Unity Health Toronto

05/01/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬’ 𝐃𝐚𝐲!

Today we thank the more than 1,500 physicians at Unity Health Toronto whose expertise and compassion supports patients, residents, families and clients across every stage of their care journey — from pediatric and primary care to urgent, acute and specialized services, rehabilitation, long term care and palliative care.

This past year, Unity Health physicians made incredible contributions to research, education and innovation, helping Unity Health launch new programs, develop new spaces, uncover new treatments, deploy new digital tools and technologies, and train the next generation of medical professionals.

The commitment of physicians to delivering high quality, patient centred and evidence based care makes a meaningful difference every day.

04/30/2026

Every month, staff, researchers, physicians, learners and teams across Unity Health Toronto celebrate important honours, achievements and awards. Congratulations to all who’ve been recognized in April!

Click the link to learn more: https://unityhealth.to/2026/04/april-2026-honour-roll/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260430-honour-roll

04/30/2026

Unity Health recently held it’s first Quality Improvement Symposium, bringing together staff, physicians, leaders and community supporters to celebrate how quality improvement strengthens patient care. Hosted by the Barrett Centre for Quality Improvement (BCQI) at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, the event highlighted how building QI skills, leadership and collaboration leads to better patient outcomes and better patient and provider experiences.

Thanks to the generous support of the Barrett Family Foundation, BCQI is expanding our capacity for meaningful, frontline‑led improvement. Together, we’re building a culture of continuous improvement where better care is always evolving.

04/29/2026

This week, the newly renovated 1G Ambulatory Care Centre (ACC) at St. Joseph’s Health Centre officially opened.

The ACC is one of St. Joseph’s busiest patient care areas, supporting more than 50,000 outpatient appointments each year across 26 specialty clinics. The ambulatory care centre provides patients with specialized assessment, treatment and follow-up services, including care for skin cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and more.

After almost two years of renovation, Gillian Brunning, Senior Project Manager, Planning and Business Development, says that the space was completed to modernize the facility and better support the growing demand for outpatient care.

The new space includes a bright, expanded waiting room and reception area, 16 standardized exam rooms, additional accessible washrooms, and a dedicated Mohs micrographic surgery clinic, all designed to support the patientcare experience.

Swipe to see the new space.

04/27/2026

Thank you to our staff, physicians, learners, volunteers and Patient and Family Partners (PFP) for their compassion, expertise and partnership. Their actions – big and small – shape experiences that go beyond care and make a lasting difference.

👉 Read the 2025 PFP Year in Review to see the impact of their partnership. https://unityhealth.to/get-involved/patient-and-family-partners-pfps/

04/25/2026

A Toronto team at St. Michael’s Hospital, University Health Network, and the University of Toronto has reported the first Canadian case of sustained HIV remission—and possible cure—in a 62-year-old man who received a bone marrow transplant to treat cancer. The transplant used donor stem cells with the rare CCR5 “delta-32” mutation, which can make immune cells resistant to HIV. The individual stopped antiretroviral therapy (ART) in July 2025 and, as of April 2026, HIV remains undetectable.

Bone marrow transplants are not a standard treatment for HIV, and they carry significant risks—this approach is only considered for people who need a transplant for a life-threatening blood cancer. But studying rare cases like this can help researchers develop safer, more accessible strategies to target the HIV “reservoir,” a long-standing barrier to a cure.

The research team was co-led by Dr. Mario Ostrowski, clinical scientist at St. Michael’s and Dr. Sharon Walmsley, director of the HIV clinic at UHN.

Ostrowski says that by studying cases like the Toronto patient, researchers can gather clues to develop less toxic and less expensive approaches to treatment that can achieve similar outcomes. His lab aims to advance a cure for HIV by focusing on immune cells called T cells that can target viral reservoirs.

