Annual Northern Pass to Conquer Cancer breaks fundraising record
On Aug. 9, more than 500 cyclists pedalled across the finish line to raise a record $1.57 million at the 9th annual Northern Pass to Conquer Cancer, powered by Pass It Along Foundation.
Every dollar goes towards supporting life-saving cancer research and ground-breaking discoveries at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
The eventful quest began on a humid day in the hills of Muskoka. Riders gathered at the Bracebridge Sportsplex for breakfast and an opening ceremony before taking on a route of 40, 80, 100, or 160 kilometres.
Following the ride, participants enjoyed a celebratory lunch and heard from cancer survivor Steven Weiner, who spoke about his cancer journey and how advancements in research and diagnostics at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre benefitted his recovery and path to wellness.
Driven by support from Honourary Chairs Phil, David and Sue Allan, Les Domestiques Cycling Club and top fundraiser Michelle Reisman, the 2025 edition of Northern Pass brings the total amount raised since the event's inception to more than $6.5 million.
The Northern Pass is not just a beautiful and scenic bike ride through Muskoka. It also represents the determination and perseverance in supporting the quest to take the fear out of a cancer diagnosis — one pedal stroke at a time.
A warm welcome for post-graduate learners at UHN
On July 25, UHN's Medical Education team hosted a dynamic meet-and-greet for post-graduate learners, bringing fresh energy and connection to the community.
Each year, over 1,500 medical residents and 1,000 clinical fellows begin their journey at UHN — approximately 75 per cent arriving from international locations. The event fostered a sense of connection and belonging with TeamUHN from day one and provides learners with an opportunity to network with peers, meet support teams and connect with hospital resources.
The gathering featured representatives from Education, Wellness, Library Services, Digital, Clinical Learning and other teams from across UHN. They hosted information tables, which offered insights into academic supports, wellness initiatives and professional development opportunities available for learners.
Dr. Brian Hodges, Executive Vice President of Education and Chief Medical Officer, opened the event with a message of encouragement and unity.
Planning for the event began months in advance and required close collaboration between all the teams involved. Led by medical education co-ordinators Petricia Parmer and Sheena Mathai, efforts included booking a venue, coordinating booths, arranging catering, photography, promotional materials and on-site logistics — all contributing to a seamless and welcoming experience.
Throughout the day, meaningful conversations filled the space, reflecting a shared commitment to collaboration and growth. Attendees described the atmosphere as warm, energizing and inspiring.
The event highlighted UHN's dedication to creating an environment where learning, working and thriving go hand in hand, all while supporting efforts to expand UHN's international footprint in medical education.
Successful launch of cart and scan program at UHN's West Park and Reactivation Care Centre
In June, a cross-functional team successfully implemented the new cart and scan program at West Park Healthcare Centre and the UHN Reactivation Care Centre (RCC). Teams now have faster and easier access to the items they need to better support patient care.
The cart and scan program works by allowing clinical teams to maintain the necessary product inventory on clinical supply carts.
Through the program, teams can purchase thousands of critical items, such as gloves, alcohol wipes, tubing, needles and dressings, in smaller quantities and on demand, instead of having to wait for larger bulk orders.
This milestone was enabled by the successful finance and procurement integration completed at West Park earlier this year, in addition to the successful upgrade of Materials Management technology systems at West Park and RCC.
To make the launch a success within an ambitious two-month timeframe, team members in Materials Management, Finance Data Management, Digital Education and E-Requisition Admin and Digital formed a cross-functional project team to identify the scope of the work and all required tasks to be completed.
From there, the team conducted comprehensive system testing of workflows, while also completing scanner testing and relabeling supply carts with scan codes. Colleagues from West Park and the RCC completed training and also helped relabel supply carts, to meet the go-live date.
Thanks to this deep collaboration, all behind-the-scenes work was completed effectively and efficiently without disrupting patient care.
