Lara Best

Lara Best serves as Associate Professor and Program Director for the Residency Program within the Department of Radiation Oncology at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Medicine. Her clinical expertise spans head and neck cancer, skin malignancies, central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and benign conditions requiring radiation therapy, with active practice across multiple clinical sites.

Her educational background includes:

• MD from Queen's University
• FRCPC certification from Western University
• MEd from Acadia University
• FRANZCR fellowship from Australia

Dr. Best's research centers on medical education innovation, particularly transition-to-practice challenges for radiation oncology residents, and clinical applications of 3D-bolus technology in skin cancer management. She investigates quality indicators for breast cancer treatment and develops patient engagement strategies through visible quality displays, bridging educational theory with clinical radiation oncology practice.

Analysis of her 2017-2020 publications reveals consistent focus on residency training methodologies and quality assurance systems. Key trends include developing transitional rotations, assessing resident research attitudes, and implementing province-wide patient engagement initiatives in Canadian maritime radiation oncology departments, with strong emphasis on educational outcomes and clinical safety.

Her contributions have been recognized through:

• RANZCR Graduation Ceremony Declaration of Geneva presenter role
• Governor General’s Award for Academic Excellence (Acadia University, 2019)
• Consecutive Teacher of the Year awards (Department of Radiation Oncology, 2018-2019)

As Residency Program Director, Dr. Best oversees curriculum development and mentorship for radiation oncology trainees while serving on the TROG Independent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee. Her administrative leadership extends to quality improvement projects and educational research initiatives, though specific grant details are not documented in source materials.

She collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across the Canadian maritime provinces to implement patient visible quality displays and advance clinical protocols. Her work integrates closely with the Department of Radiation Oncology's clinical operations at Dalhousie University, where she manages complex cases including skull base tumors and radiation-sensitive malignancies.