Learn more: https://unityhealth.to/2026/04/first-in-canada-case-of-sustained-hiv-remission/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260425-HIV-remission

04/25/2026

During National Volunteer Week, Unity Health Toronto proudly celebrated the many volunteers who support our communities, including at the Volunteer Service Milestone Awards Ceremony at Providence Healthcare.

This year, 29 Providence volunteers were recognized for reaching milestones ranging from 200 to 8,000 hours of service. We extend special recognition to Henry Sugimoto, who has volunteered more than 8,000 hours over 11 years at the Houses of Providence.

Thank you to Henry and to all our volunteers for the many ways you help make Unity Health a such a special place for patients, families, and staff.

04/24/2026

The results of two clinical trials – led by the Upstream Lab at St. Michael's Hospital and University of Oxford and published in the New England Journal of Medicine – provide new evidence for policymakers, physicians, pharmacists and patients to consider when funding, prescribing, or taking Paxlovid.

The CanTreatCOVID study in Canada and the PANORAMIC study in the UK found that Paxlovid does not reduce hospital admissions or deaths in vaccinated adults at higher risk of severe COVID-19, but it does help people recover faster.

Dr. Andrew Pinto, Director of the Upstream Lab at MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, led the Canadian trial; Dr. Benita Hosseini, Ph.D., Upstream Lab Scientist, was a Co-Principal Investigator; and Dr. Chris Butler from Oxford University led the UK trial.

“In today’s highly vaccinated populations, the benefits of Paxlovid have fundamentally changed,” said Dr. Butler. “While people feel better sooner, we found no reduction in the already low rate of hospitalizations or deaths. This provides essential high-quality evidence for optimal, cost-effective targeting of this treatment.”

Learn more:

04/23/2026

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐭. 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡’𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞! 🌎

An eco-themed activity sheet — created by Humber College Food & Nutrition Management student Puneet — was shared with patients alongside their meals yesterday. The puzzles were distributed thanks to the Beltline Team, who assemble breakfast, lunch and dinner trays for patients, delivering as many as 1,275 meals every day!

At Unity Health Toronto, caring for our communities includes caring for the planet we all share. 🌱

04/22/2026

This Earth Day, staff at Providence Healthcare stepped outside to help pick up litter from around the hospital grounds. It was a simple, hands‑on way to care for the space we share and support Unity Health Toronto’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

04/22/2026

Unity Health Toronto continues to strengthen its leadership in sustainability across academic health care, and on Earth Day we're proud to share some of our achievements from the past year.

The Toronto Academic Health Science Network’s second annual Climate & Sustainability Report highlights measurable progress across 14 academic hospitals, and Unity Health had a strong showing in the 2025 Sustainability Balanced Scorecard, earning green ratings in organizational capacity, appropriate care, supply stewardship, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

These efforts are guided by Unity Health’s 2024–29 Sustainability Plan, reinforcing that environmental stewardship is inseparable from quality care, resilience, and accountability.

We’re proud to contribute to a shared, system wide approach that advances both human and planetary health.

Learn more: https://unityhealth.to/2026/04/tahsn-climate-leadership/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=240622-TAHSN

04/22/2026

It’s National Volunteer Week and we’re celebrating the incredible volunteers who support patients, families and teams across Unity Health!

Meet some of the volunteers who are making a difference every day.

✨ Anthony Aquan-Assee has volunteered at St. Michael’s Hospital for the past 26 years, first in the Trauma Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit and now in palliative care
✨ Sophia Liu (Left), Mary Pidlaoan (Centre), Riley Bernardino (Right) volunteer at Providence Healthcare as high school co-op students
✨ Joan Bennett, has volunteered in the archives department at St. Michael’s for the past six years, bringing with her a passion for preserving the hospital’s legacy
✨ Astrid Amador, who is currently enrolled in a Master of Health Science in Medical Physiology program at U of T, has been volunteering at St. Joseph’s Health Centre for the past three years

Thank you to all the many volunteers at Unity Health who strengthen our community all year long.

