Prince George, B.C. - As construction of the new Northern Cancer centre continues comes word of the recruitment of a radiation oncologist for the centre. Dr. Robert Olson  is the first physician to be hired for the new centre.

Dr. Olson will  be part of the provincial Radiation Therapy Program which will bring service to the North for the first time when the new centre is opened in late 2012.

Dr. Olson has also been appointed as an assistant professor with the Northern Medical Program, his formal appointment being with the Department of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. His academic responsibilities will be teaching and research within the NMP.

Dr. Olson received his medical degree from the University of Calgary and completed his five-year residency and training in oncology at the BC Cancer Agency through the University of British Columbia. In addition, he has received a Masters of Science degree in epidemiology from Harvard University. Dr. Olson has started work in Vancouver and will begin regular consultation visits to the North as of the end of September. He will start his role with UNBC this month.

"It is really exciting for the Northern Medical Program to have been part of recruiting someone with an academic interest in the needed area of oncology for the North," said Dr. David Snadden, Vice Provost Medicine, UNBC. "Our program continues to build a critical mass for sustainable health care in our region."

"We are very pleased that Dr. Olson has decided to come to Northern B.C.," said Dr. Ronald Chapman, Executive Director of the Northern Cancer Control Strategy. "As part of the strategy, we have been working on various recruitment initiatives to bring needed specialists to our region. These have included advertising across Canada and the U.S, a targeted website, and also videos highlighting life and recreation in the North."

Other key cancer care positions that are being recruited for the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North include additional radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation therapists, social workers and pharmacists.