December 17, 2020 – Each week, we’re sharing a list of 10 great things that happened at our sites. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Send it to communications@unityhealth.to.

1) A cancer patient sends her gratitude to St. Joseph’s Health Centre for an amazing care experience

In this Toronto Star op-ed, Gabrielle David writes about her experience going through a cancer diagnosis during the pandemic. She says she is “beyond grateful to all my caregivers and to our health care system in general” and recognizes the great care she received from Dr. Sam Elfassy and all the staff at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Read more.

2) Our photographer captures what a day at the flu vaccine clinic at Unity Health Toronto looks like

As Canada gears up for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, we check in on another important vaccine being distributed across our network. We pulled out all the stops this year to get the flu vaccine to our people. Photographer Yuri Markarov shows us what that looked like. Learn more.

3) The Trillium Gift of Life Network recognizes St. Joseph’s and St. Michael’s sites

The Trillium Gift of Life Network presented St. Joseph’s Health Centre and St. Michael’s Hospital teams with three awards for their efforts to integrate organ and tissue donation into quality end-of-life care in 2019/20. Both sites have been selected to receive the Provincial Conversion Rate Award and St. Michael’s also received the Award of Excellence.

4) We highlight how our Patient and Family Partners help make our vision a reality

Unity Health Toronto’s vision is “The best care experiences. Created together”, but achieving this vision can only be done in collaboration with patients and their families. Patient and Family Partners provide important perspective and diverse views to inform goals and initiatives.

5) We launch our #OneBurningQuestion series  

Every discovery starts with a question. For Dr. Michael Cusimano, it began early in his neurosurgical career as a resident as he continued to see patients with wounded heads and bodies caused by violence, road traffic injuries, drinking and driving, falls, sports and other causes. His #OneBurningQuestion is: How do we stop injury?

6) Unity Health Toronto ranked among top 15 research hospitals in Canada

Research Infosource Inc. has named Unity Health number 11 in Canada and in the top five of the country’s large-sized hospitals in researcher intensity.

7) CBC The Current spoke with Scott Graney on his experience working on the front lines during the pandemic

Inside St. Joseph’s Health Centre’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Scott Graney holds an iPad up and helps patients with COVID-19 connect with their families at home – and sometimes, to say goodbye. As a social worker, he tries to fade into the background so that family members “can be as free and open and honest, and communicate in a heartfelt way, as much as they want.” Read more.

8) Residents at the Houses of Providence celebrate the holidays with a Santa Claus parade

The holidays may look a bit different this year, but staff at the Houses of Providence wanted to deliver some holiday cheer to our residents. They dressed up as Santa, elves and reindeer and delivered Christmas gifts to residents while maintaining infection prevention and control protocols.

9) Dr. Jiwon Oh is the new director of the BARLO MS Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital

We are pleased to announce Dr. Jiwon Oh is the new director of the BARLO MS Centre, where she will continue to drive our incredible momentum in providing world-class research and specialty care for patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

10) St. Michael’s Hospital’s Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit collects $2,600 to support local communities

The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) has a longstanding partnership with the Daily Food Bank to support the needs in the local community. During the pandemic, the food bank temporarily suspended bin deliveries in an effort to minimize public health risks. To give back to the community, the unit decided to contribute financially to the cause and raised $2,600.