By Emily Dawson


Each year, St. Michael’s Hospital welcomes new chief residents (CRs) to guide the experience we offer to incoming medical students. The CR role honours the skills and abilities of stand-out residents and places them in a position to help formally train and mentor the next generation of students.

For 2019-20, St. Michael’s welcomed five new CRs in July: Dr. Danielle Buell (Chief Medical Resident); Dr. Dan Cojocaru; Dr. Ceinwen Pope; Dr. Phoebe Bao; and Dr. Katrina Hui.

We are sharing their stories over the month as they move into this important role. Dr. Cojocaru tells us what inspired a career in medicine, what he’s looking forward to in the coming year, and what he values about working at St. Michael’s.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in medicine and what keeps you inspired?

Dr. Dan Cojocaru
Dr. Dan Cojocaru

It has always been about building relationships. I chose to pursue medicine to create strong relationships in order to gain the trust necessary to help people when they most need it. I continue to be inspired within my specialty of family medicine primarily because of the people I know I will meet and have the opportunity to guide towards their own health goals.

How will this role allow you to mentor and train this cohort of residents?

I have always been interested in medical education and using different tools and resources to engage students from diverse backgrounds and with unique learning styles. As medical educators, our goal is to optimize a learner’s education to make them the best physician they can be. This role will allow me to work with other leaders within the department of Postgraduate Medical Education to use technology and other educational advances to provide residents with a world-class learning environment.

What drew you to St. Michael’s for your residency?

As medicine continues to become more and more focused on the patient as a person, rather than a client, I have been amazed by the advocacy provided by St. Michael’s staff. It’s been eye-opening to see the amount of hard work that goes into ensuring a person is cared for not only medically, but helped with community supports, housing, and finances. These are the ancillary details that ensure a person’s overall wellness and health are made a priority.

St. Joseph’s chief residents:

St. Michael’s chief residents:

About St. Michael’s Hospital

St. Michael’s Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in more than 27 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the Hospital’s recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael’s Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

About Unity Health Toronto

Unity Health Toronto, comprised of Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph’s Health Centre and St. Michael’s Hospital, works to advance the health of everyone in our urban communities and beyond. Our health network serves patients, residents and clients across the full spectrum of care, spanning primary care, secondary community care, tertiary and quaternary care services to post-acute through rehabilitation, palliative care and long-term care, while investing in world-class research and education. For more information, visit www.unityhealth.to.