The Learner Assistance section is intended as a quick reference for UHN Clinical Learners who need personal assistance (including assistance related to an urgent or crisis situation).
If your health or safety, or the health or safety of someone else, is at risk, call 911 and/or seek medical attention right away as appropriate. You can also activate the appropriate UHN emergency code [Corporate Intranet ‣ Emerg. Preparedness]. UHN emergency codes can be found on the Corporate Intranet in the UHN Emergency Preparedness department page.
UHN Learner Contacts
If you are having a personal crisis, know that you are not alone. In addition to contacting your own educational institution and/or professional associations (as appropriate) for help, you may want to reach out to someone at UHN. Should you experience a challenging situation with your placement, the hospital, your supervisor or another student at UHN, please contact a UHN Clinical Education Leader during regular business hours. Please select the most appropriate contact from the list below.
UHN Medical Students
Andrea Page, Director Wightman-Berris Academy
Email: Andrea.Page@sinaihealth.ca
Phone: 416 340 4832
UHN Medical Residents and Fellows
Ahmed Al-Awamer, Director UHN Postgraduate Medical Education
Email: Ahmed.Al-Awamer@uhn.ca
Phone: 416 946 4501 ext. 4270
All other UHN health professions learners
Jasmine Sheehan, Manager Student Services
Email: Jasmine.Sheehan@uhn.ca
Phone: 416 340 4800 ext. 6242
Accommodations
UHN is a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace. If you require accommodation, please be aware this is a collaborative process between your academic site, yourself and UHN. Please contact your academic institution's placement coordinator to facilitate the process.
Additional Support and Resources for Learners at UHN
In addition to supports that may be available from your own school, this section provides information about UHN resources that may be helpful.
Inclusion Diversity Equality and Accessibility and Anti-Racism (IDEAA) at UHN
The University Health Network is committed to creating an inclusive environment that values diversity and encourages people to contribute their personal best. IDEAA helps achieve these goals through training, coaching and advice, as well as through the resolution of diversity-related conflict. For additional resources, please reach out to the IDEAA team at UHN. [Corporate Intranet ‣ People and Culture ‣ IDEAA]
Bioethics
A bioethicist can be of support to learners when dealing with ethical issues that arise in health settings. Bioethicists can help when you are facing challenging situations that involve conflicting values, where you are not sure of the right thing to do. You can find the a bioethicist at your site available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, or through locating for urgent cases. This service is confidential. Contact information can be found on the Bioethics department page on the intranet under Bioethics team.
UHN WalkSafe Program
This program offers a security guard escort to ensure staff, students, volunteers and visitors get to and from UHN sites safely.
How to access/book the Walk-Safe Program:
- Contact the Security Office (see contact details below) and request a security guard escort through the Walk-Safe Program:
- Toronto General, Toronto Western, Princess Margaret: 416 340 4111
- Krembil Discovery Tower: 416 603 5800 ext. 2159
- Toronto Rehab, University Centre: 416 597 3422 ext. 3070
- Toronto Rehab, Lyndhurst Centre: 416 597 3422 ext. 6226
- Toronto Rehab, Bickle Centre: 416 597 3422 ext. 2503
- Give your full name, location (building, floor and room number) and destination
- Wait for your UHN security guard to arrive and safely escort you to your destination.
UHN Call-Safe Program
This involves a member of the Security team placing hourly safety-check calls to staff, students or volunteers who are working alone or feel they are in high-risk situations.
How to access/book through the Call-Safe Program:
- Contact Security at:
- Toronto General, Toronto Western, Princess Margaret: 416 340 4111
- Krembil Discovery Tower: 416 603 5800 ext. 2159
- Toronto Rehab, University Centre: 416 597 3422 ext. 3070
- Toronto Rehab, Lyndhurst Centre: 416 597 3422 ext. 6226
- Toronto Rehab, Bickle Centre: 416 597 3422 ext. 2503
- Provide:
- Your name, extension/pager/cell phone number, department, building, floor and room number
- The time to terminate the Call-Safe Program (e.g., the end of shift, or when co-workers arrive)
* You must call Security when you leave the area or are unable to answer the phone, otherwise a search/investigation will be launched.
** All phone calls made during the Call-Safe Program are recorded in the Security database.
UHN Security Tips
Tips for keeping you and your environment safe. [Corporate Intranet ‣ Security Operations ‣ Security Awareness]
Be A.W.A.R.E.
A. Aware of what's happening around you
W. Watch for and remove crime opportunities
A. Always challenge people who are on a unit/department without a photo ID card
R. Report suspicious people or activities to Security as soon as possible
E. Encourage all those connected with the hospital to work together with Security to report all crimes
Report a safety event at UHN
Learners can report a safety event through the Caring Safely department page.
Learner Mistreatment
We are committed to fostering a learning environment that is free of discrimination, violence, and harassment. If you have experienced or witnessed mistreatment please reach out to your supervisor, preceptor or education lead for support in addition to your school as may be helpful.
Wellness at UHN
Wellness services for staff and learners.
- Spiritual Care & Lavender Alert
Spiritual Care Practitioners will help you explore your feelings, responses and concerns in a way that honours your values and beliefs. Lavender alerts are a safe space for staff and learners to talk about their experiences of moral distress, emotional fatigue, and stress after codes, and traumatic deaths (available Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm by paging 416 719 1234). - BRITE™ (Building Resilience within Institutions Together with Employees) at UHN
A novel workplace program aimed at improving well-being and engagement through the cultivation of individual resilience. It is an evidence-informed, "do it yourself" methodology that takes a minute or so to do and helps develop the skills to respond effectively to stressful situations. Visit the BRITE™ department page on the UHN corporate intranet to learn more. [Corporate Intranet ‣ Wellness ‣ BRITE]
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