|
Today, "radiation" is one of the standard
treatments for patients with cancer, but in 1950 it was virtually
unheard of: nuclear medicine was a brand new field.
The Cobalt 60 Therapy Unit was the first effective
radiation machine for use on patients with cancer. It was developed in
the early 1950's at a time when Canada was a world leader in the
production of powerful nuclear reactors. Although the Atomic Energy of
Canada was also in the process of designing a machine to treat cancers,
the Cobalt 60 Therapy Unit was the first one designed specifically for
patients. The machine took a radioactive source of cobalt and delivered
it to patients using high intensity radiation.
Sylvia Fedoruk was the only woman on a 4-member team led
by Dr.
Harold E. Johns at the University of Saskatchewan which accelerated this
breakthrough technology in nuclear medicine. In fact, Sylvia was the
only woman doing medical physics research in Canada at that time!
Later in her career, she worked on developing the
Dosimeter. The Dosimeter was an improvement to the radiation machine
because it allowed doctors to regulate the dose of radiation received by
the patient.
In addition, she developed a device that determined
whether or not a patient's thyroid was cancerous through the use of
radioactive iodine. All of her innovations helped save lives. In fact,
the first cancer patient to use the Cobalt 60 Therapy Unit lived another
50 years and died only recently, well into her nineties!
Sylvia Fedoruk grew up in rural Saskatchewan. Although
her father was a schoolteacher and her mother had only an elementary
education, they were both determined that Sylvia would receive all the
encouragement she needed to do well in school. Ambitious, and driven to
succeed, Sylvia soon discovered she had two great talents: a gift for
mathematics and a gift for track and field.
 Her
passion for mathematics led her to specialize in engineering and
physics, ultimately leading to a career in nuclear medicine. She was the
only female in her first year physics and engineering courses at the
University of Saskatchewan.
Her passion for sports led her to compete both in
individual competition: javelin, shot-put, discus, and softball throw,
(she won a medal in each!) and a variety of team sports such as
basketball, hockey, and volleyball. She was also on the first Canadian
Women's Championship Curling team in 1961, and, when the team visited
Ottawa, she curtseyed before the Governor General. Little did she know
that, one day in the future, she herself would become Lieutenant
Governor of Saskatchewan, and stay at Rideau Hall! As a member of the
Joyce McKee curling team, Sylvia was inducted into the Saskatchewan
Sports Hall of Fame in 1973.
In all areas of her life, she competed amongst men with
focus, determination and the ability to "go the distance." Yet
Sylvia Fedoruk claims she never experienced discrimination due to
gender. She never felt she had to demand equality; she felt she received
it, both in the laboratory and on the playing field. Sylvia believes
that education - acquiring knowledge and skills, and a balanced life -
making leisure an integral part of our lives, are the keys to success.
Sylvia is living proof. She rose to the full rank of Professor in the
College of Medicine, as well as having received many honourary
university degrees, and went on to receive the Order of Canada, and the
Saskatchewan Order of Merit. She was Chancellor of the University of
Saskatchewan from 1986-1989 and Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan from
1988-1994.
In 1999, at the age of 72, Sylvia Fedoruk received
the Distinguished Canadian Award from the Seniors University Group Inc.
at the University of Regina.
|
