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Associate Professor

Safora Johansen

Associate professor
PhD, University of Oslo, Norway
Cluster:
Health and Social Sciences
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Biography

Dr. Safora Johansen completed her doctorate in radiation oncology and late side effects in breast cancer patients in 2010 at the University of Oslo.  She continued as a postdoc at the Institute for Cancer Research, Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital.  She has continued to identify late side effects development in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. Part of the work has been funded by the Norwegian Cancer Society. Her findings have been implemented in the clinic using new and advanced radiotherapy techniques. Another research line seeks to provide better estimates of the risk for radiation induced secondary cancer when using bio mathematical models. Her research is now mainly focused on protocol optimization within both diagnostic and radiation therapy as well as patient care and palliative radiotherapy, educational research and international research collaboration. Dr Johansen has been collaborating internationally in several years, with different universities and industry in North America and Europe as main partners in research and teaching. She is now focusing on research collaboration with partners in Singapore and the rest of Asia. 

She has received several grants from Norwegian educational directory to develop her teaching in partnership with universities in South Africa and North America. She has developed several joint online teaching courses with open access available and in use by students and health professionals. 

She has been acting as the chair of International Academic Network (IAN) research group leading a group of 12 qualified researchers in the field of medical radiation appointed by ISRRT since April 2022. She is also a member of National Expert group in radiation therapy research (NERR) in Norway. she is also coleading the research group in Imaging and Radiation Science at Singapore Institue of Technology (SIT).

Her current research focus is on using technology in protocol optimization in diagnostic and radiotherapy, outpatient cancer care, and caregiver activation as well educational research.


 

SIT Appointments

  • Associate professor
    – Present

Education

  • PhD
    University of Oslo , Norway

Achievements

  • Development of several joint online courses with international collaborators from Canada and Europe
    –
  • Lead of several international research projects with published results
    –

Professional Certification

  • Academic appointment
    University of Toronto
    –
  • Chair of IAN - research group
    ISRRT
    –

Professional Memberships

  • Member of ESTRO
    – Present
  • Member of ECR
    – Present
  • Norwegian Research group
    – Present
  • Chair of International Academic Network (research group)- ISRRT
    –

Corporate Experience

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Research Interests

  • Protocol optimisation in both diagnostic and radiation therapy, patient care and safety as well as educational research
    • Protocol optimization in diagnostic and radiation therapy with focus on CT and novel radiation therapy techniques
    • Dosimetry research investigation
    • Investigation of the impact of radiation therapy on treatment induced late side effects
    • Palliative cancer treatment and care
    • Patient care and use of technology
    • Educational research and international research collaboration

Current Projects

  • The use of exposure index and patient dose
    – Present
  • Patient care related to colorectal screening
    – Present
  • Radiation technologists' perception of patient care - an international survey study
    – Present
  • An investigation of different contrast medium administration strategies in chest CT and their impact on image quality
    – Present

    In this study fixed method, weight and body composition tailored strategies as well as Lean body mass and body surface area are investigated in a clinical setting.

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Journal Papers

  • https://scholar.google.no/citations?user=6TfyqLQAAAAJ&hl=no

    1.             Johansen S, Olsen DR, Danielsen T, Malinen E. Contralateral breast doses following radiotherapy of the breast and regional lymph nodes: Measurements and treatment planning calculations. Radiother Oncol (2007);82:332-336

    2.             Johansen S, Danielsen T, Olsen DR. Estimated risk for secondary cancer in the contra-lateral breast following radiation therapy of breast cancer. Acta Oncol (2008);47:391-396 

    3.             Johansen S, Cozzi L, Olsen DR. A planning comparison of dose patterns in organs at risk and predicted risk for radiation induced malignancy in the contralateral breast following radiation therapy of primary breast using conventional, IMRT and volumetric modulated arc treatment techniques. Acta Oncol (2009);48:495-503

    4.             Weber D, Johansen S, Peguret N, Cozzi L, Olsen DR. Predicted risk of radiation-induced cancers after involved field- and involved-node radiotherapy with or without intensity modulation for early stage Hodgkin Lymphoma in female patients. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys (2011);81(2):490-7

    5.             Johansen S, Vikstrøm J, Hjelstuen M, Mjaaland I, Dybvik KI, Olsen DR. Dose evaluation and risk estimation for secondary cancer in contralateral breast and a study of correlation between thorax shape and dose to organs at risk following tangentially breast irradiation during deep inspiration breath-hold and free breathing. Acta Oncol (2011);50(4): 563-8

