POGO is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Charmaine van Schaik to the new role of Vice-Chair of the POGO Board of Directors. Dr. van Schaik will work closely with James Scongack, POGO Board Chair, to advance POGO’s impact as a non-profit organization with charitable status that works in partnership to achieve the best childhood cancer care system for children, youth, their families and survivors in Ontario and beyond.
As Vice-Chair, Dr. van Schaik brings a skill set complementing that of the Board Chair and she will work with the Chair to carry out leadership duties, including representing POGO’s interests and mission in various settings.
“I’m very excited to step into this new role to work alongside James and to support the POGO Board of Directors in fulfilling our governance duties effectively and efficiently,” says Dr. van Schaik.
Dr. van Schaik has been a member of the POGO Board since 2014 and has contributed to several Board committees responsible for governance and philanthropy. She has been actively involved as a member of POGO’s Provincial AfterCare and Supportive Care Steering Committees, and numerous planning committees for POGO’s continuing education events for healthcare providers.
A general pediatrician, Dr. van Schaik was the Chief of Pediatrics at Southlake Regional Health Centre and the first Medical Director of the POGO Satellite Clinic at Southlake when it launched in 2009. She helped bring childhood cancer care closer to home for families in Southlake’s catchment area and pediatric oncologists to the community setting. Dr. van Schaik continues to provide childhood cancer care to children and families at Southlake and currently holds the titles of Active Staff, Co-Medical Lead COVID-19 Vaccination Committee; Physician Leader Quality & Patient Safety; and Physician Leader Maternal Child Program.
POGO’s Board and team congratulate Dr. van Schaik and look forward to her leadership in helping the Board fulfill its duties.
To learn more about how POGO actively champions childhood cancer care click here.