Trauma & Neurosurgery

Unity Health’s Trauma and Neurosurgery program is one of the largest and most comprehensive in Canada. The trauma team is composed of multidisciplinary specialists and services including the blood bank, sophisticated medical imaging department and operating rooms immediately available to patients 24-7.
Trauma & Neurosurgery at St. Michael's Hospital
Accredited as a Level 1 trauma centre by the Trauma Association of Canada in 2006, the trauma program at St. Michael’s assumes the following responsibilities:
- The provision of a leadership role in the provincial trauma system
- An advisory role within the provincial trauma network
- An advisory to the Ministry of Health on the provincial trauma system
- A central role in the regional trauma system
- Care to the majority of the multisystem trauma patients in the region (Southern GTA and South Central Ontario)
- Complex and unique (quaternary) trauma services for the province
- Academic leadership including trauma training and research programs
St. Michael’s Hospital is an affiliate of the Neurosurgery Education and Outreach Network (NEON), which is a neurosurgery education support program reporting to the System Capabilities Working Group, a sub-group of the Provincial Neurosurgical Advisory Committee (PNAC), supporting system-wide improvements for Ontario’s neurosurgery services. NEON also works collaboratively with Critical Care Services Ontario (CCSO), which is the overseeing body responsible for the implementation of program initiatives of the Ontario Critical Care Strategy.
St. Michael’s Hospital works closely with community hospitals to optimize patient access and flow for neurosurgical patients to ensure patients are able to continue their care journey closer to home. Our advanced practitioners are dedicated to neurosurgery nursing program implementation and will support system-wide improvements through education and outreach across neurosurgery and non-neurosurgery centres (NEON Terms of Reference, revised April 17, 2018).
Contact information:
NEON is comprised of Neurosurgery Nurse Educators and Clinical Outreach Specialists/Advanced Practice Practitioners from each neurosurgery centre, supported by hospital administrators.
The representatives for NEON at St. Michael’s Hospital are:
Clinical Nurse Specialist: Neurosurgical Outreach, Trauma & Neurosurgery Program
Daniela Gaeta
Daniela.gaeta@unityhealth.to
Clinical Nurse Educator: Trauma & Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit
Les Porter
Les.porter@unityhealth.to
Clinical Nurse Educator: Trauma & Neurosurgery Inpatient Unit
Jeannelle Nichol
Jeannelle.nichol@unityhealth.to
Resources
- CCSO resources and education material
- Collar care
- Craniotomy: Post-operative complications
- E-learning module: Guidelines for basic adult neurological assessment
- Guidelines for adult spinal cord assessment
- Guidelines for basic adult neurological observation
- Intracranial pressure basics
- Neurosurgery consult referral guidelines
- Post-operative craniectomy care
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: information and management
- Subdural hematoma: information and management
The Trauma and Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (TNICU) provides traumatic and neurosurgical care to patients from across the province.
9th Floor Donnelly Wing
416-864-5725
Clinical leader manager: Liz Butorac
Inpatient Unit
9th Floor Cardinal Carter Wing
416-864-5814
Clinical leader manager: Shannon Swift
Information to help you understand how your pituitary disorder will be diagnosed and treated at St. Michael’s Hospital.
ATLS
The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course teaches a systematic, concise approach to the immediate management of the trauma patient. ATLS has been taught to more than 1 million doctors worldwide and provides a common language that can save lives in trauma situations. This 1.5 day Hybrid course includes 13 online modules that allow learners to study at their own pace prior to attending the hands-on course.
Course dates:
January 19-20, 2024
March 22-23, 2024
June 21-22, 2024
July 19-20, 2024
August 16-17, 2024
September 20-21, 2024
October 18-19, 2024
November 15-16, 2024
Course fees:
Resident – $1300
Physician – $1600
Auditor – $300
For more information or to register, please contact Anthie Dimoglou at Anthie.Dimoglou@unityhealth.to or 416-456-8216.
ATCN
The Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) course teaches well-established treatment methods and approaches trauma care in a systematic manner, presenting to the nurse a concise method of establishing assessment and management priorities in the care of the trauma patient. This 1.5 day Hybrid course is comprised of 13 online modules that learners may complete at their own pace. After completing these modules, learners will proceed to the course site to complete the hands-on skills portion of the course.
Course dates:
February 9-10, 2024
April 19-20, 2024
October 14-15, 2024
Course fees:
RN – $550
Auditor – $250
For more information or to register, please contact Anthie Dimoglou at Anthie.Dimoglou@unityhealth.to or 416-456-8216.
ASSET
The Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) course is a one day cadaver-based course that presents key surgical exposures in five anatomic areas: neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis, and upper and lower extremities. Low student-to-faculty ratio allows for extensive faculty guidance during the hands-on portion of the course.
