Good morning, TeamUHN!
It is a pleasure to connect with you across care, research, and education through this weekly CEO update – all in service of A Healthier World.
Key reminders and updates
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This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at UHN! The Centre cares for some of the sickest cardiovascular patients in Canada and is internationally renowned for groundbreaking discoveries, life-saving interdisciplinary collaborations, and world-class patient care. Building and sustaining the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre requires the extraordinary skills of staff, the faith of patients, and the compassion of donors. And, of course, none of this would have been possible without Peter and Melanie Munk. Their generosity enabled the creation of the Centre and laid the foundation for the past 25 years of innovation. Celebrate this milestone by enjoying a new collection of stories at www.DoWhateverItTakes.ca.
Watch
this video as patient Fareed Mohammed, who has faced challenges due to rare vascular malformations, explains how the specialists at Peter Munk Cardiac Centre helped him regain a quality of life not experienced in a decade.
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UHN Research's outreach program, UHN STEM Pathways, is inspiring young people to share a love of all things Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The program allows students from Grades 1 to 12 to participate in hands-on workshops, interactive tours, classroom visits, and scientist panels at no charge to either participants or schools. The goal is to spark more curiosity and interest in STEM. Watch the
video below for highlights from the program's first year. Visit
the UHN STEM Pathways site to learn more.
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UHN's Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, May 24. A topic of focus was UHN's projected financial position as we close out fiscal year 2022/23 and planning approach for the coming year. The Board also discussed the need for UHN to keep pace with technological advancements, in particular, those related to Artificial Intelligence, which can be responsibly leveraged to improve the treatment and prevention of disease. Chief Nurse Executive Pam Hubley, Surgeon-in-Chief Tom Forbes, and Physician-in-Chief Kathryn Tinckam spoke to the Board about challenges and opportunities impacting TeamUHN across the professions, including retention and recruitment, quality of work life and professional development, and equity. The Board meets next on.
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You asked, UHNWomen delivered! Part 2 of the popular International Women's Day (IWD) panel, featuring powerhouse women leaders in healthcare, will be released on June 15. In March, UHNWomen hosted a virtual IWD event, moderated by former Ontario Deputy Premier and Health Minister Deb Matthews, that featured frank conversations with Dr. Heather Ross, Division Head, Cardiology, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre; Dr. Miyo Yamashita, President & CEO of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation; and Dr. Catherine Zahn, Ontario's Deputy Minister of Health. Based on the strong response from the first session, UHNWomen recently reconvened the panel to respond to unanswered audience questions related to pay equity, intersectionality, and more. UHNWomen is encouraging TeamUHN to consider organizing viewing parties to watch the 35-minute video, which will be available on YouTube and posted to the group's Sharepoint site, to spark even more meaningful dialogue. Watch the teaser trailer linked below. My continued thanks to UHNWomen for their advocacy for equity and inclusive opportunities for women at UHN.
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Take the Strategic Plan refresh survey today and share your thoughts on '3 Big Questions' to shape the next stage of UHN's journey. Visit the
survey website or scan the QR code below to get started and be entered into draws for a number of awesome prizes! Questions? Email
strategy@uhn.ca.
Closing Notes
Be sure to check out this UHN News story on how Toronto's Virtual Emergency Department helped an 88-year-old woman get the care she needed. Struggling with a suspected urinary tract infection and unable to meet with her family doctor or receive care at a walk-in clinic, Betty Morrell was at a loss on what to do next. Her daughter, recently retired UHN nurse practitioner Sue DeVries, turned to the Virtual ED at UHN – an online portal offering same-day virtual appointments for Ontarians over 18 with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. Sue was able to secure an appointment for her mother within an hour and, about 24 hours after the virtual visit, Betty got the antibiotics she needed. Since its launch in 2020, more than 3,000 Ontarians have benefited from the Virtual ED and 80 per cent of patients are managed without the need for an in-person ED visit. Learn more about this innovative service on UHN News. Visit TorontoVirtualED.ca for more information.
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation's 16th annual Ride to Conquer Cancer needs volunteers. The popular event, which raises money for The Princess Margaret, will take place June 10-11. Volunteers support the Ride in many ways, from ensuring Riders are safe along the route to ensuring they have a comfortable spot to rest with sustenance to keep them going. Join hundreds of passionate volunteers for a life-changing weekend and have an impact on your community and on the future of cancer research! There are opportunities for you and your family and friends in Toronto, Hamilton, and Niagara, as well as along the route. If you have any questions or want to volunteer, please contact Ryan Baillie at Ryan.Baillie@thepmcf.ca.
And now... our
video of the week. In this
clip, we check out UHN's first pop-up pet therapy event for TeamUHN!
Feedback?
Your feedback is welcome and valued. Please reply directly to me or leave anonymous feedback here.
Have a good week,
Kevin
