UHN On The Go — January 2026

In this edition of UHN On The Go:​

• Shawn Desman brings holiday cheer to Toronto General patients and staff​
• Facilities team helps fight food insecurity
• Quality & Safety team champions global best practices

Shawn Desman brings holiday cheer to Toronto General patients and staff

Canadian pop star Shawn Desman brought holiday cheer to Toronto General on Dec. 18, performing a festive singalong for patients, caregivers and staff.

The special event was designed to lift spirits and foster a sense of connection during the season, offering a moment of celebration within the hospital.

The singalong demonstrated how a simple idea — bringing live music into the hospital — can become a powerful source of joy when teamwork and creativity come together.

FM-PRO colleagues worked together to prepare sandwiches, play festive music, share laughter and raise money, all in support of Club Sandwich. (Photo: UHN)​

UHN's FM-PRO team helps fight food insecurity with record-breaking donation

In November, UHN’s Facilities Management – Planning, Redevelopment & Operations (FM-PRO) team joined forces with Toronto-based food security organization Club Sandwich to make a big impact ahead of the holidays. The team prepared more than 560 sandwiches for individuals in need, raised over $650 and donated extra supplies. It was the largest contribution Club Sandwich has ever received from an external group.

The sandwiches were distributed to shelters and food hubs across Toronto, providing vital support to people facing food insecurity.

The initiative, which brought FM-PRO colleagues together in the lunchroom for a day of sandwich-making, festive music and camaraderie, reflects UHN’s commitment to community care and collaboration. Plans are already underway to make the event an annual tradition, reinforcing the team’s dedication to giving back while strengthening internal connections.

Left to right: Dr. Lucas Chartier, Arlee Bader and Dr. Sarah Tosoni, members of UHN's Quality & Safety team, partnered with the International Centre for Education to welcome Russell Palmer, Patient Safety Manager from the National Health Service (NHS), for a one-week observership. (Photo: UHN)

Quality & Safety team champions global best practices

UHN’s newly launched Quality & Safety Centre of Excellence recently hosted Russell Palmer, Patient Safety Manager at the National Health Service in the U.K., for a one-week Personalized Learning Program (PLP)​ focused on advancing best practices in patient care.

Supported by a Sheffield Hospitals Charity travel scholarship, Palmer’s PLP aimed to learn from UHN’s leading safety initiatives and bring actionable insights back to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

Palmer met with more than 30 experts across departments, including Quality & Safety, Critical Care, Pharmacy, Patient Relations, Human Factors and KITE. He also attended the fourth annual UHN Summit on Quality & Safety, gaining exposure to cutting-edge strategies in patient safety and staff well-being.

Highlights of the visit included UHN’s Safety Chats peer support program, patient education initiatives, leadership development courses and error-prevention training. These programs reflect UHN’s commitment to fostering a culture of safety and resilience.

Palmer left with a roadmap of ideas to implement in the U.K., from updating safety huddles and adopting UHN’s definition of non-physical harm, to introducing therapeutic falls strategies and infection prevention practices.

This collaboration underscores the power of global partnerships in driving meaningful improvements in patient safety and quality care, with UHN leading the way.