News

How St. Joseph’s is blending virtual and in-person therapy for mental health patients
Before the pandemic, Eunice Kim, an occupational therapist, led a group therapy session on the 7M unit at St. Joseph’s Health Centre called “The Afternoon Tea Group.” It was a space for patients living with mental illness to have tea, chat and get used to group settings. She also led group activities such as colouring […]

A look inside St. Joseph’s Health Centre Laboratory Services during the pandemic
Although often hidden from view, laboratory staff play a crucial role in determining whether someone has COVID-19. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, staff in Lab Services at St. Joseph’s Health Centre (SJHC) are working. They handle and test suspected COVID-positive patient samples, or patients under investigation (PUI). They discover who has COVID-19. […]

Laura Prince wins national sonography award for her commitment to education
Sonographers are often referred to as medical detectives. Through ultrasound exams, they get to see what’s going on inside their patients, and then use this information to help health specialists diagnose ailments or to give expectant parents a glimpse of their baby in utero. When Laura Prince, Medical Education Specialist in Ultrasound, started her career […]

Our Shared Values Awards ceremony provides levity during COVID-19
When this year’s Our Shared Values Awards ceremony at St. Joseph’s Health Centre was cancelled in March as a result of COVID-19, Unity Health Toronto’s Mission and Values team wasn’t sure when they’d be able to reschedule. But on June 5, more than 120 staff, physicians, families and community members gathered online to honour the […]

St. Joseph’s facilitates in-hospital smudging ceremonies for the first time
As an Oncology Counsellor at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Paula Larrondo’s job is to understand the impact an illness has on a patient, their family and their care team. She seeks to understand the strengths and barriers of a situation and help everyone navigate a challenging time. A couple of months ago, she was able […]

Meet Irfan Dhalla: Unity Health Toronto’s first vice president of Physician Quality and director of the Care Experience Institute
Jan. 6, 2020 – We’re excited to introduce you to Dr. Irfan Dhalla, our new vice president, Physician Quality and director, Care Experience Institute. From 2013 to 2019, Dr. Dhalla was a vice president at Health Quality Ontario where he and his colleagues transformed the way the provincial agency supported Ontario’s health care system. In […]

St. Joseph’s pediatrician honoured for research and advocacy for Inuit children
Dr. Anna Banerji is a world traveler. She has visited more than 50 countries and became an infectious disease specialist so she could maximize her impact as a health care provider in helping underserved communities around the world. But no matter where her travels take her, it’s a region much closer to home that holds […]

How to prevent infections at work, at home and at play
Tips to stay healthy from an infection prevention and control expert Our world is full of bacteria and viruses and our best defence is learning how to coexist with them safely as we go about our daily routines. Ina Belu is an infection prevention and control practitioner at St. Joseph’s who advises staff on best […]

Meet Mark Kocsis – St. Joseph’s first-ever de Souza Nurse Associate
The last few years in Mark Kocsis’ life have been busy, to say the least. Kocsis graduated from Ryerson University’s nursing program in June 2017, and by November of that year, had begun his career on the Medicine, Oncology and Palliative Care (6M) unit at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. All the while, Kocsis was fueling […]

Paying it forward: mentor role inspires Dr. David Anderson, chief resident
Each year, St. Joseph’s Health Centre welcomes new chief residents (CRs) to guide the experience we offer to incoming medical students. The CR role honours the skills and abilities of stand-out residents and places them in a position to help formally train and mentor the next generation of students. For 2019-20, St. Joseph’s welcomed four […]