How a team at St. Joseph’s Health Centre is changing the face of Emergency Care
St. Joseph’s Health Centre has changed a lot over the years. New clinics have opened, new wings have been built, an electronic patient record launched. Through it all the commitment has been the same: deliver the best care possible to patients in Toronto’s west end.
In the Emergency Department, the changes aren’t just to infrastructure and technology, but also to the team of physicians, staff and leaders who run the department day and night.
In 2021 Dr. Joan Cheng became the first East-Asian woman to take on the role of Emergency Department Chief at a hospital in the Greater Toronto Area. Her mandate has stayed the same ever since: make the department the safest place it can be, not only for patients and their families, but for staff, physicians and learners as well.
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Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Canadian Medical Association shows that in 1970, only 7 per cent of physicians in Canada were women. That number has grown steadily over the decades and reached 47 per cent in 2024.
As of 2025, almost half the physicians in the St. Joseph’s ED are women. They have brought leadership skills and unique expertise with them. This team of fabulous women includes experts in epidemiology, addiction medicine, geriatrics, simulation training and palliative care, catering to the needs of a diverse patient population.
Dr. Maria Ivankovic was the first full-time female physician in the ED, and she always had a vision for what the department could be.
Having diversity of experience on the team creates a supportive environment for everyone,” says Ivankovic. “There are patients who may have experienced trauma in the past who feel more comfortable with a female doctor. New moms might come in wanting to talk to a doctor who has gone through what they’re going through.”
A more diverse team also means a much more psychologically safe environment for learning and mentorship, which is reflected in the many students and residents who come through St. Joseph’s every year.
“Once you’ve created a safe environment you can start to give open feedback to colleagues and learners because they know you are on their side,” says Cheng.
This kind of trust is imperative, says Dr. Roisin McElroy. The ED has to be a very collaborative department to function properly for its patients.
“You’re placing a lot of trust in colleagues because you’re transferring the care of patients over to them when shifts change,” says McElroy. “Emergency medicine is all about brainstorming and bouncing cases off of your teammates. It’s about collaboration, being comfortable sharing ideas with your colleagues and knowing they will provide excellent care for our patients.”
Cheng, Ivankovic and McElroy acknowledge that emergency medicine is a challenging field, but also want to reassure future medical students and residents that the flexibility of shift work has afforded them a lot of freedom to be present for their children, families and friends outside of work.
“It allowed me to go to my kids’ activities at school when they were young,” says Cheng, noting that it’s more than possible to be a parent and have hobbies and interests in this line of work.
The team attributes their progress in part to the support of allies and colleagues who recognize that diversifying the physician cohort improves quality of care and patient outcomes.
And, as McElroy points out, leadership is key to driving change and positive growth.
“Joan is an extraordinary leader. She has never employed a one size fits all framework for the department. She’s been able to bring people out of their shell and encourage them to achieve their full potential.”
Read more about Unity Health Toronto’s recognition as one of Greater Toronto’s Top 100 Employers. We pride ourselves in being a workplace that champions equity, inclusion and professional growth, where people from all backgrounds work together to create a stronger, more supportive team for colleagues, patients and families.
By Olivia Lavery