For more information about our volunteer programs please click here: https://unityhealth.to/get-involved/volunteer-at-unity-health/ -josephs-health-centre-volunteer-programs-requirements-0

04/21/2026

This week marks National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, and the Renal Transplant Program at St. Michael’s Hospital is proud to announce the successful completion of 50 living donor kidney transplants in 2025.

This number is a testament to a program that has overcome the staffing and resource challenges of the post-pandemic era. "50 is a milestone that we're all very proud of," says Kathryn Salvatore, a living donor nurse coordinator with the Program.

Read more about this story on our website: https://unityhealth.to/2026/04/st-michaels-hits-transplant-milestone/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260421-gift-of-life

04/20/2026

Unity Health Toronto is strengthening coordinated care across St. Michael’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Health Centre with a clear referral pathway, helping to connect patients to the right teams and services at the right time.

See how this connected model is making high-risk pregnancy care easier to navigate, so families can spend less time travelling between centres and more time focused on their health.

Click the link to read more: https://unityhealth.to/2026/04/coordinated-care-for-patients-with-high-risk-pregnancies/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260420-pregnancies

04/16/2026

Yesterday, our Unity Health teams participated in — a large-scale emergency preparedness exercise involving 31 partner organizations across the city. The exercise was an exciting opportunity to test response protocols, strengthen coordination and reflect on lessons learned as we prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Follow the hashtag to see how teams learned valuable lessons and worked together throughout the day.

04/10/2026

Libraries are more than books, they’re also bridges to better care.

For Sadaf Ullah, Information Specialist on our Library Services team, making knowledge accessible is at the heart of everything she does. From supporting nurses with evidence-based resources to breaking down paywalls that limit access to care information, her work helps strengthen learning, education and patient outcomes across Unity Health Toronto.

We’re proud to share that Sadaf was recently recognized with the Joan Leishman Award of Merit for Excellence in Health Science Information, honouring her impact across Ontario’s health care system.

Read her story and see how information can change practice: https://unityhealth.to/2026/04/making-knowledge-accessible-for-staff/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260409-librarian

04/09/2026

After carrying the heartbreak of losing their twin daughters, Giuliana and Valentina, Bianca and Daniel returned to St. Michael’s Hospital with hope, choosing to stay present, one milestone at a time.

On December 20, 2025, they welcomed triplets Cristiano, Alessandro and Milena. Their arrival was made possible by months of careful monitoring, coordinated planning and a team that understood not just this pregnancy, but everything that came before it.

For Bianca and Daniel, coming back to St. Michael’s was never a question. Familiar faces, steady communication and compassionate care helped them navigate the “what ifs,” while holding space for their past. One of the triplets was even named in honour of a nurse whose kindness during the twins’ birth and loss left a lasting imprint.

Their story is a reminder that parenthood can be shaped by every chapter, by love, by grief, and by the people who walk with you through it all.

Read the full story: https://unityhealth.to/2026/03/a-future-begins-here/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260330-triplets

04/09/2026

We are proud to congratulate Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO of Unity Health Toronto, on being named the 2026 recipient of the CCHL Distinguished Leadership Award - the highest honour awarded by the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

The CCHL Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes visionary leaders who have driven meaningful transformation, demonstrated exemplary engagement and collaboration and a dedication to building leadership capacity.

Congratulations to Altaf, on this well-deserved recognition.

Read more: https://cchl-ccls.ca/news_article/altaf-stationwala-named-recipient-of-the-2026-cchl-distinguished-leadership-award/

04/07/2026

Recently, members of Unity Health’s executive team rolled up their sleeves to complete the Stop the Bleed course, an immersive, hands-on program that teaches life‑saving skills for emergency situations. Created by the American College of Surgeons, Stop the Bleed equips both civilian bystanders and health care professionals with practical tools to stop uncontrolled bleeding when it matters most.

