Unity Health Toronto

Every month, staff, researchers, physicians, learners and teams across Unity Health Toronto celebrate important honours, achievements and awards. Congratulations to all who’ve been recognized in September!

Click the link to learn more:
https://unityhealth.to/2026/09/unity-health-torontos-september-2026-honour-roll/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260929-honour-roll

𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.

Across Unity Health Toronto, specialized services support people living with dementia in hospital, in the community and in long-term care. These efforts underscore a shared commitment to person-centred care that recognizes not only a person’s medical needs, but also the experiences and connections that make them who they are.

At the Houses of Providence, Unity Health’s long-term care home at Providence Healthcare in Toronto’s east end, activation assistants like Sheri-Lynn Barton and Trexie Yntig lead programs focused on games, music and movement, including activities such as balloon tennis.

"This is what I am here to do. I work to bring the joy and fun into their daily lives," says Barton.

"Most of our residents can't express it anymore, but you can see it in their faces, they'll smile at you and clap along."

Learn how Unity Health is supporting memory care across care settings: https://unityhealth.to/2026/09/unity-health-toronto-supports-patients-living-with-dementia/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260928-memory-care

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀: 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗻-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿

When Anne Jackson’s late husband was discharged from Providence Healthcare, she suddenly found herself managing multiple prescriptions. Right away she noticed something special about Manager Sean Chai-Chong and the Outpatient Pharmacy team. He took the time to sit down, review prescriptions thoroughly, explain any changes in plain language, and follow up when issues arose.

“I felt listened to, not rushed,” she says. “I find he knows me as a person. I trust him completely.”

That same commitment to person-centred care is reflected in Chai-Chong’s day‑to‑day work at Providence Healthcare’s in-house pharmacy. Mornings are busiest as patients pick up discharge medications, with Chai-Chong conducting medication reviews and one-on-one counselling. “I enjoy the chance to talk to patients and see their improvements,” says Chai-Chong. “I feel that I can make a difference in their health, that what I do matters.”

Chai-Chong helped launch Providence’s outpatient pharmacy in 2010. What began as a two-person team dispensing discharge prescriptions and medications for staff has grown into the multi-service pharmacy it is today, supporting patients long after they leave the hospital.

“Our practice has evolved quite a bit,” says Chai-Chong as he reflects on the past 16 years at Providence. This year, Chai-Chong’s team supplied over 220 walkers and 130 canes to patients in need, supporting safe discharge. The range of injections his team can offer has expanded as well, including flu shots, COVID and travel vaccines.

A major part of Chai-Chong’s role has been helping patients navigate drug coverage and affordability. “Finances shouldn’t be a barrier to the service,” he says. He identifies government support that patients may qualify for, and when needed, connects folks to a social worker to access hospital funding.

“Sean provides pharmacy services with genuine compassion and character,” says Director of Outpatient Pharmacy Jeff Petten. “His personal engagement in patient care and ability to foster inclusive and trusting relationships, has earned him widespread respect.”

Read more: https://unityhealth.to/2026/09/caring-hearts-leading-minds-sean-chai-chong/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260925-CHLM-Chai-Chong

Last week we celebrated the launch of Unity Health Toronto’s 2026-29 Strategic Plan: Exceptional Care, Without Exception across our sites. 🎉

Our success will be driven by the extraordinary people who work, learn and volunteer at Unity Health and the purpose they bring to their roles.

Together, we have built a culture grounded in compassion, excellence, courage and a willingness to take on complex challenges. This culture is one of our greatest strengths, and it will enable us to go further, improve and advance care, and lead in new ways.

Thank you to the staff, physicians, learners, researchers, and volunteers of Unity Health for everything you do.

To learn more about the strategic plan, visit unityhealth.to/strategicplan

Last week, staff, physicians, learners and volunteers from across Unity Health participated in Orange Shirt Day beaded pin-making workshops hosted by the Office of Indigenous Wellness, Reconciliation and Partnerships.

