The BC Cancer Excellence Awards highlight the incredible individuals and teams who work to ensure that British Columbians receive world-class, patient-centred cancer screening, treatment and support, or benefit from new discoveries that are helping change the face of cancer.
Dr. Frances Wong is our senior executive director of medical affairs, quality and clinical information systems who received a BC Cancer Excellence Award in the category of Workplace Inspiration. The Workplace Inspiration Award recognizes a person with an unyielding ability to inspire those around them.
Dr. Wong has been a pioneer in cancer care throughout her 35 years at BC Cancer. Over this time, she made a tremendous impact through the multiple hats she wore in medical administration, research, and treating patients facing gynecologic, breast, and head and neck cancer. She has modelled the values that we all hold close to our hearts – respect for all she encounters, compassion for her patients, colleagues and staff. She is an innovative thinker and lifelong learner.
Dr. Wong began her career in 1985 at BC Cancer – then called The Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia – as a radiation oncologist. In 1994, she was appointed as department head of radiation oncology and was part of the team that started BC Cancer - Surrey – previously known as BC Cancer Fraser Valley Centre – in 1995. She held that position while also serving as the chief of department of oncology at Surrey Memorial Hospital until 2008. Dr. Wong was appointed as the chief physician for BC Cancer - Surrey in 2007 and participated in opening BC Cancer - Abbotsford in 2008. She was the chief physician for both the Surrey and Abbotsford centres until 2013 when she was then appointed to become a member of the senior executive team at BC Cancer.
Dr. Wong will be retiring at the end of the month and she will be deeply missed by all of us at BC Cancer. She has dedicated her entire career to BC Cancer, to her colleagues, to her patients.
"I feel extremely lucky that I had the opportunity to serve the patients and staff of BC Cancer for so many years. The most rewarding component is to see how our work can help our patients along their individual cancer journey. For some, we may be able to provide a cure. For some, we may be able to provide symptom relief. For all, we are able to provide care and compassion," says Dr. Wong.
Congratulations Dr. Wong on your achievements and well-deserved retirement. You have touched many lives throughout your career and will be missed.
The BC Cancer Excellence Awards celebrate the passion and remarkable contributions of BC Cancer staff, and highlight some outstanding examples of how our people are making a difference for British Columbians facing cancer. For more information on our awards, visit bccancer.bc.ca/awards.
