Paula Gordon

With one in nine women at risk for developing breast cancer, Dr. Paula Gordon knows her work as Medical Director of the Breast Program at BC Women’s Hospital is on the frontlines of saving women’s lives. An award-winning teacher, researcher and visionary, it is a task for which Gordon and her team are well equipped through the Sadie Diamond Breast Health Imaging Centre at BC Women’s and its state-of-the-art tomosynthesis mammography. “The key to saving lives is finding breast cancer early,” affirms Gordon, “because that’s when most types of breast cancer are highly treatable.” Tomosynthesis, which takes high-resolution images from multiple angles and then combines them into 3-D images, represents a dramatic step forward in breast imaging. “In many cases, the initial mammograms are conclusive, reducing the need for additional images,” says Gordon, She’s excited that BC Women’s will be soon begin a trial of screening with this exciting technology. Dr. Gordon’s work recently earned her the prestigious Order of BC, and lead to her being selected as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women. She remains a tireless proponent of regular mammograms and providing women with access to high-quality examinations. For Gordon, it’s more healthy, breast-cancer-free women that will be the living proof of her program’s success.