A family physician who serves individuals the healthcare system often overlooks. An Intake Coordinator that demonstrates sensitivity and acknowledgment of people experiencing mental health struggles and homelessness. A nephrologist with a visionary approach to kidney care. A volunteer who works to preserve our shared history in the archives. A Research Equity Specialist that has cultivated a strong Equitable Research in Action workshop series.

These are the winners of the 2025 Our Shared Values Awards at St. Michael’s who have been recognized for going above and beyond to embody Unity Health’s values of human dignity, compassion, excellence, community and inclusivity. Here are some of their stories in the words of those who nominated them.

Dr. Katie Dorman, Family Physician, Department of Family and Community Medicine | Human Dignity

Dr. Dorman has built a full-spectrum family practice that intentionally serves individuals whom the healthcare system too often overlooks, people who use substances, those with experiences of homelessness, incarceration or systemic racism.

She does more than treat illness, she meets patients where they are, quite literally. She visits them in shelters, jails, recovery homes and on the street. She modifies her clinic schedule to allow for walk-in appointments, recognizing that the conventional model of timed visits is often inaccessible. She stocks her office with snacks, dog treats, socks, and hygiene items, not out of charity, but because she understands that attending to these immediate needs makes patients feel respected and safe. These small, thoughtful gestures send a powerful message: “You matter, and you are seen.”

Dr. Dorman also lives dignity through the way she supports her peers. One community advocate shared that, despite being new to leadership and feeling out of place, Dr. Dorman treated them as an equal and invited them into her home for Thanksgiving. For someone who had not been welcomed into a home in decades, this gesture was more than kind, it was healing. “She made me feel like I belonged,” they said. “Like I mattered.”

Jason Kuhar, Intake Coordinator for Coordinated Intake to Care from Hospital for Those Experiencing Homelessness | Compassion Award

I find it deeply motivating to work with Jason. Not merely because he does his job well, it goes without saying that Jason is exemplary in his role as case coordinator for the CATCH team, a role that translates into a point of contact for thousands of people dealing with mental health issues and homelessness.

Rather, what makes Jason special to work with is his ability to see people experiencing homelessness and addictions differently than most. Part of Jason’s coordinator position means that he calls every member of the medical team personally to discuss our weekly clinic. Over the years, these conversations have allowed some insight into Jason’s many interests, one of which is Jazz music.

When Jason picks up the phone to speak with someone dealing with a severe mental health issue and homelessness, he is able to make a mental connection with a Jazz artist. For Jason, a call from someone addicted to fentanyl might connect with talents like John Coltrane. Jason constantly reminds me to see each person beyond the limited ways that are possible through a psychiatric lens.

Every workday, Jason pulls into the office on his bike and gets on the phone, finding the most marginalized people experiencing homelessness and connecting them with case managers, nurses, physicians and other social supports. He carries out his duties with a down to earth, genuine, humanistic approach that builds bridges to people who have often been pushed away from the support systems that might help them.

Dr. Ann Young, Nephrologist | Excellence Award

Dr. Ann Young exemplifies the value of excellence through her visionary approach to kidney care and her unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease. A defining example of this is her research in creating the Kidney Care Outreach program, the first-ever patient-contact study.

In a field were identifying patients at risk of kidney failure often happens too late, Dr. Young developed a new model that proactively finds and connects high-risk individuals to specialized care,before they experience critical decline.

Leveraging provincial health administrative data in a way never done before, she designed a mechanism to reach “”invisible”” patients, those who had not yet accessed nephrology services despite being at high risk. This was not just research; it was a bold reimagining of care delivery, rooted in the belief that innovation must be patient-centered and action-oriented.

Dr. Young’s approach is also cost-effective as it mitigates expensive outcomes through early, targeted engagement. Her work has shown that excellence is not only about improving health outcomes, it’s also about delivering smarter, more efficient care that preserves limited health system resources while enhancing patient quality of life.

Joan Bennet, Volunteer Archives, Retired Registered Nurse | Community Award

Joan energetically volunteers every week in the archives at St. Michael’s, helping to preserve a variety of historical photographs so that all will experience a sense of belonging and an appreciation of our hospital’s history and contribution to the community.

For most Nursing graduates and many Sisters, all that has existed in the archives are (maybe) a single photo and name. When information cannot be found in the archives, Joan reaches out to graduates and Sisters to talk and record their unique experiences.

With this research, she writes detailed biographies and features these women in the alumnae association’s newsletter. Those newsletters are then added to the archives enhancing the historical records of the hospital.

Through her continued dedication, Joan’s efforts ensure that these women’s stories and valuable contributions to the hospital and health care field are acknowledged, preserved, and shared.

As the President of the St. Michael’s Hospital Nursing School Alumnae Association, Joan continually offers opportunities for social connection through Alumnae events and newsletters as well as reunion tours.

She also brings this energy to our current St. Michael’s community. For example, as a co-host of this year’s St. Michael’s Hospital Janes Walk she shared her love of history and positive experience as a former St. Michael’s nurse by curating dynamic archival displays and an engaging historical walking tour.

Denese Frans-Joseph, Research Equity Specialist Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation and MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions | Inclusivity Award

The Equitable Research in Action workshop series is a new initiative conceived and led by Denese. Designed with the intention of providing researchers with the tools required to meaningfully incorporate principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism into our work, Denese’s leadership empowered attendees such as:

  • A lead Principal Investigator who implemented learnings in their lab meetings
  • An early career researchers who was inspired to lead equity initiatives

Denese also co-leads the MAP Summer Student Program, a deliberately inclusive program that aims to give research opportunities to Black and Indigenous undergraduate students with an interest in research but who may not have any research experience. Denese’s leadership has been invaluable to this program’s success, and her commitment to ensuring that students have a safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling summer as a part of this program is evident.

As an advocate, Denese successfully convinced leadership that the anti-black racism module should be required training for all research staff. It is now a requirement for 2025-2026.

Beyond her formal role, Denese is a dedicated mentor, embodying her commitment to equity and inclusion in all her interactions.

Li Ka Shing and Keenan Research Centre Community | Spotlight on Sustainability

Every summer when there is an influx of new personnel and students they have created a rotating campaign on the screens branded “Clean is Green” to remind people of what to recycle, where it goes, and why we do it. They have placed posters next to each waste bin site with categories of where things go for frequently used items and compost bins in every washroom near the paper towel station. They have even created an online search function tool that is specific to some of the unique items used in research and education, in case folks are uncertain which bin particular items should be placed in.

Collaborating with Joe Raab, Manager of Environmental Services, in his “Bin the Bins” campaign. In order to reduce the number of waste bin bags that need to be changed daily, folks are asked to bring small waste bins from their office spaces to empty at a collection location.

Because of these combined efforts, Li Ka Shing and the Keenen Research Institute have the lowest diversion rates at St. Michael’s.This group is continuously looking for opportunities for sustainability such as the “Save the Birds” campaign which is held twice a year, encouraging folks to turn off their lights after they leave the office to protect birds in the migratory seasons.

Take a look through this gallery of photos from the awards ceremony and the Feast of St. Michael’s Celebrations throughout the day.

Gallery

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