Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

11/26/2025

David Poynton’s gift to Sunnybrook honours his late parents, Jack and Judy Poynton, who proudly dedicated over 70 years to Sunnybrook as volunteers. After visiting his family cemetery in Perth, Ontario, David uncovered a history of ancestors who served as Veterans, educators, and community volunteers.

This legacy of service inspired him to establish the Jack and Judy Poynton Volunteer Resources Fund at Sunnybrook. Read David's full story: https://ow.ly/9UCp50Xw0nt

11/25/2025

Earlier this month, we hosted our fourth annual Feast for the Ancestors.

The ceremony is an opportunity to honour and connect with our ancestors around a sacred fire. It’s also a way to express gratitude to our ancestors for their guidance and to show respect for those who have supported us throughout our lives.

The Feast for the Ancestors is an important tradition as it brings the community together, providing Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples the opportunity to connect and build a stronger sense of unity.

Learn more about this year's Feast for the Ancestors ceremony: https://ow.ly/ALQn50XsV9n

11/24/2025

Sunnybrook neonatologist Dr. Eugene Ng is co-editor-in-chief of a new open-access journal that connects clinical minds worldwide to improve care for premature and sick newborns.

The Journal of Clinical Insights in Neonatology shares unique case studies and real-world lessons to support frontline teams, spark “ah-ha” moments and strengthen outcomes for babies and families.

Read more about the publication, why it matters and how it will impact learners and students: https://ow.ly/64Hj50XwQiu

11/24/2025

A Will is more than just a legal document—it's a meaningful expression of your values and the impact you want to leave behind. We are pleased to introduce a step-by-step toolkit to help you plan your Will and legacy, as you think about the people and causes you care about.

Donor generosity fuels innovation. It’s what enables us to purchase advanced technology, upgrade facilities, and invest in programs that improve patient care and comfort.

Request your toolkit: https://ow.ly/wEvl50XvZFy

11/21/2025

A Canada first! 🇨🇦

This week, Sunnybrook became the first hospital in Canada to take part in a focused surgical verification process through the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

Through meetings, the ACS reviewer accessed all aspects of our surgical program with a focus on orthopaedics and neurosurgery. In the coming months, the reviewer will provide an in-depth assessment with recommendations to find, fix and prevent problems, helping guide our ongoing work to achieve the best care outcomes.

Thank you to everyone in our Integrated Surgical Program for preparing for this review and for your continued commitment to improving patient care.

11/20/2025

At Sunnybrook, Veterans Week is filled with cherished traditions and visits from special guests to honour the sacrifices of the Veterans who call Sunnybrook home, as well as all past, present and future Veterans.

Leading up to and between November 3-11, Sunnybrook hosted many events, including Operation Raise a Flag, visits from government officials, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Duke of Sussex, and ended with our annual Remembrance Day ceremony.

From our roots as Sunnybrook Military Hospital, which opened in 1948, to our rich history of caring for Veterans, our dedication to Veterans has never wavered. Though November offers many moments to honour those who served, we are proud to be one of Canada’s largest Veteran care facilities year-round. This legacy is woven into who we are and will continue to guide us forward.

Read more about how the Veterans who call Sunnybrook home and staff celebrated Veterans Week this year: https://ow.ly/94s050XuOxF

11/19/2025

A Sunnybrook-led research study, published in Nature Mental Health, shows the salience network is disproportionately affected in individuals whose symptoms persist after experiencing a concussion. This finding offers a new avenue to test for therapy approaches. Read more: https://ow.ly/YLPF50Xtz9v

11/18/2025

The Peter Cipriano Centre for Seniors Health at Sunnybrook is now open and welcoming patients. Thanks to the generosity of philanthropist Peter Cipriano and many caring donors, this vibrant new space is helping older adults stay healthy, independent, and connected to the care they need.

If you haven’t visited yet, take a virtual tour to explore how thoughtfully designed spaces are supporting both patients and staff in delivering exceptional care to seniors: https://ow.ly/b6g850XtwzB

11/17/2025

As a family support specialist in Sunnybrook’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Tufah Sharif spends her days checking in on new parents. Not long ago, she was in their shoes as the mother of three premature children.

Tufah often shares photos of her children—from their days in the NICU to now—to show how far they’ve come and to reassure parents.

Learn more about Tufah’s role as we mark :
https://ow.ly/rLm350Xr4L6

11/17/2025

At Sunnybrook, learning goes both ways. To celebrate our students and preceptors interviewed each other about what teaching and learning in health care really means.

11/15/2025

Today on National Philanthropy Day, we are thrilled to launch our 2025 Impact Report. It features six powerful stories that showcase the deep impact philanthropy has on every corner of Sunnybrook—from urgent cancer care and courageous healing journeys to building compassionate new facilities and celebrating legacies of service. Read the stories here: https://ow.ly/KKMv50XqJro

11/14/2025

Communication is at the heart of inclusive health care. For the over 3 million Canadians who are Deaf or hard of hearing, verbal communication poses a variety of unique challenges.

To help bridge this gap, our Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) team has partnered with the The Bob Rumball Foundation for the Deaf to create a video series on infection prevention, promoting accessibility and health equity.

“Creating this video series is an important step in advancing health equity both at the hospital and in our community”, says Jaclyn O’Brien, Sunnybrook infection prevention & control practitioner. “We believe everyone in the Deaf community deserves equitable access to important information, just like everyone else, and this video series is helping accomplish that goal”.

Learn more about how were advancing health equity through community partnerships:

In the dynamic health-care landscape, communication is a crucial component of providing comprehensive care.

11/14/2025

Sunnybrook has been awarded Stroke Distinction by Accreditation Canada for excellence in stroke care at our Bayview and St. John’s Rehab campuses.