The workshops, held at all three Unity Health sites, provided an opportunity to learn about and honour Residential School Survivors, deepen understanding of the legacy of residential schools, and create beaded pins ahead of Orange Shirt Day on September 30.

The number of older adults living with opioid use disorder (OUD) in Ontario has more than doubled since 2017, according to a new report from the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN), a research group at St. Michael's Hospital.

Tara Gomes, scientist at St. Michael's Hospital and ICES, and a professor at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, and Bisola Hamzat, senior epidemiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital, authored the report with the ODPRN team and community collaborators.

By the end of 2025, roughly 15,000 Ontarians aged 55 and up had engaged with the healthcare system around OUD. In 2023 and 2024, 1,087 older adults died of an opioid toxicity, the equivalent of 10 a week.

The findings point to a population that the health system isn't yet built to reach, and one that’s growing quickly. Most opioid-related deaths involved the unregulated drug supply, happened at home, often when someone was alone, and over a third who died had a documented OUD in the previous five years.

Read more on the report here: https://unityhealth.to/2026/09/older-adults-living-with-opioid-use-disorder-in-ontario-doubles-over-eight-years/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260923-opioid-use-disorder

Unity Health Nurse Practitioners (NPs) recently welcomed a group of peers from the Netherlands, showcasing the impact of NPs across our sites and across Toronto in partnership with University Health Network, SickKids, and Southlake Health. Nurse Practitioners and other advanced practice nurses bring a unique and essential perspective to patient care and health system redesign. By combining a holistic view of each patient with advanced clinical expertise, they help people heal, navigate complex care journeys and thrive independently.

A special thank you to the Unity Health NPs who co-designed the visit and provided such a warm welcome to our international colleagues. Your leadership, collaboration and commitment to excellence continue to strengthen patient care and advance the nursing profession.

For 25 years, St. Michael’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has cared for some of the hospitals and province’s tiniest patients, supporting families through some of their most challenging first days. 👼👩‍🍼💛

As the NICU marks its 25th anniversary, we’re looking back at the people, moments and innovations that have shaped its evolution, and the close partnership with the Family Birthing Centre that helps provide compassionate, family centred care.

To read the full story to see how the NICU’s legacy continues to grow click the link: https://unityhealth.to/2026/09/st-michaels-hospital-nicu-marks-25-years-of-innovation-and-compassion/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260916-NICU-25-years

Ottawa has announced $5 million in funding for HIV self-testing, prevention and support services, including 100,000 OraQuick HIV self-test kits to help reach people who face barriers to traditional healthcare.

The announcement, made in Winnipeg last week by Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, comes as Manitoba has declared a public health emergency over rising HIV rates.

Of the $5 million investment, $2 million will support the purchase of 100,000 OraQuick HIV self-tests—Canada’s first approved oral-fluid HIV self-test.

REACH Nexus at St. Michael’s Hospital’s MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions led the clinical trials that helped support Health Canada’s approval of the test. We’re proud that St. Michael’s Hospital will play an important role in helping distribute these tests to people across Canada who need them most.

Expanding access to self-testing means giving people more choice, privacy and convenience—and helping more people know their HIV status sooner so they can connect to prevention, treatment and care.

Read more: https://ow.ly/8jTa50ZOlIj

Yesterday we launched our 2026-29 Strategic Plan: Exceptional Care, Without Exception.

The plan is anchored in four strategic priorities:
✅ Achieving seamless care

✅ Leading health equity and Indigenous health

✅ Accelerating health innovation and digital excellence

✅ Advancing specialized care

And our Key Enabler: Extraordinary People & Purpose.

Take a closer look at what our new strategic priorities mean and how they will transform care across the network.

To learn more about the strategic plan visit: unityhealth.to/strategicplan

What happens when bold ideas, extraordinary people, and the generosity of donors like you come together?

