Easing pain and providing hope to vulnerable patients with cancer

Jennifer DeGiobbi’s eyes brighten when she recalls hearing from a patient that their pain is gone and they are again able to do the things they love. “Knowing that I have helped address someone’s symptoms, have given them hope, and enabled them to get back to enjoying their life is the best feeling ever,” she says.

Jennifer is an advanced practice registered therapist (APRT) in training, the first role of its kind east of Ontario. She is a key member of the Halifax Rapid Response Clinic’s multidisciplinary team. The clinic provides palliative radiotherapy, often through sameday consultation and treatment, aiming to reduce the pain and symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients who have cancer that has spread to the bone.

Led by radiation oncologist Dr. Amanda Caissie, the Rapid Response Clinic is evolving and expanding with the goal of improving access to care for more patients.
The APRT role is supporting this expansion.

“We are fortunate to have an internationally recognized expert in the emerging area of APRT on our
cancer care leadership team,” says Amanda, the head of the Department of Radiation Oncology.
“Carol-Anne Davis, director of oncology clinical standards, appreciated the value that this unique
position would bring to patients and she was a strong advocate for us to have this role as part of our
multidisciplinary team.”

The aim of the APRT role is to provide efficient, evidence-based, and person-centered care for
individuals with bone metastases. The goal is to streamline pathways and reduce delays to treatment with care tailored to each patient’s symptoms, goals, and overall cancer journey.

“While this role is locally focused, I am supported by a broader professional network,” says Jennifer. “I am part of an international APRT community of practice, as well as a national clinical specialist
radiation therapist (CSRT) community of practice. These communities foster collaboration, shared
learning, and innovation, helping ensure that locally delivered care is informed by collective expertise and global best practices.”

A radiation therapy graduate from the University of Toronto’s joint program with the Michener
Institute, Jennifer spent two years following graduation working in Ottawa. And while she enjoyed
Toronto and Ottawa, she is thrilled to have professional development opportunities in her home
province.

“I loved Toronto and enjoyed my time in Ottawa too,” Jennifer says. “Both were big cities for me, but
when a position became available at the QEII Cancer Centre in 2012, I jumped at the opportunity to be closer to home.”

Over the last 15 years, Jennifer worked as a radiation therapist but watched for opportunities to build her skills.” I always like to have a challenge,” she says. “I took on leadership roles as a treatment unit resource, being involved in many departmental initiatives such as the implementation of adaptive radiotherapy. Then, I wondered what else I could be doing.”

When the position of advanced practice registered therapist was posted, I was quick to apply,” she
says. “I began training for this role in fall 2024. In addition to shadowing other members of the
multidisciplinary team, practicing under supervision, and independent study, I am half-way through a master’s degree and currently working on a thesis in adult education in health.”
Currently, within a multidisciplinary approach and with supervision, Jennifer triages patients,
conducts clinical assessments, plans treatment, plans review, manages treatments, and provides
follow-up care.

Once training and the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Therapists (CAMRT) certification
process are successfully completed, Jennifer will proudly wear the title of advanced practice
registered therapist (radiation therapy) [APRT(T)].