Strength-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership sessions going strong at UHN
Since August 2024, the Department of Professional Practice at UHN has been championing a transformative approach to clinical leadership and mentorship through monthly Strength-Based Nursing and Healthcare Leadership (SBNH-L) sessions.
The program continues to grow, with upcoming sessions open to all UHN leaders and mentors, reinforcing a culture of empowerment, healing and relational excellence across professional practice.
"I am delighted that UHN is embracing a strengths-based approach in nursing," says Pam Hubley, Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at UHN. "It is humanizing and values-based. It guides our actions and how we care for and treat the patients we serve."
Strength-based nursing is a new way of caring for patients and families that challenges old nursing philosophies, which have traditionally focused on deficits. The sessions highlight the core principles of nursing and how they can be used to enhance patient care — with a deliberate focus on developing strength, abilities and resources.
Rooted in the SBNH-L framework developed by Pam Hubley, Laurie Gottlieb and Michelle Durrant, the initiative emphasizes four foundational principles: person and family-centred care, empowerment and agency, innate healing capacities and relational focus.
The sessions are designed for clinical managers, advanced practice nurse educators, clinical nurse specialists, clinical scholars and health professions leaders. They blend theory with practice, offering reflective and interactive activities that help participants integrate these values into their everyday work.
Led by Jennifer Reguindin, Manager of Professional Practice and sponsored by Karelin Martina, Director of Professional Practice, the practice-based education team has worked collaboratively to bring this initiative to life — ensuring each session educates, engages and inspires.
Spreading stroke awareness, one stop at a time
Throughout June, Toronto Western Hospital's stroke outreach team brought stroke awareness directly to staff using a travelling stroke education cart. The team visited various inpatient units and outpatient clinics across UHN to provide informal, engaging stroke education.
The goal was to promote stroke prevention strategies by enhancing staff knowledge of stroke signs and symptoms (Face, Arm, Speech, Time – FAST) and improving their understanding of the stroke code protocol.
To make learning fun and interactive, the team delivered trivia through Stroke Jeopardy with prizes and giveaways.
Each year, the stroke outreach team organizes the travelling stroke education cart by collaborating with managers and educators across UHN to bring the initiative to interested inpatient and clinical areas. A stroke speech-language pathologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and registered nurse brought the cart and their expertise to the designated units.
This year's tour was made even more exciting with the support of the 6AB neurovascular nurse manager, the Toronto West Stroke Network and community businesses who contributed prizes and giveaways.
Enthusiastic responses, shared laughter and lots of staff engagement solidified the success of the initiative. Together, the team is raising stroke awareness — one cart stop at a time.
Global scientific collaboration takes center stage at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
From Toronto to Sydney, UHN and Garvan are advancing cancer breakthroughs together.
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre's research institute at UHN recently hosted the Allan Slaight Breakthrough Forum: From Tumour Complexity to Translational Breakthroughs, welcoming esteemed collaborators from Australia's Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
This multi-day international symposium brought together leading scientists and clinicians to explore the evolving landscape of cancer research.
Discussions spanned cutting-edge topics including single-cell technologies, multi-omic profiling, computational modelling and translational strategies aimed at advancing precision oncology.
The event was made possible through the generous support of the Allan Slaight Breakthrough Fund, which champions global scientific exchange and fuels innovation across borders. The fund enables the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to collaborate with world-class institutions like the Garvan Institute, whose contributions to the forum reflected a shared commitment to scientific excellence and transformative cancer care.
Together, these global partners are forging a powerful network of discovery and innovation — accelerating the journey toward more precise, personalized and effective treatments for cancer patients worldwide.