Our 2025–26 Annual Report celebrates the individuals, advances, and support behind the moments that change lives at St. Mike’s and Providence. Moments that advance research, expand care for our most vulnerable communities, and achieve medical firsts with global impact.

THANK YOU for standing alongside us and for being part of a community that believes exceptional care should never come with exceptions.

Read about the incredible year you made possible → https://bit.ly/3UBC2QO

St. Joseph’s Health Centre is transforming access to cancer care in Toronto’s west end.

With the launch of a new T-cell Engager therapy program, patients with conditions like multiple myeloma can now receive specialized immunotherapy closer to home—improving both access and quality of life.

Click the link to learn more about this specialized oncology treatment now available at St. Joseph's:
https://unityhealth.to/2026/09/st-josephs-is-bringing-specialized-care-closer-to-home-for-cancer-patients/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260909-tcell-engager-therapy

Staff from Unity Health Toronto’s Mental Health & Addictions program hosted information booths at all three sites on August 31 to share resources and spread awareness for International Overdose Awareness Day.

The program supports inpatient, outpatient and emergency care across Toronto, and is made up of an interprofessional team of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, nurse practitioners, and more.

Dr. Anita Srivastava, a family physician and Unity Health’s Medical Director of Addictions, says every day patients are facing “a volatile and toxic drug supply, with incalculable effects on their lives and on their loved ones.”

“Behind the numbers of people in our community who have experienced overdose or lost their lives are real people — people with complex lives, families, friends, and stories,” says Srivastava. “I’d like to take a moment to reflect on those we have lost in our community and to reaffirm Unity Health’s commitment to providing evidence-based, compassionate care to those who are affected by substance related harms.”

Every month, staff, researchers, physicians, learners and teams across Unity Health Toronto celebrate important honours, achievements and awards. Congratulations to all who’ve been recognized in August!

https://unityhealth.to/2026/08/unity-health-torontos-august-2026-honour-roll/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260831-honour-roll

Each summer, local grade 9 and 10 students who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of colour (BIPOC) are invited to immerse themselves in the world of medicine at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. This special mentorship program, called Leading Inclusive Futures Together (LIFT), allows students to spend a full week getting first-hand experience working in a hospital by shadowing physicians, participating in hands-on simulations and engaging in team problem-solving activities.

The program is designed to reduce barriers for underrepresented racialized students and inspire them to pursue a career in healthcare.

“Extensive research has shown that when a care team reflects the social identities of its community, health outcomes improve for those community members and patients,” said Allison Needham, Director of Anti-Racism, Equity and Social Accountability at Unity Health Toronto.

Read more about the program here: https://unityhealth.to/2026/08/lift-program-st-josephs-inspires-bipoc-youth-to-pursue-careers-in-healthcare/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260826-LIFT

Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital (part of Unity Health Toronto), the University of Edinburgh and Northwestern University have uncovered an unexpected contributor to cognitive decline: braincells previously thought to protect and support healthy brain function. Their findings could open the door to new treatments, including the potential repurposing of existing medications.

Read more here: https://unityhealth.to/2026/08/cells-thought-to-protect-the-brain-drive-cognitive-decline/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260825-cognitive-decline

Stay connected with the latest news, research and stories from Unity Health Toronto. Our newsletter brings together updates on care, innovation and the people making a difference across our network.

Subscribe today to receive the latest updates directly in your inbox: https://unityhealth.to/about-unity-health/media-room/newswire/

From AI tools that help prevent patient harm to a national data platform connecting hospitals across Canada, Unity Health Toronto is shaping the future of healthcare.

Yesterday, we welcomed Deborah Richardson, Deputy Minister of Health; Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions; and Michael Hillmer, Assistant Deputy Minister of Digital and Analytics Strategy, to St. Michael's Hospital to showcase our leading-edge health data and AI innovations.

🇨🇦 The Vital data platform is being implemented across Canada, beginning with 160 hospitals in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, creating new opportunities for health AI, clinical research, and health system readiness.

