Dr. Sarah Ferguson

MD, FRCPC
Clinician Scientist

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (Onco-gynaecology), Mount Sinai Hospital

Our research interests include surgical clinical trials, patient-reported outcomes, survivorship, and sexual health in gynecologic cancer. Our extensive research program in endometrial cancer investigates how different molecular subtypes respond to treatment, procedures of the sentinel lymph nodes – the first nodes that cancer would likely spread to, fertility preservation, and hereditary cancers such as Lynch syndrome. 

Through practice-changing surgical trials, we have helped demonstrate the value of sentinel lymph node biopsy in endometrial cancer, a less invasive biopsy in detecting cancer spread to lymph nodes. We have also shown that simple hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus, is as good as more radical procedures in the treatment of cervical cancer. 

These findings have enabled less invasive surgery, with improved sexual functioning and quality of life, while preserving survival outcomes. 

Telephone
Contact

Email: [email protected]

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Location

610 University Avenue,
Toronto, M5G 2M9

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Related links

Website: Sarah Ferguson
Publications: PubMed
U of T Profile: Sarah Ferguson
X: @sarahfergusonMD

Accordion Items
  • 2024–present; Vice Chair of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto
  • 2024–present; Head of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sinai Health/University Health Network/Women’s College Hospital, Toronto
  • 2020–present; Professor, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology and Surgical Oncology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto
  • 2019–present; Clinician Investigator, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto
  • 2017–present; J. Douglas Crashley Chair in Gynaecologic Cancer Research, University Health Network, Toronto
  • 2016–present; Associate Member of the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto
  • 2016–present; Lead of Research, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto
  • 2015–present; Associate Scientist, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto
  • 2012–present; Director of Gynaecologic Oncology Research Program, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, University Health Network, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto
  • 2011–present; Consultant Gynaecologic Oncologist, Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Disease, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto

Former appointments

  • 2021–2023; Member, University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine Decanal Committee, Toronto
  • 2017–2025; Ontario Gynecologic Cancers Lead, Ontario Health/Cancer Care Ontario
  • 2017–2025; Chair, Ontario Gynecologic Drug Advisory Committee
     
  • Clinical Fellow in Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; 2002–2006 
  • Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto; 1997–2002 
  • MD (Honours), Queen’s University School of Medicine, Kingston, Canada; 1993–1997 
  • BSc (Honours), Queen’s University School of Medicine, Kingston, Canada; 1989–1993 
  • 2024 – 2023–2024 Chair’s Award for Excellence in Research Facilitation, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto. This Award is presented to a faculty member who has demonstrated leadership and sustained commitment to participation in clinical research in the field of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
  • 2022–2024 – Merit Award, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, (Research Award, Specialty: Personalized Liquid Biopsy (circulating tumor DNA) to Monitor Response to Fertility-Sparing Treatment in People with Endometrial Cancer)
  • 2022–2023 – Award for Teaching Excellence in recognition of your contribution to the Undergraduate Education program in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto
  • 2022–2023 – Teaching Award for Excellence in recognition by the students of the MD program for exemplifying excellence in undergraduate medical education 
  • 2020–2022 – Merit Award, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, (Research Award, Specialty: Bariatric Surgery for Fertility-Sparing Treatment of Atypical Hyperplasia and Low Grade Cancer of the Endometrium)
  • 2020 – The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Presidential Award, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Versus Lymphadenectomy for High-Grade Endometrial Cancer Staging (SENTOR Trial): A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study
  • 2018–2020 – Merit Award, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, (Research Award. Specialty: Targeting the Immune Microenvironment of Microsatellite Instable Non-Serous Ovarian Carcinoma)
  • 2018 – Chair’s Award for Sustained Research Excellence, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto. Award recognizing an individual who has demonstrated sustained excellence in research in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 
  • 2011 – Ovarian Cancer Canada Award in Support of Psychosocial Oncology Excellence, Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology

Notable publications

Oncologic and fertility outcomes of progestin therapy for atypical hyperplasia and grade 1 cancer of the endometrium: Results of a specialized oncofertility program

Gynecologic Oncology, 2025

Minimally invasive compared to open surgery in patients with low-risk cervical cancer following simple hysterectomy: An exploratory analysis from the Gynegologic Cancer Intergroup/Canadian Cancer Trials Group CX.5/SHAPE trial

International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 2025

A randomized controlled trial of an online support group addressing psychosexual distress among women treated for gynecologic cancer

Gynecologic Oncology, 2025

Sexual health and quality of life in patients with low-risk early-stage cervical cancer: Results from GCIG/CCTG CX.5/SHAPE trial comparing simple versus radical hysterectomy

Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2025

Assessment of sentinel lymph node biopsy vs lymphadenectomy for intermediate- and high-grade endometrial cancer staging

JAMA Surgery, 2020

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