By Catherine Danko
Linda Flockhart knows UHN inside and out.
From intensive care to spinal cord rehab, Linda's journey as a nurse leader has been fueled by a passion for patient care.
"Nursing is never about you or your career, it's about advocating for your staff and supporting patients, ensuring they receive the best care possible," says Linda, who is ending her nearly 40-year career at UHN as Clinical Director of UHN's Toronto Rehab Brain, Spine and Cardiac programs.
Linda, who will retire on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, has served in various leadership roles throughout her career, including nurse manager and then as Clinical Director of UHN's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC) and Toronto General Hospital (TGH) Intensive Care Units (ICUs) before transitioning to a rehabilitation role.
While she describes her upcoming transition to retirement as bittersweet, she eagerly anticipates her new role at home: grandmother.
"I have no doubt that I'll be keeping busy," says Linda, who looks forward to spending time with her family and making time for travel.
Keeping busy is nothing new for Linda, who has led numerous initiatives and projects during her time serving as nurse manager and in various directorial roles.
During the pandemic, her leadership as Clinical Director for TGH ICUs was pivotal as she co-led the provincial ICU supply stockpile, ensuring hospitals had the necessary supplies to care for the most critically ill patients.
In addition to her leadership work at TGH, Linda was instrumental in leading teams across UHN to help improve patient safety by developing care bundles to prevent central line infections and ventilator acquired pneumonia.
As a nurse manager, she led the cardiovascular ICU at TGH to become the first Canadian ICU to obtain the American Critical Care Association's Beacon Award for excellence at the gold level.
"It was a big team project that couldn't have happened without the whole team's focus on quality outcomes and creating a healthy work environment," says Linda.
At Toronto Rehab, Linda recently transformed the models of care at the Lyndhurst Centre, enhancing hands-on patient care and revamping outpatient clinics.
"Linda has always been a tremendous advocate for her teams, and her adaptability and dedication to them were evident as she navigated the rehab setting coming from so many years in the acute cardiac program," says Janet Newton, UHN Vice President Clinical, who initially hired Linda as Nurse Manager at PMCC. "Linda's passion, authenticity, engaging leadership style, and exceptional technical and interpersonal skills have left a lasting impression on all who have worked with her."
Sheryl Alexandre, Clinical Director of PMCC and TGH ICUs, who has worked with Linda for the past 19 years and worked under her leadership while Linda was Nurse Manager of the coronary ICU, says: "Linda was instrumental in developing practices that have operationally supported improved patient care.
"During the pandemic, her leadership capabilities kicked in right away and gave us all the direction and support to carry us through the COVID pandemic, and we absolutely could not have done it without her," Sheryl says.
Apart from her many successes as a leader, Linda also recalls many notable instances during her career as a nurse. One specific instance was when she and her team of nurses at the cardiovascular ICU rallied together to raise funds for cancer patients who couldn't afford to purchase wigs after becoming inspired by a colleague who had been bravely battling breast cancer.
"We named the campaign Get Wiggy," Linda recalls, reflecting on the memorable moment. She and her team managed to rally a diverse group of individuals, including some executive leaders and at the time, the Minister of Health — to shave their heads in a fundraising effort to help patients in need, successfully raising more than $50,000.
"I have always lived by if you don't ask, you won't know, and I was so fortunate to have had such generous responses from people," Linda says.
As she steps into retirement, her legacy of leadership, advocacy and patient-centered care will continue to inspire those who follow in her footsteps.
"I believe that everyone truly wants to do their best, and amazing things can happen when people work together, when people value connecting with their team," says Linda, who looks forward to embracing her new role as a grandmother and cherishing time with her family, confident that her next chapter will be just as fulfilling as her remarkable career.
