~shared on behalf of Dr Nicole Boutilier, Executive Vice President Medicine, and Clinical Operations, Eileen MacGibbon, Vice President Operations CZ, and Jill Flinn, Senior Director Cancer Care Program
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Bruce Colwell was the successful candidate for the role of Senior Medical Director, Cancer Care Program. Dr. Colwell replaces Dr. Helmut Hollenhorst who retired on December 31, 2024.
Dr. Colwell is a member of the Provincial Cancer Care Leadership Council. He is also a Medical Oncologist at the QEII Cancer Centre and an Associate Professor at Dalhousie University, positions he has held since 1995. His career path, following a medical degree from Dalhousie University, began with a rotating internship and two years working as a family doctor, which included being the first General Practice Oncologist (GPO) in Nova Scotia. He did a residency in internal medicine in Halifax and subspecialized in medical oncology at the University of Calgary.
In addition to patient care, his areas of special interest include residency education, clinical research, and medical leadership. Dr. Colwell designed and initiated the Residency Training Program in Medical Oncology and was program director for 13 years. He was an executive member of the Canadian Association of Medical Oncology (CAMO) for eight years, including two years as president.
For the last two plus years, he has held the role of provincial medical director of systemic therapy for the Cancer Care Program. His involvement in clinical research has led to over 50 publications and he maintains an active clinical practice. Dr. Colwell is also chair of the Gastro-intestinal (GI) luminal tumour site group, a member of the Breast and Sarcoma tumour site groups, a member of the Nova Scotia Health Provincial Drugs and Therapeutics Committee and Chair of the Oncology Therapeutics Subcomittee.
Dr. Colwell lives in Halifax. Outside of working hours, he enjoys spending time biking, standup paddleboarding and taking pictures of sunsets.
Dr. Colwell is looking forward to his newest leadership role while continuing his clinical practice at 50 per cent. A General Practice Oncologist will be recruited to support his clinical responsibilities.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Colwell to his new role.