Course dates:
May 31, 2024
Course fees:
Surgical Resident/Fellow – $1000
Practicing Surgeon – $1250
For more information or to register, please contact Anthie Dimoglou at Anthie.Dimoglou@unityhealth.to or 416-456-8216.
ATOM
The Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM) course increases surgical competence and confidence by teaching proper operative techniques for penetrating injuries. This one day advanced surgical course is intended for senior surgical residents, trauma fellows, military surgeons and general surgeons that would like to improve their skills in treating penetrating injuries.
Course dates:
May 29-30, 2024
Course fees:
Surgical Resident/Fellow – $1500
Practicing Surgeon – $1950
For more information or to register, please contact Anthie Dimoglou at Anthie.Dimoglou@unityhealth.to or 416-456-8216.
Every patient who receives care in our trauma room at St. Michael’s Hospital is included in a study that records information about the care we provided. The study does not affect the care received, and it allows us to continue to improve the care we provide.
This study has the power to improve care for future trauma patients. Every patient who is included brings us one step closer to this goal.
Please click on the link below to learn more.
Clinics & Services
The Head Injury Clinic is the largest of its kind in Ontario with 2,000 patient visits per year. This clinic provides assessment, diagnosis and management of physical, cognitive and behavioural/psychological symptoms for patients who have sustained mild and moderate traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The clinic is run by a multidisciplinary team including physiatrists, neuropsychiatrist, neuro-otolaryngologist, RN clinical coordinator, social worker, cognitive speech-language pathologist, and research associate.
Goals of the Head Injury Clinic:
- Early Assessment, diagnosis and comprehensive medical management (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) of TBI and related disability
- Coordination of community supports and rehab services
- Provide reintegration support for patients returning to work/school
- Collaborate with other providers across the system to best meet patient’s needs (OHIP and third party-funded services)
- Provide education related to mTBI to patients /family to guide them in their recovery
- Serving a unique patient population, this clinic is committed to providing excellence in care and effective treatments. Patients are referred directly from the Trauma Neurosurgery Department, Emergency Department and Family Practice at St. Michael’s.
The neurosurgery service at St. Michael’s is a busy inner city urban practice and one of 11 adult neurosurgical centres in Ontario. The Division of Neurosurgery distinguishes itself by providing neurosurgical care to patients with:
- Brain and spinal tumours
- Complex skull base lesions including pituitary tumours
- Spinal stenosis, spinal fractures and spinal cord injury
- Brain hemorrhages
- Neurovascular disease
The Neurovascular service provides highly specialized endovascular services for neurovascular disease including:
- Coiling/stenting of aneurysms
- Carotid artery stenting
- Vascular malformation management
RADIS Lab
The RADIS Lab is a global leader in interventional neuroradiology and endovascular neurosurgery, renowned for cutting-edge translational research that bridges the gap between science and patient care. They pioneer advanced treatments for brain vascular diseases using the latest technology and personalized, minimally invasive procedures. Their commitment to excellence, collaboration, and accountability ensures they remain at the forefront of medical innovation.
Physicians
Dr. Spears is the current Head of the Division of Neurosurgery at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. He entered the Neurosurgery Training Program at the University of Toronto in 1998. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2004. Following residency, Dr. Spears completed a two-year fellowship in Endovascular Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto. During his training, Julian undertook graduate studies in Clinical Epidemiology and successfully obtained his Masters of Science degree from the Harvard School of Public Health in 2006. He became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 2008.
Dr. Spears holds a co-appointment in the Division of Neurosurgery and Department of Medical Imaging at St. Michael’s Hospital as Assistant Professor. He is also Co-Director of the Neurovascular Program at St. Michael’s Hospital, an Adjunct Scientist in the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, and Associate Program Director of the Division of Neurosurgery Training Program at the University of Toronto. Dr. Spears’ research interests are primarily in cerebrovascular clinical trials.
Clinical Focus: Brain Aneurysms, Arteriovenous Malformations, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Carotid Endarterectomy and Stenting Cerebrovascular Disease, Brain and Spinal Tumours
Academic Focus: Cerebrovascular Disease, Cerebral Aneurysms, Arteriovenous Malformations
Department: Surgery
Division: NeuroSurgery
Clinics: Neurovascular Clinic
Languages: English
Contact Information:
Clinic/Referrals:
Phone: 416-864-5131
Fax: 416-864-5176
Location: St. Michael’s Hospital
Director of Endovascular Research and Innovation
Schroeder Chair in Advanced Neurovascular Interventions
Lead Scientist/ RADIS lab/ Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
Division of Neurosurgery – Department of Surgery/ St Michael’s Hospital – Unity Health Toronto
St. Michael Hospital
Professor of Surgery and Medical Imaging/ University of Toronto
Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira is a neurosurgeon specialized in endovascular procedures to treat neurovascular diseases of the brain and spine, including Stroke, Brain Aneurysms, Arteriovenous Malformations, Vascular Causes of Pulsatile Tinnitus, Intracranial Hypertension, Dural Fistulas, Carotid and Intracranial Stenosis (Atherosclerotic Diseases) and percutaneous pain procedures in adult and pediatric patients.