    6.             Johansen S, Reinertsen K, Knutstad K, Fosså SD, Olsen DR. Dose distribution in the thyroid gland following radiotherapy of breast cancer- a retrospective study. Radiat Oncol (2011);6:68

    7.             Johansen S, Tjessem KH, Fosså K, Bosse G, Danielsen T, Malinen E, Fosså S. Dose distribution in the heart and cardiac chambers following 4-field radition therapy of breast cancer – a retrospective study. Breast Cancer (2013);7:41-9 

    8.             Tjessem KH, Johansen S, Malinen E, Reinertsen KV, Danielsen T, Fosså SD, Fosså A. Long-term cardiac mortality after hypofractionated radiation therapy in breast cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys (2013);87(2):337-43

    9.             Johansen S, Fosså K, Nesvold IL, Fosså SD, Malinen E. Arm and shoulder morbidity following radiotherapy of breast cancer. Acta Oncol (2014);53(4):521-9

    10.          Tjessem KH, Bosse G, Fosså K, Reinertsen KV, Fosså SD, Johansen S, Fosså A. Coronary calcium score in 12-year breast cancer survivors after adjuvant radiotherapy with low to moderate heart exposure - Relationship to cardiac radiation dose and cardiovascular risk factors. Radiother Oncol (2015);114(3):328-34

    11.          Sygna K, Johansen S, Ruland CM. Recruitment challenges in clinical research including cancer patients and their caregivers- A randomized controlled trial study and lessons learned. Trials (2015);16:428

    12.          Sanderud A, England A, Hogg P, Fosså K, Svensson SF, Johansen S. Radiation dose differences between thoracic radiotherapy. Radiography (2016); 22(2):107-111

    13.          Johansen S, Norman MH, Dale E, Amdal CD, Furre T, Malinen E, Evensen JF. Patterns of local-regional recurrence after conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Radiat Oncol (2017);12:87:1-8

    14.          Johansen S, Svancarova M, Ruland C. The impact of physical and emotional baseline symptoms in cancer patients and their family caregivers on care giver burden. Cancer Nurs (2017);41(2):91-99

    15.          Johansen S, Hauge IH, Hogg P, England A, Lanca L, Gunn C, Sanderud A. Are antimony-bismuth aprons as efficient as lead rubber aprons in providing shielding against scattered radiation? JMIRS (2018);49(2):201-206

    16.          Reis C, Jose J, York H, Flaction L, Johansen S, Maele S. Curricula, Attributes and Clinical Experiences of Radiography Programs in four European Educational Institutions. Radiography (2018); 24(3):e61-e68

    17.          Reis C, Jose J, York H, Flaction L, Johansen S, Maele S. A Comparative Study about Motivations, Expectations and Future Plans for Professional Development in four European Radiography Programs. Radiography (2018); 24(4):e91-e97 

    18.          Ali MA, Hogg P, Johansen S, England A. Construction and validation of a low-cost paediatric pelvis phantom. Eur J Radiol (2018);108:84-91

    19.          Alrehily F, Hogg P, Johansen S, England A. Scoliosis imaging: An analysis of radiation risk in the CT scan projection radiograph and a comparison with projection radiography and EOS. Radiography (2019); 25(3):e68-e74 

    20.          Gunn C, Johansen S. Neonatal chest radiography – Comparison of exposure protocols in Canada and Norway. Journal of Clinical Pediatrics and Neonatal Care (2019);6(1):019

    21.          Gunn C, O’Brien K, Fosså K, Tonkopi E, Lanca L,Tele Martins C, Muller H, Friedrich-Nel H, Abdolell M, Johansen S. A multi institutional comparison of imaging dose and technique protocols for neonatal chest radiography. Radiography 2019; 26(2):e66-e72

    22.          Alrehily F, Hogg P, Twiste M, Johansen S, Tootell A. Development and validation of a bespoke phantom to test accuracy of cobb angle measurements. Radiography 2019;26(2):e78-e87

    23.          Alrehily F, Hogg P, Twiste M, Johansen S, Tootell A. The accuracy of cobb angle measurement on CT scan projection radiograph images. Radiography 2020; 26(2):e73-e77

    24.          Gunn C, Friedrich-Nel H, Johansen S. International student mobility in radiography: agency and experience. JMIRS (2020);51(2):299-306

    25.          Dastan K, Henning MK, England A, Aaløkken TM, Johansen S. An investigation into the variability of radiographers assessing body composition prior to CT contrast media administration. Radiography (2020); 27(1):168-172

    26.          Solbak MS, Henning MK, England A, Martinsen AC, Aaløkken TM, Johansen S. Impact of iodine concentration and scan parameters on image quality, contrast enhancement and radiation dose in thoracic CT. European Radiology Experimental (2020); 4:57