This is the first year we have entered the process, and the distinction highlights our team's leadership and commitment to delivering high-quality, coordinated stroke care.

From rapid intervention to rehabilitation, our stroke programs support patients through every stage of recovery—helping them achieve the best possible outcomes.

Learn more about how we are advancing stroke care: https://ow.ly/1Auf50Xr5FS

11/12/2025

After a severe collision, Garth spent four critical months recovering at Sunnybrook. He went on to undergo over 15 surgeries over the next four years. That life-changing experience inspired him and his wife Joanne to support the hospital with a gift in their Will, ensuring Sunnybrook’s trauma and emergency teams can continue saving lives. "My legacy gift is a reflection of the life I’ve been given,” Garth shares. Read his full story here: https://ow.ly/gbBk50XqHe0

11/11/2025

At Sunnybrook, we have the privilege of caring for those who have served and continue to serve Canada in our armed forces.

From our beginnings as Sunnybrook Military Hospital to our work today as one of Canada’s largest Veterans care facilities, we remain deeply honoured to care for the courageous people who served in the name of peace and freedom.

Today, we gathered at our cenotaph to honour their service and sacrifice, laying wreaths in remembrance and gratitude. We thank our Veterans for their bravery, dedication and service to Canada.

In case you missed our Remembrance Day service, you can watch it here: https://ow.ly/4A6750XnQMj

11/11/2025

This morning, Premier Doug Ford, MPP Michelle Cooper, MPP Laura Smith, and Secretary of Cabinet Michelle E. DiEmanuele joined us ahead of our Remembrance Day ceremony and participated in in support of our Veterans.

The Premier met with Veterans and active members of the Canadian Armed Forces, thanking them for their service and learning more about Sunnybrook’s ongoing work with the Forces, educating and training members of the military-medical community.

Thank you all for your visit and support of .

11/11/2025

Today is Remembrance Day. Starting at 10:15 a.m. we invite you to view a live broadcast of our Remembrance Day service on Sunnybrook’s YouTube Channel: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=axsJbN4T2uk&pp=4gcUEhJTQlZldGVyYW5zV2VlazIwMjU%3D

Please join us in honouring our heroic Veterans this Remembrance Day.

11/10/2025

We want to thank the Honourable Rob Oliphant MP for Don Valley West, Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and all our volunteers who came out today to plant flags and support .

This cherished event is one of the highlights of and a meaningful way to show gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our Veterans.

11/10/2025

Sunnybrook’s annual kicks off this morning at our Bayview campus for .

Throughout the day, thousands of patriotic flags will be planted across our campus by hundreds of volunteers. On Remembrance Day, our nearly 150 resident Veterans will wake up to a sea of flags as a symbol of gratitude.

You can deepen your gratitude today by making a meaningful donation to directly support quality-of-life programs for the Veterans within the Veterans Centre, including accessibility and on-site and off-site programs: https://ow.ly/BfoL50XpCmA

11/09/2025

Ahead of Remembrance Day, the Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, visited Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre to thank Veterans for their service to Canada.

Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre provides exceptional care to resident Veterans as a lasting reminder of Canada’s gratitude to those who bravely served in the military.

Thank you, Minister McKnight, for visiting and for your continued support of Sunnybrook and our Veterans program.

11/08/2025

Today, on Indigenous Veterans Day, we honour the courage and sacrifice of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans who served Canada.

As part of , we celebrated by gifting hand-beaded poppies created by Joanna Diindiisikwe Simmons to Indigenous Veterans living at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre and partnering with the Toronto Public Library to display reading materials that highlight the contributions of Indigenous Veterans and help educate our community.

We also recreated an art installation showcasing the long tradition of service and sacrifices in war of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit people of Canada. The original artwork was commissioned by Sunnybrook and created by Indigenous artist Philip Cote.

11/07/2025

Yesterday, in partnership with the True Patriot Love Foundation, Sunnybrook hosted the Duke of Sussex at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre—one of Canada’s largest Veterans care facilities, and home to nearly 150 Veterans.

During the visit, the Duke toured the Centre, meeting many of our Veterans.

A helmet painted in advance by Veterans Brenda Reid and Harold Toth was gifted to the Duke. A second helmet painted by a group of Sunnybrook Veterans and finished by Veteran Jim La Force, with assistance from the Duke, was auctioned at the True Patriot Love Foundation’s National Tribute Dinner. We are proud to partner with organizations like True Patriot Love Foundation to support Veterans and those who continue to serve.

Thank you to the Duke of Sussex for visiting and making this extra special.

11/06/2025

This Remembrance Day, Tuesday, November 11 at 10:15 a.m., we invite you to view a live broadcast of our Remembrance Day service on Sunnybrook’s YouTube Channel: https://ow.ly/4A6750XnQMj

For those who cannot watch the live broadcast, a recording of the ceremony will be posted to our YouTube channel following its conclusion.

Please join us in honouring our heroic Veterans this Remembrance Day.

11/05/2025

Today, we welcomed 50 grade nine students to our Bayview campus for Take Your Kid to Work Day. Students received a behind-the-scenes look at what a career in health care looks like.

During their visit, students toured our Mother and Baby Unit to see what goes into preparing an operating room, visited the Sunnybrook Canadian Simulation Lab, and learned how our pharmacy safely dispenses medication to patients throughout the hospital.

Wrapping up the day, students heard presentations from our Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Injury Prevention teams.

Thank you everyone on Team Sunnybrook who participated and helped organize today's events!

11/05/2025

At Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre, creativity continues to thrive. This year’s Veterans portraits and videos were captured in the spaces where residents spend their time creating — from the art studio and photography room to the kitchen and ceramics tables.

Check out the short videos on our YouTube Channel for a glimpse of their life and reflections: https://ow.ly/U2ll50Xnb9V