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. Nine St. Michael’s-led research projects receive CIHR project grants, totaling more than $5.8 million in support

Nine research projects led by St. Michael’s Hospital have received more than $5.8 million in funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Spring Project Grant competition. The Project Grant program is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential to advance health-related fundamental or applied knowledge, research, care, systems, and/or outcomes. Learn more about the projects.

2. Dr. John Sievenpiper leads study on low glycemic diet for people with diabetes

For people with diabetes, sticking to a low glycemic diet results in small but important improvements in blood sugar levels, cholesterol, weight and other risk factors, according to a new study led by Dr. John Sievenpiper, a Staff Physician and Researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital and a Scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. Read more about the study published in The BMJ.

3. Unity Health and our Ontario Health Team and Team Toronto vaccination partners complete in-home second dose COVID-19 vaccinations

As part of the Homebound Sprint Initiative, Unity Health and our Ontario Health Team (OHT) and Team Toronto vaccination partners have completed in-home second dose COVID-19 vaccinations for approximately 8,000 homebound residents. Thank you to our incredible staff, physicians and partners for this incredible effort! Learn more.

4. Dr. Anna Banerji shares why she got her COVID-19 vaccine

As an infectious disease specialist working with patients every day, Dr. Anna Banerji, a Pediatrician at St. Joseph’s, was at higher risk of getting COVID. “When they were about to declare the lockdown back in March [of 2020], I already had COVID-19,” she said. “I’ve seen children die of measles, whooping cough, tetanus, polio. Vaccines save lives.” Read why she decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

5. Twenty Unity Health staff and physicians attended the National Bank Open presented by Rogers

Tennis Canada invited fully vaccinated health-care workers to attend their National Bank Open presented by Rogers on Monday, August 9. Thank you to Tennis Canada for sending 20 of our hardworking staff and physicians to the game!

6. St. Michael’s physician plays key role as part of Team Canada’s medical team

Dr. Lee Schofield is a family physician at St. Michael’s and is a core member of Team Canada’s medical team for the Summer Olympics. This week, the women’s soccer team won gold. Congratulations Team Canada and bravo to Dr. Schofield for your incredible work.

7. Dr. Fahad Razak joins CBC’s Ontario Today to speak about the reopening of the Canadian-American border

The Canadian border has reopened to fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents. Dr. Fahad Razak speaks with CBC’s Ontario Today about the requirements and why caution is important as we move forward. Read more.

8. Dr. Joan Cheng discusses medical care in the COVID-19 era

Dr. Joan Cheng, Chief of Emergency Department at St Joseph’s, offers her insights on how the medical community has dealt with COVID-19, how the pandemic has changed care, and the impacted it has had on mental health with the Toronto Guardian. Read more.

9. A new study assesses strategies to support patient tuberculosis treatment in Malawi

A recent study led by Dr. Lisa Puchalski Ritchie, a scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, assessed an implementation strategy to provide health workers with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to implement an intervention to support patient tuberculosis (TB) treatment adherence in Malawi. Working with 45 health centres in Malawi, the team identified important challenges and potential facilitators of implementation, scalability and sustainability of the TB treatment adherence intervention. Learn more.

10. Dr. Fahad Razak speaks with CTV News Channel about Canada’s fourth wave

Canada’s COVID-19 case count has increased fourfold since mid-July. In an interview with CTV News Channel, Dr. Fahad Razak shares the key considerations as children return to school. Learn more.

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