He completed a neurosurgery residency at the State University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and his clinical fellowship and master's degree in France (CHU Bicetre and Rothschild Foundation). From 2008-2014, Dr. Pereira worked as the Head of the Interventional Neuroradiology division and Privat-Docent at the University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland. In 2014, he joined the University of Toronto as an Associate Professor and worked at the UHN/Toronto Western Hospital and Hospital for Sick Children. In April/2021, Dr. Pereira joins the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery at St Michael’s Hospital as the Director of Endovascular Research and Innovation. He is currently a Professor at UofT, and he holds the Schroeder Chair in Advanced Neurovascular Interventions.
Dr. Pereira is a pioneer in stent retrievers use in acute stroke and perhaps holds the most extensive experience with flow diverters interventions worldwide. He is interested in diagnosing and treating intracranial venous diseases, including idiopathic intracranial hypertension and pulsatile tinnitus. He is involved in many research and innovative translational projects, and, most recently, he performed the world’s first robotic neurovascular intervention. He plans to advance the possibility of remote endovascular treatments in the future.
He is the lead scientist of the RADIS lab, which focuses on studying innovative technologies and their potential applications to vascular neurosurgery, including computational fluid dynamics, dynamic diagnostic imaging, genetics, and molecular biology. Artificial Intelligence and Robotics are two of the most profound technological advances of the last decade. This lab focuses on leveraging these technologies to improve the outcomes of patients with neurovascular diseases.
Dr. Pereira is engaged in education in the field of endovascular neurosurgery. He organizes advanced training in new techniques and participates in courses and workshops worldwide, teaching cerebral and spinal vascular anatomy, imaging, and advanced endovascular treatments. He has contributed over 270 publications to this evolving and dynamic field.
Department: Surgery
Division: Surgery
Clinics: Neurovascular Clinic
Languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Contact Information:
Clinic/Referrals:
Phone: 416-360-4000 ext. 77113
Fax: 416-864-5176
Location: St. Michael’s Hospital
Dr. Marotta has a long history with St. Michael’s Hospital. He was born here. He also trained here. St. Michael’s Hospital is also where his mother and father met — she was a nurse and he became chief of Medicine. Today, Dr. Tom Marotta runs a weekly neurovascular clinic in the Marotta Clinic, named in honour of his father’s contributions in neurology and medicine.
Dr. Marotta is a minimally invasive neurointerventionalist. He treats patients with neurovascular conditions such as acute strokes and ruptured brain aneurysms. “We see patients with complex neurovascular conditions that require input from many areas including neurosurgery, neurology, neuroradiology and interventional neuroradiology.”
It is this collaborative team that makes St. Michael’s Hospital a great place to work. “Each of us has a different area of interest and expertise that we combine for the benefit of our patients,” he says.
Dr. Marotta trained as an intern, a neurosurgical resident and radiology resident at St. Michael’s Hospital before pursuing further training and practice in Canada and the United States. After establishing a neurointerventional service at Vancouver General Hospital, he returned to St. Michael’s in 2001 to support a similar program here with Dr. Walter Montanera. Today this program sees patients from across Toronto, throughout Ontario and beyond.
Dr. Marotta also participates in clinical studies to better understand neurovascular conditions and to develop new ways to treat them. Specifically, he has a particular focus on developing new devices to treat patients with brain aneurysms in a less invasive way. For example, he has his own patented invention to treat brain aneurysms that has been used to treat patients here in Canada and abroad.
“St. Michael’s Hospital is a supportive environment to work in, to train others, and to conduct innovative research,” he says. “Everything we do is with our patients
in mind and it is an honour to work with such an outstanding team.”
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: Complex aneurysm repair, Flow diversion, Acute carotid disease.
Academic Interests (Research, Teaching/Education, Quality Improvement etc.): Device development/testing, Teaching INR Fellows
Personal Statement: St. Michael’s is my home away from home.
Department: Radiology
Division: Interventional Neuroradiology
Clinics: Neurovascular Clinic
Contact Information:
Clinic/Referrals:
Phone: 416-864-5131
Fax: 416-864-5176
Location: St. Michael’s Hospital
Dr. Jose Danilo Diestro is a vascular neurologist subspecialty training in interventional neuroradiology. His expertise lies in the medical and endovascular management of various vascular conditions affecting the brain and spine, such as stroke, carotid artery stenosis, aneurysms, fistulae, and arteriovenous malformations.
