Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists-Association Canadienne des Radio-Oncologues

Corporate body

Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists-Association Canadienne des Radio-Oncologues

n.d.

The Canadian Association of Radiologists ( CAR ) formed in 1937, was for fifty years the common professional organization of diagnostic and therapeutic radiologists. In 1946 the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada held its first certification examination in therapeutic radiology, and in 1976 the name of the specialty was changed to radiation oncology, reflecting its role in the comprehensive care of cancer patients. By the early 1980s it was clear that radiation oncologists needed a voice of their own to express unique concerns and scientific activities.
In the CARO Directory, Dr. Stewart M. Jackson summarizes the subsequent events as follows: "In response to the overwhelming support for the establishment of CARO, a steering committee was struck in 1985 under the chairmanship of Dr. P. Froud (Kingston) to ‘investigate the feasibility, relative merits and cost of creating a Canadian association of radiation oncologists’. The Committee recommended that an independent Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists be formed aiming to have all radiation oncologists in Canada as members. It further recommended a postal ballot for officers with strict regional representation across the country. These and other recommendations were unanimously accepted by radiation oncologists present in Halifax in June, 1986. The steering committee, now under the chairmanship of Dr. C. Freeman (Montreal), drew up draft by-laws and carried out a postal ballot for the election of officers. In Winnipeg in September, 1987, the Association elected its first directors, Dr. S.M. Jackson, President (Vancouver), Dr. C. Freeman, Vice-President (Montreal), and Dr. J. Carson, Secretary/Treasurer (Saint John).
During 1988, the association became incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act with ‘the objects of providing a national organization of radiation oncologists in Canada to promote the interests of radiation oncology in Canada and to represent the specialty to governments, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and other national and international societies’."
The Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists (CARO) is a national professional association representing the official voice of radiation oncology in Canada in relation to the public interest and professional interest in the provision of radiation oncology consultative and treatment services. The association's regionally representative board structure and national membership facilitate the execution of its mission.
CARO interacts with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists, the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists, the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology, provincial cancer agencies, government health bodies, and other national organizations on issues affecting services for the control of cancer in matters related to radiation oncology. CARO conjointly accredits training programs for radiation oncology related health care professionals.

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