    27.           Gullhaug A, Hjermstad M, Yri O,    Svestad J, Aass N, Johansen S. Use of radiotherapy in breast cancer patients with brain metastases– a retrospective 11-year single center study. JMIRS (2021);52(2):214-222

    28.          Henning MK, Aaløkken TM, Johansen S. Contrast medium protocols in routine chest CT – A survey study. Acta Radiol (2021);63(3):351-359

    29.          Morassaei S, Di Prespero L, Ringdalen E, ….., Johansen S. A survey to explore the psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on radiation therapists in Norway and Canada: A tale of two countries. J Med Radiat Sci 2021;68(4):407-417

    30.          Cheuk N, Johansen S, Morassaei S, et al. Translating interprofessional collaboration competencies to an international research team. JMIRS 2021;52(4): S51-S56 

    31.          Karlsson A, Hjermstad M, Aass N, Paulsen T, Johansen S, Kaasa S, Yri Olav. Overall survival after initial radiotherapy for brain metastases; a population-based study of 2140 non-small cell lung cancer patients. Acta Oncol 2021;60(8):1054-1060

    32.          Tonkopi E, Wiken EJ, Hovland To, …. Johansen S. A survey of local diagnostic reference levels for the head, thorax, abdomen and pelvis computed tomography in Norway and Canada. Acta Radiol Open 2022;11(10):1-11

    33.          Gunn C & Johansen S. Leading international research and educational collaboration – A perspective on successful partnerships. JMIRS 2022; 53;522-526

    34.          Henning MK, Gunn C, Arenas J, Johansen S. Strategies for calculating contrast media dose for chest CT. European Radiology Experimental 2023;7(29):

    35.          Midthun P, Østerås BH, Kirkhus E, Høiness PR, England A, Johansen S. Metal artifact reduction on musculoskeletal computed tomography (CT)- a phantom and clinical study. European Radiology Experimental 2023;7:46 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s41747-023-00354-9

    36.          Amdal CD, Moan JM, Dale E, Falk RS, Johansen S, Bjordal K. Impact of hyperfractionated re-irradiation on quality of life in patients with recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer, a prospective institutional study. Clin and translational Radiat Oncol 2023;42:100654

    37.          Henning MK, Aaløkken TM, Martinsen AC, Johansen S. The impact of body compositions on contrast medium enhancement in chest CT: a randomized controlled trial. BJR/Open 2023; https://doi.org/10.1259/bjro.20230054

    38.          Tonkopi E, ……, Johansen S. A multi-institutional assessment of low-dose protocols in chest CT: dose and image quality. Acta Radiologica Open 2024; Accepted January 2024

    39.          Gullhaug A, ……, Johansen S. Lung Cancer Reirradiation: Exploring Modifications to Utilization, Treatment Modalities and Factors Associated with Outcomes. JMIRS 2024, Accepted February 2024 

    40.          Oliveira M, Hogg P, Di Prospero L, Lacey S, El-Farra S, Johansen S. Research activity among diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers: An international survey. JMIRS 2024;22(2): article in press

    41.          Michele L.Di, Tørris C, Gunn, C, Johansen S. International student mobility in diagnostic radiography: Benefits and pitfalls. Radiography 2024,30(4), 1093-1098

    42.          Naimi S., Tetteh, MF, Haseem A, Johansen S. Evaluation of an in-use chest CT protocol in lung cancer screening – A single institutional study   

    43.         Roehme LAG, Homme THF, ……, Johansen S, …..Martinsen ACT. Image quality and radiation doses in abdominal CT: A multicenter study. European J of Radiol 2024;178:111642

Books

  • FROM THE EDITED VOLUME

    Health Promotion - Principles and Approaches
    Edited by Bishan Swarup Garg
    1. Berg A, Johansen S, et al. A salutogenic approach for collaboration in health and technology. Intech Open 2023; Book chapter. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.111866
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Teaching Modules

Diagnostic Radiography, BSc (Hons)

  • DRG4801 - Honours Thesis
  • DRG4802 - Honours Thesis
  • HSC3007 - CT and MRI

Radiation Therapy, BSc (Hons)

  • RTY1002 - Radiation Therapy Physics
  • RTY3005 - Radiation Therapy Principles and Practice 2
  • RTY3802 - Honours Thesis Proposal
  • RTY4802 - Honours Thesis
  • RTY3006 - Radiation Therapy Principle and Practice 3
  • HSC3007 - CT and MRI
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