🏥CHARTWatch and AIM to Prevent Delirium are AI tools that help care teams identify patients at risk of deterioration or delirium, enabling earlier intervention and helping prevent patient harm. AIM to Prevent Delirium is currently being studied in 15,000 patients across 13 Ontario hospitals.

📊ASIST-TBI uses AI to predict which patients with traumatic brain injuries may require neurosurgery, helping prioritize urgent care. A current study aims to test it at 18 Ontario hospitals, with the goal of supporting real-time decision-making in emergency departments.

Thank you for the opportunity to share how made-in-Canada technology solutions are improving patient care, advancing research and strengthening healthcare systems in Ontario and beyond.

Ketamine and psychotherapy show promise as a combined approach to chronic neuropathic pain.

A pilot study led by Dr. Akash Goel, clinician-investigator at St. Michael's Hospital and assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine at University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, found that combining ketamine infusions with psychotherapy is a safe and feasible approach with promising benefits.

The findings were published in the journal Med.

The trial followed 30 participants across three treatment groups: ketamine, psychotherapy or both. Twenty weeks after treatment, all three groups reported improvements in pain intensity, depression and anxiety. Participants who received both treatments saw the greatest benefit in how pain interfered with their daily lives, with nearly 80 per cent reporting a clinically meaningful improvement.

"Ketamine allows us to remove those weeds and plant new seeds for new flowers to grow," says Goel, describing how the treatment may open a window for psychotherapy to take hold. He cautions that as a feasibility study, the trial doesn't prove the combination works better than either treatment alone.

The team is now seeking funding for a larger, placebo-controlled trial to build stronger evidence.

Read more here: https://unityhealth.to/2026/08/ketamine-and-psychotherapy-as-combined-approach-to-chronic-neuropathic-pain/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260813-ketamine

Recently, we were lucky to capture some sweet moments between moms and their little ones who received support through the My Baby and Me Program at St. Michael's Hospital.

They included Brittany, who gave a special shout-out to the physician, Dr. Erin Lurie, who cared for her and her son.

“Without Dr. Lurie, I wouldn't have been able to do the testing that helped bring me to sobriety,” she said. "They really supported there unification and the health and safety of my son.”

My Baby and Me is a trauma-informed, drop-in prenatal clinic that provides integrated obstetrical and addictions care, along with on-site medical services, counselling, harm reduction supplies, and practical support to help pregnant individuals access the care they need.

When asked what motherhood means to her, Brittany shared:

"It's like an unexplainable feeling. I love it. I could just be having the worst day of my life, and I know I'm always blessed because I have him. He's my best friend."

We're honoured to celebrate the love and resilience that shine through every motherhood journey.

A new AI-assisted clinical trial is launching across 13 Ontario hospitals to help predict and prevent delirium.

Delirium is a sudden and serious condition affecting 1 in 4 hospitalized adults. The condition is characterized by a new onset of confusion which can make patients agitated and disoriented – it can be profoundly distressing for patients and their caregivers.

This innovative project brings together the GEMINI research network, the University of Toronto, the Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, the Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto, the Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & Education, the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network and participating hospitals from across Ontario.

“Artificial Intelligence offers many promising opportunities in healthcare, but we need to ensure it is used safely and effectively," says Dr. Amol Verma, physician and scientist at St. Michael's and the project's principal investigator.

"This is an extraordinary partnership between AI scientists, front-line healthcare teams, patients and caregivers, hospital leaders, and policymakers, studying whether AI can help us predict and prevent delirium, one of the most devastating problems in healthcare."

Together, this cross provincial team is advancing evidence-based innovation with the potential to improve care for thousands of patients across Ontario.

Read more about this innovative trial: https://unityhealth.to/2026/08/gemini-launches-ai-assisted-trial-prevent-delirium-across-13-ontario-hospitals/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260804-GEMINI-delirium