The BC Cancer Excellence Awards provide an opportunity to shine a light on the inspiring people and teams who help ensure that British Columbians receive world-class, patient-centred cancer screening, treatment and support, and benefit from new discoveries that are helping change the face of cancer.

Julie Nager, Joanna Bethune, Jacqualine Wong and Rupinder Sidhu are radiation therapists at BC Cancer – Surrey. This group has won this year's BC Cancer Excellence Award in the category of Patient Care Champion, nominated by patients.

A Patient Care Champion is a staff member or physician who helps improve patients' experience, quality of life, quality of care and/or knowledge of the cancer system – either directly or indirectly. They show compassion, ingenuity and leadership, an act as a role model for others.

Julie, Joanna, Jacqualine and Rupinder received multiple nominations from patients who they have impacted with their professionalism and thoughtfulness.

Patients have described them as being cheerful, kind and sincere. They are in tune with their patients, recognizing when a patient is feeling unwell, and able to make stressful situations less so.

One patient shared, "They noticed I am a huge Disney fan. So, while I was receiving treatment, they played music from a variety of Disney movies. Radiation isn't physically painful; however, it's a very emotional experience. The playing of these Disney tunes helped to relax me and put me in a mental space beyond where my mind could have stressfully roamed during these sessions. I truly believe these four wonderful humans helped me."

Congratulations Julie, Joanna, Jacqualine and Rupinder, on receiving this year's patient care champion award, nominated by patients.

Julie Nager, Rupinder Sidhu, Jacqualine Wong and Joanna Bethune, receiving their Excellence Award from Dr. Kim Chi and Heather Findlay at the 2022 BC Cancer Summit.