncology.

Learning Objectives

• Learn about challenges faced in early career as a pediatric oncologist, learn strategies to succeed in a career in pediatric oncology.

Caring for children with cancer at the end of life presents profound emotional and clinical challenges for multidisciplinary teams. This interactive session uses a compelling case study and elements of serious games to explore the complexities of collaborative decision-making and compassionate care. Participants will gain deeper insight into team dynamics and walk away with practical strategies to support patients, families, and each other during the most critical moments of care.

At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

• List strategies for navigating difficult conversations at the end of life in pediatric oncology settings.
• Employ techniques to support patients experiencing dyspnea.
• Demonstrate preparedness for managing a terminal bleed.

This session will highlight how digital psychotherapy can help address the emotional impact of childhood cancer on parents. Using the Emotion and Symptom-Focused Engagement (EASE) program as an example, we’ll examine patterns of traumatic stress in parents, describe the virtual adaptation of EASE, and share parent perspectives on its feasibility, acceptability, and impact. Participants will consider how mobile and online interventions can extend psychosocial care and strengthen family support in pediatric oncology.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the psychological impact of acute leukemia diagnosis and treatment on family caregivers.
• Identify key predictors and prevalence of traumatic stress in caregivers of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
• Explain the theoretical foundations of psychotherapeutic interventions used in the EASE program.

This talk will highlight what is currently known about genetic predictors of drug response and toxicity in pediatric cancer, and how clinicians could use genetic testing to optimize care for their patients. We will review predictors of both chemotherapy toxicities (cisplatin, anthracyclines, vincristine, asparaginase and steroids) and also the role of genetics in supportive care.

Learning Objectives

• To review the current state of knowledge of pharmacogenetics.
• To describe the clinical implementation of a pharmacogenetic program at a pediatric cancer center.
• To highlight future directions for research in pharmacogenetics.