Led by the Injury Prevention Program at St. Michael’s Hospital, the session took place in Unity Health’s state‑of‑the‑art Simulation Centre, where participants learned how to recognize major bleeding and respond effectively across a range of realistic scenarios.

As a Level One Trauma Centre verified by the American College of Surgeons, St. Michael’s Hospital is home to a leading trauma program that delivers timely, comprehensive care to the most critically injured patients. Globally, the Stop the Bleed program has trained nearly four million people, including the community and student groups our incredible educators spend their time working with.

04/02/2026

April 2, 2026, is World Autism Awareness Day. 💙

Team members at The Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence Long‑Term Care Home marked the day by wearing specially designed t‑shirts in celebration of World Autism Awareness Day. The shirts were designed by resident assistant Deandra Belle (pictured here with her team), whose son is on the autism spectrum. Deandra was proudly supported by her colleagues as they came together to raise awareness and show their support.

Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence is a long‑term care centre serving 288 residents on the campus of Providence Healthcare—a regional leader in rehabilitation, seniors’ care, and long‑term care—where specialized teams help people live to their fullest potential.

03/30/2026

Last week, Unity Health Toronto held a mock Code Orange exercise to prepare for emergency events in our city.

As a Level 1 trauma centre, St. Michael’s Hospital regularly conducts large-scale simulations involving teams from across the hospital to ensure readiness for real-life catastrophic events.

Global News featured Unity Health staff as they took part in this collaborative exercise, drawing on the expertise of emergency preparedness teams throughout the hospital.

Watch the feature here:

Watch Mock ‘Code Orange’ tests disaster response at Unity Health Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

03/30/2026

A new commentary published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) says Canada needs a national framework for civilian–military medical integration to prepare for emergencies.

Co-authors, including St. Michael’s physicians Dr. Andrew Beckett and Dr. David Klein, write that in the case of a major armed conflict, Canada’s public health care system would bear the burden.

“The limiting resources would be trauma surgery, intensive care beds, blood supply, transport coordination, and real-time situational awareness,” the authors write. “All these resources depend on digital infrastructure enabling patient tracking, hospital capacity management, and interfacility communication, which may themselves be disrupted during cyber attacks.”

Read the full story: https://unityhealth.to/2026/03/preparing-canadas-health-system-for-military-conflicts/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260330-military

03/28/2026

Dr. Steffanie Strathdee, visiting scholar at St. Michael’s Hospital and leading mind in the race against antimicrobial resistance, is featured in a new episode of Radiolab called “Viscera: Antibiotic Apocalypse.”

In conversation with Radiolab correspondent and ER physician Dr. Avir Mitra, Strathdee digs into the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, how bacteria are evolving faster than we can keep up with, and why some of the most promising solutions are coming from the most unexpected places.

Strathdee is a scientist and author of the book The Perfect Predator, which recounts her own personal encounter with an antibiotic-resistant superbug and the use of phage therapy to treat infections that have defied all other treatment.

You can listen to the episode now: https://link.podtrac.com/fxz9hw18.

03/26/2026

After a hip fracture, Madhu Suri wasn’t sure she’d be able to manage stairs again. After three weeks of rehabilitation, she can climb 15 -- all while cheering on the people around her.

With the support of Providence’s Orthopaedic and Amputee Rehabilitation team, Madhu’s positivity, determination and hard work helped her regain confidence and mobility, one step at a time.

Read about Madhu’s journey. https://unityhealth.to/2026/03/a-patients-journey-through-hip-fracture-rehabilitation/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260326-rehabilitation

03/25/2026

Yesterday, Unity Health welcomed a delegation of Dutch health executives to St. Michael’s Hospital for an exchange on leading health systems through complexity and transformation. Our leadership team shared our AI strategy and our approaches to advancing strategic priorities, building clinical trust and advancing data driven care.

Thank you to our presenters and to our Dutch colleagues for a morning of meaningful dialogue and learning.