Unity Health Toronto

The Wound Care Team at St. Michael’s Hospital is taking great strides to provide community-centered care. This interdisciplinary team, specializing in patient care and education for people with complex wounds, created a specialized course about treating chronic wounds for unhoused populations.

This was in collaboration with the Downtown CORE Team – a pilot program from Toronto Public Health (TPH) and Toronto Police Services (TPS) that supports vulnerable people living in the Yonge and Dundas area.

"We have the knowledge and expertise to apply best practices guidelines; however, their implementation must reflect the realities of the populations we serve,” said Janeth Velandia.

“We want to provide information that reflects real-world practice and create an approach that is truly interdisciplinary.”

Click the link to read more: https://unityhealth.to/2026/06/wound-care-team-partners-downtown-core-support-patients-experiencing-homelessness/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260609-wound-care-CORE

A new photo exhibit titled Within the Highs and Lows: Young and Type 1, offers a powerful glimpse into the daily realities of young adults navigating life with a chronic condition — from the excitement of independence to the constant, often invisible demands of managing their health.

These are a few of the images – along with a quote from each photographer – that will be on display as part of the exhibit.
Co-led by researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital and young adults living with type 1 diabetes, the exhibit features more than 30 intimate, raw, and deeply personal images captured by the participants themselves. Together, they tell stories of vulnerability and resilience that define life with this condition.

📍 Arta Gallery, 14 Distillery Lane, Distillery District, Toronto
📅 May 29–31

Click the link to learn more: https://unityhealth.to/2026/05/photo-exhibit-type-1-diabetes-in-young-adulthood/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260527-photo-exhibit-diabetes

Meet the winners of the 2026 St. Joseph’s Our Shared Values Awards.

From compassion and inclusivity to excellence and sustainability, these incredible individuals and teams go above and beyond to bring Unity Health’s values to life every day. Congratulations to all our award recipients, we’re proud to celebrate your impact and dedication.

Click here to learn more: https://unityhealth.to/2026/05/st-josephs-our-shared-values-award-winners-2026/?&utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=260514-sjhc-osv

Throughout Nursing Week, we’ve been recognizing the dedication, compassion, and expertise of our nursing team. Across all our sites, staff came together to honour the vital role nurses play in delivering high-quality care and supporting patients, families, and colleagues.

We celebrated our nurses with a variety of events throughout the week, including award ceremonies, a door-decorating contest, senior leaders shadowing nursing teams, and engaging webinars.

Thank you to the incredible nurses who make Unity Health Toronto so special. Swipe through to see photos from our Nursing Week events, initiatives, and activities!

As Toronto heads into the long weekend, we’re hoping everyone enjoys the sunshine (finally!) – and celebrates safely. ☀️🚤🍔🏖️

There can be a downside to these warmer months: elite trauma teams like the one at St. Michael’s tend to see a surge of patients between May and October.

Read more about our Level 1 Trauma Centre, and look out for one another, Toronto!
https://unityhealth.to/2024/06/inside-one-of-canadas-top-trauma-hospitals/

Unity Health Toronto is proud to collaborate with Smilezone Foundation and the Slaight Family Foundation to unveil four newly transformed Smilezone spaces at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. These refreshed environments are located across key areas of the Pediatric Department, including treatment rooms and a playroom.

Thoughtfully designed to support emotional well-being, the Smilezones help reduce anxiety and create a more welcoming, comforting care experience for children and families during hospital visits. The spaces are enhanced with artwork inspired by nearby High Park, including depictions of Grenadier Pond and the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground, bringing familiar, local imagery into the care environment to foster comfort and connection.

The unveiling event featured remarks from Jackie Haynes, Executive Director of Smilezone Foundation, Dr. Anne Wormsbecker, Chief of Pediatrics at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, and Laura Macleod, Clinical Operations Lead, Just for Kids Clinic, highlighting the meaningful impact of these spaces on patient experience.

This initiative reflects the strength of our partnerships and a shared commitment to compassionate, patient-centred care, demonstrating how purpose-driven collaboration can enhance healing environments and improve the patient experience in our community.

At Unity Health, we’re celebrating National Nursing Week! Today we're proud to shine a light on a creative and compassionate nurse educator who is mentoring nurses across our network.

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬: 𝐒𝐡𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐉𝐞𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧, 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫

A dozen nurses crowd around a long table as nurse educator Shyalini Jeevakaran walks them through the step-by-step process of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD)—a treatment for people experiencing kidney failure. A chorus of electronic beeps fills the room as students enter treatment parameters into the machines before them.

"My journey into nursing started from a place of wanting to make a difference in the lives of others,” says Jeevakaran who began her nursing career more than two decades ago. “Moments at the bedside were eye-opening; I saw the impact a compassionate nurse could have during the most vulnerable times in someone’s life.”

Part of her work always involved teaching and mentoring others. Eventually her love for this work led her toward a career in education.

“Transitioning into nursing education felt like a natural next step for me,” said Jeevakaran. “I realized I could inspire and mentor current and future nurses, instilling in them the same passion for patient care that I had developed.”

“As an educator, I gain new insights with each lesson I teach; it's truly a journey of teaching and learning”

However, sharing knowledge and helping patients aren’t her only passions. Painting had always been a part of Jeevakaran’s life, but when she and her husband had their two children, art took a backseat to a busy family life.

Two years ago, she felt drawn back to her art and decided to pick up her paints and brushes again.

“For me, painting isn't just a hobby; it's also a vital form of self-care,” says Jeevakaran who on her weekends is known to retreat to her basement studio for 10-hour marathon painting sessions.

“When I paint, I can completely immerse myself in the experience. It's just me, my colours, music, and the canvas. Nothing else occupies my mind.”

“It’s incredibly relaxing and rejuvenates me, allowing me to manage the emotional demands of my work better.”

Helping to train nurses at St. Michael’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Providence Healthcare as well at the Kidney Care Centre, Satellite Dialysis Centre in East York, Jeevakaran finds her role rewarding knowing her work has a direct impact on both patient care and nursing practice.

When it comes to balancing busy work and personal life, Jeevakaran has some great advice for her fellow nurses.

“It's so important to find a self-care activity that truly brings us joy,” says Jeevakaran. “Whether it’s painting, walking, reading, praying or simply cooking a nice meal, these moments help restore our energy and uplift our spirits.”

“When we take care of ourselves, we’re better equipped to tackle the challenges of the day with a positive mindset.”



Click the link to read the full story: https://unityhealth.to/2026/05/caring-hearts-leading-minds-shyalini-jeevakaran/?

Unity Health Toronto is honoured to recognize the Our Kids Health (OKH) Team led by Dr. Ripudaman Minhas, Developmental Paediatrician with our Women’s and Children’s Health Program, as the recipients of the 2026 Pain Awareness Award.

This award celebrates Dr. Minhas’ leadership of OKH, a free, culturally congruent parent support resource delivered through social media and co-designed with communities. OKH offers evidence-based, multilingual pediatric health information across 10+groups to support BIPOC and newcomer families and combat health misinformation.

In partnership with Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP), OKH co-created the Pain Hub, an accessible collection of resources to help children, youth, and families better understand and manage everyday pain, including menstrual pain, vaccine-related pain and chronic pain.

With more than 2.3million people reached, this work is helping reduce stigma, spark conversation, and empower families with practical, culturally relevant information. This recognition reflects the power of collaboration, community partnership and storytelling grounded in evidence.

https://kidsinpain.ca/our-kids-health/