Dr. Scott Tyldesley
Clinical Professor, Division of Radiation Oncology, UBC
Radiation Oncologist, BC Cancer Agency
Why did he pursue a career in medicine?
While some may look back at a childhood injury and reflect on what activities they missed out on, Dr. Tyldesley feels that the numerous trips to the doctor and hospital for a broken leg as a child may have actually sparked his interest in the field. For him, a career in medicine was a great way to combine his keen interest in science along with desire to help people.
What was it that attracted him to radiation oncology?
Then when he did his third year medical rotation in radiation oncology, he knew he had found the discipline for him. The combination of physics, biology, and anatomy on the one hand and the complexity and compassion required of caring for cancer patients on the other.
With over 15 years’ experience as a practicing clinician, what does he consider to be the biggest advance in radiation oncology?
Computing speed!
His clinical area of expertise is in radiation oncology with a focus in on genitourinary and breast malignancies but he also has an interest in health policy research. Has his research influenced any changes in the health care system?
During his Masters in Public Administration at Queen’s University, he began to develop an evidenced-based methodology for conducting needs analysis in radiotherapy. This methodology is used in numerous national and global needs models. The Operation Research in Cancer Care team on which he is the clinical lead, developed ChemoSmartBook, and award winning optimization model that is used to schedule patients for chemotherapy at many centres in the province.
He is the chair of the BC Cancer Agency Genitourinary Outcomes Unit and former chair of the BC Cancer Agency Breast Outcomes Unit. What types of questions are these groups are trying to answer?
The outcome research units analyzes many outcomes (relapse, survival and quality of life), as well as access to care and utilization issues. Projects have investigated gaps in implementation of clinical trial results; assessed late side effects; linked blood and tissue samples to population based outcomes data for translational research projects; determined treatment outcomes and patterns or relapse for cancer patients at a population level in BC; and informed and evaluated treatment policy decisions.
Additionally, he is the clinical lead of the Operations Research Group – a group of physicians who collaborate with faculty at the Sauder School of Business – using advanced math analytics to solve health care problems. One example of the work of this team is ChemoSmartBook, an award winning optimization model that is used to schedule patients for chemotherapy at many centres in the province.
He has over 120 peer-reviewed publications in these areas of research.
Dr. Tyldesley’s teaching excellence has been recognized with a number of awards including Academic Teacher of the Year in Radiation Oncology in 2006 and the UBC Department of Surgery’s AD Forward Postgraduate Teaching Award in 2011. What does he find the most rewarding about teaching learners?
While he enjoys getting learners to think about things in a way they haven’t before, most of the reward comes from the relationships he develops and the sense of responsibility he feels for their career success. And like a true academic clinician, he enjoys modelling his excitement about research.
When not at the Cancer Agency, where can we find him?
If not at the rink playing hockey himself, he’s watching his son play hockey or his daughter play volleyball.