Dr. Diestro completed his residency training in Adult Neurology and pursued a fellowship in Stroke at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. He further honed his skills through fellowship training in Interventional Neuroradiology at esteemed Canadian institutions including the University of Toronto (St. Michael’s Hospital) and the Université de Montréal (Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal). At St. Mike’s, he received training under the supervision of his program director, Dr. Thomas Marotta.
He has made contributions to the field of vascular and interventional neurology, with his work being published and presented at various conferences in Canada and the Philippines. Dr. Diestro's research interests primarily revolve around acute stroke neuroimaging, long-term neurological outcomes of subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the development of innovative devices for aneurysm treatment. His dedication to methodologically sound research has led him to pursue additional graduate studies with a focus on epidemiology.
Dr. Diestro firmly believes that neurointervention is a collaborative discipline involving neurologists, neurosurgeons, and radiologists, working together to provide exceptional patient care and ensure a positive health-care experience.
Clinical Focus: Acute stroke interventions, Aneurysms, Carotid disease
Academic Focus: Stroke, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Devices for aneurysm treatment
Department: Medicine
Division: Neurology
Clinics: Neurovascular Clinic
Languages: English, Filipino
Contact information:
Clinic/Referrals:
Phone: 416-864-5365
Fax: 416-864-5176
Twitter: @DanniDiestro
Location: St. Michael’s Hospital
Program Managers
Nicole Cancelliere is the Neurovascular Research Program Manager at St. Michael’s Hospital and also works as a medial radiation technologist specialized in supporting neurointerventional & robotic-assisted procedures. She completed her collaborative undergraduate degree and X-ray technology diploma at Queen’s University and the Eastern Ontario School of X-ray Technology in 2013, and then went on to complete her Master’s degree in Neuroscience.
As a clinical research technologist, Nicole works with both the clinical and research teams, supporting innovative patient care in the field of brain hemodynamics and neurovascular disease. As co-lead of the RADIS lab, the collaborative research team uses advanced technologies, including Robotics, AI, Dynamic Flow, Imaging and Simulation, to develop
new approaches to improve diagnosis and treatment of neurovascular diseases. Nicole is certified as a specialized neurovascular robotic technologist and was a part of Dr. Pereira’s clinical team which performed the world’s first robotic neurovascular intervention in the world on November 1, 2019.
She is also very passionate about advancing minimally invasive neurosurgery and radiography training & education and has helped run several ischemic and hemorrhagic workshops globally using advanced simulators and 3D-printed vascular models. She is also actively involved with the Medical Radiation Sciences program at the University of Toronto and Michener Institute where she is involved in course development and interventional
radiology education. Nicole sits on the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) Research Grant Committee that works to advance the field by providing financial support for worthy humanitarian, educational and scientific contributions through research by the profession. Nicole is committed to promoting a model of research integration with clinical specialty among future fellow technologists.
Eileen Liu is a certified Project Manager who is currently working as a Research Coordinator III for the Neurovascular Program at St. Michael’s Hospital. She obtained her Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree at Queen’s University and obtained her Master’s degree in Medical Science at the University of Toronto. Eileen is involved in the management and coordination of various clinical trials and projects involving neurovascular diseases including stroke, carotid artery stenosis, brain aneurysms, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and more.
Injury recovery and wellness
The Trauma Clinic at St. Michael’s is a Nurse Practitioner-led, post-injury assessment clinic for trauma patients who have received treatment in the emergency department or have been admitted to the hospital. The Trauma Clinic provides follow up care for patients who have sustained single and multi-system injuries related to motor vehicle collisions, gun violence, self-harm, falls or been injured in their place of work. Our team consists of nurse practitioners, nurses, social work and psychiatry.
Goals of the Trauma Clinic:
- Provide patients with comprehensive assessments to evaluate their physical, functional, cognitive and psychological recovery after injury
- Identify and provide early intervention to optimize post-trauma and injury outcomes
- Enhance collaboration with community teams to strengthen wrap around care
- Improve access to care and services after discharge that include: wound care, pain management, screening and referrals to specialty clinics and programs
Did you suffer a traumatic injury?
Were you:
- In a car crash?
- Injured at work?
- Injured in a fall?
- Injured on your bike?
- A pedestrian struck by a vehicle?
- A victim of a violent attack?
Are you:
- Trying to figure out what happens next?
- Wondering how you will cope with your life?
- Wondering how your life will change?
- Worried about what you need to do?
Monthly support group meetings are open to any interested participants who have sustained or been affected by traumatic physical injury.
Read more
Last updated November 07, 2023