​Respiratory therapist technician retires after 48 years with UHN

Patsy Goodman
Patsy Goodman started her career as a respiratory therapist technician at UHN in 1968. As her retirement approached, she reflected on her career. (Photo: UHN News)

Patsy Goodman, a respiratory therapist (RT) technician at Toronto General Hospital, retired this month after 48 years with UHN.

"I really, really enjoyed this job. I love what I do and the many different groups of people I interact with including nurses, students, management and technicians in other departments," explains Patsy.

Having started her role in 1968, Patsy spent the majority of her career as an RT technician in the Operating Room (OR) at TGH. Her career with UHN also included briefly working in TGH's Emergency Department as a ward aid and at Toronto Western Hospital's OR as an RT technician.

Ana Lopez Filici, Patsy's manager in Anesthesia Clinical Services, was a student when she met Patsy. Ana credits Patsy's friendliness, adaptability to change and immense knowledge of the OR workflow for why she's so highly valued by her colleagues at UHN.

"New anesthesia residents and fellows often remember her fondly as being the one that calmed their fears and showed them where to get supplies. Her strength lies in building relationships with all team members," says Ana.

"Patsy was able to anticipate changes in OR workflow and procedures and would adapt her role to facilitate those changes.  She never lost sight of the patients that ultimately were at the other end of those procedures."

Patsy adds that she has witnessed many changes over the years.

"There's a lot of change when you work for this long but I always came in and did my best. It's been really great for me at UHN," says Patsy.

UHN LGBTQ+ Steering Committee hosts Open House

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UHN's LGBTQ+ committee invites staff to an Open House taking place on Nov. 23 to get information on the new initiative. (Photo: LGBTQ+ Committee)

The UHN LGBTQ+ Steering Committee and Diversity and Mediation Services, with the support of President and CEO, Dr. Peter Pisters, and Emma Pavlov, EVP, Human Resources, invite staff to an Open House on Nov. 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the DeGasperis Conservatory at Toronto General Hospital.

The Open House will showcase the current LGBTQ+ awareness campaign. It  will feature information on the new policy, current education initiatives, the new intranet website, an opportunity to meet the LGBTQ+ committee members, and a survey opportunity for a chance to win prizes.

UHN is also thrilled to announce a partnership with The 519, an innovative community service provider that offers a variety of programming to the LGBTQ+ community. UHN and The 519 have collaborated on the development of an education initiative for UHN staff.

TWH hosts second annual Deep Brain Stimulation International Academy

3 clinicians
(L to R) Nurse practitioner Alejandro Valencia and Krembil neurologists Drs. Renato Munhoz and Alfonso Fasano hosted nearly 50 clinicians at the second annual DBS International Academy at Toronto Western earlier this month. (Photo: UHN)

Toronto Western Hospital was recently ground zero for researchers and clinicians interested in learning about the latest advances in the field of deep brain stimulation (DBS).

The Movement Disorders Centre at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre hosted nearly 50 neurologists, neurosurgeons and nurses from around the globe at the second annual DBS International Academy, a five-day event at the BMO Conference Centre that wrapped on Nov. 4.

"The goal of an event like this is to provide a comprehensive overview on the use of deep brain stimulation for movement disorders from both a theoretical and practical standpoint," says Dr. Alfonso Fasano, a neurologist at Toronto Western and clinician investigator at the Krembil Research Institute.

"Toronto Western is one of the largest centres in the world dedicated to employing and applying deep brain stimulation," says Dr. Fasano. "The attendees are drawn here because of our vast knowledge in the field. Events like this allow us to share what we've learned with the rest of the world."

Deep brain stimulation is a surgical treatment in which neurostimulators are implanted in the brain and small electric shocks are used to treat a variety of symptoms for patients with movement disorders, including Parkinson's Disease, tremors and dystonia.

Topics of discussion at the event included: the effects on patients; theories behind the development of DBS, the surgical use of DBS; short-term and long-term outcomes; pitfalls of using DBS; and hardware troubleshooting.

Annual Doves of Hope Campaign from the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation

Photo of paper doves titled ‘Dove campaign’
The annual Doves of Hope Campaign features doves representing individuals and their unique journey. The full display will be featured in the main floor atrium of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre on Dec. 14. (Photo: Nancy McInnis)

This year marks the 16th annual Doves of Hope Campaign.  Once complete, the main floor atrium of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre will feature thousands of paper Doves. Each Dove represents one person and their unique journey.

Dedicating a Dove to a loved one is made easier this year through an online option here. Also available online is a display of doves on dovesofhope.ca.

There will be three large HOPE displays outside Princess Margaret where people can dedicate their doves and have it hung on the signs.

Locations of HOPE displays:

  • CF Sherway Gardens: Nov. 18-20
  • Brookfield Place: Nov. 29-30
  • Shops on Don Mills: Dec. 2-4

All the Doves will then be brought back to the Princess Margaret to be hung up along with thousands of other Doves received. They will all be ready for display for the Annual Dove Dedication Ceremony that will take place in the main atrium on Dec. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.​

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