St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital | IASIOS Enrolled Centre
Dr. Michael Temple, MD, FRCPC, is a distinguished paediatric interventional radiologist recognized for his contributions to advancing interventional oncology techniques in children. He serves as the Director of Interventional Radiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where he is a key member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Radiology.
Dr. Temple earned his MD from Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, followed by a residency in Radiology at Reading Hospital and Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University. He completed a fellowship in Paediatric Interventional Radiology at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and has held leadership roles in paediatric interventional oncology research and education.
Under Dr. Temple’s guidance, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital achieved a significant milestone by enrolling in the International Accreditation System for Interventional Oncology Services (IASIOS), becoming the first paediatric centre to pursue this prestigious accreditation. This initiative underscores St. Jude’s commitment to advancing quality standards and safety in paediatric interventional oncology.
Dr. Temple’s research interests focus on innovative techniques in paediatric interventional oncology, including ablative therapies, liver-directed treatments such as radioembolization, and palliative care interventions for children with cancer. He has pioneered international collaborations in paediatric interventional radiology research, fostering global advancements in the field.
As a dedicated researcher and educator, Dr. Temple has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and has been instrumental in shaping best practices for interventional oncology in paediatrics. His clinical expertise and commitment to improving outcomes for paediatric cancer patients make him a highly respected figure in the field.
Get to know Dr. Temple a little bit better!
What are your hobbies and interests outside of your professional work in medicine?
I enjoy cooking and travel photography.
Can you share a pivotal experience from your education or career that has significantly shaped your journey in interventional oncology?
After my fellowship, I attended ECIO for the first time. I was amazed by the minimally invasive IO procedures being performed for adults and immediately recognized their potential applications for paediatric patients.
What inspired you to pursue IASIOS accreditation for your practice or institution?
St. Jude is a research institution, and pursuing IASIOS accreditation highlights our commitment to excellence in both clinical care and research. The IR division at St. Jude is undergoing significant transformation, with a renewed focus on paediatric interventional oncology. IASIOS accreditation reinforces this focus, demonstrating to the institution, our patients, and their families our dedication to delivering IO procedures at the highest standards of clinical care quality.
How does IASIOS accreditation benefit both patients and interventional oncologists?
IASIOS accreditation ensures that our interventional oncology practice, being relatively new, adheres to the highest quality standards, providing assurance to both patients and the clinical team.
How do you envision the future of interventional oncology, and what role do you see it playing in the broader field of cancer care?
I envision significant growth in paediatric interventional oncology in the coming years. In paediatrics, interventional oncology plays a crucial role in supporting young patients through both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Minimally invasive, image-guided biopsies will increasingly provide tissue samples needed for advanced genetic and metabolic testing in modern oncology care. Traditional vascular, ablative, and palliative therapeutic procedures will continue to expand. Furthermore, our ability to access all areas of the body will lead to innovative approaches, such as intra-arterial administration of CAR-T cells for solid tumour treatments, enhancing currently investigational therapies.
What advice would you give to the next generation of interventional oncologists?
As paediatric interventional oncology is still in its early stages of development and utilization, it is crucial to learn from the successes and challenges faced by colleagues currently providing paediatric oncology care. This understanding will help identify opportunities to deliver the best interventional oncology support possible. Active participation in tumour board meetings and organized collaborative cancer groups, such as COG and SIOP, is vital. Looking ahead, collaborating with oncologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologists to design high-quality prospective trials will be essential for evaluating interventional oncology procedures in paediatric patients, ultimately driving their acceptance and integration into routine paediatric oncology care.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital | Memphis, Tennessee
