Department of Medicine Weekly Roundup - May 1
Dear Colleagues,
May 1 is Doctors’ Day and I wanted to thank each of you for your terrific commitment to excellent patient care, education, research and quality improvement. I am grateful to you for your collegiality and kindness.
Thanks
Sharon E. Straus CM MD MSc FRCPC FRSCPhysician-in-ChiefSt. Michael’s Hospital
May 1 is National Physician’s Day across Canada. We asked physicians across Unity Health about their paths to their careers and what Unity Health means to them. Thank you for continually delivering the best care to all, and you are an incredibly important part of our patients’ and residents’ experiences.
Dr. Joanne Leung Yee, Physician, Psychiatry at St. Michael’s
Why did you become a doctor?
I grew up in a family that placed a lot of value on caring for others and in healthcare. My parents immigrated from Hong Kong and my mother worked tirelessly as a nurse and my father retrained as a radiation therapist. They instilled a deep love of caring for one’s neighbor and helping those who needed help. This became particularly true when I explored a career in mental health where often patients are met with stigma and are quite isolated.
What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?
My favorite part about being a physician at Unity health is the opportunity to work with talented, brilliant, kind, and incredibly funny colleagues! It really feels like working with friends to provide care for those who need support in times of medical crises. I have work inter- professionally, inter-departmentally, and I can say with complete confidence that it has been a pleasure to work together with everyone to care for your patients. I particularly enjoy my role teaching resident colleagues and medical students, to teach the values of care, compassion and knowledge to future healthcare providers.
Dr. Shiva Jayaraman, Physician, Department of Surgery at St. Joseph’s
Why did you become a doctor?
My parents moved to Canada in the late 1960s. My brother and I were born later and grew up in the typical immigrant household in Canada. Things were difficult for my parents, but, Canada was a very safe and inclusive place for me to grow up. I was very good at school and outgoing socially. Based on my upbringing, it was important to find a way of helping society but, it was really important for me and my family to have stability and security too. Medicine really appealed to me because it seemed to appeal to all of the objectives I had for myself and my family long-term, as well as allowing me to use my strengths which were hard work, being socially outgoing, and being a good scholar.
What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?
I really appreciate the supportive culture environment in our HPB team and the collaborative and high-quality partnerships we have with our colleagues in other services like oncology and gastroenterology, and many more. It really allows us to provide world class healthcare for our patients and top-notch educational and research opportunities for our learners.
Dr. Petal Abdool, Physician, Geriatric Psychiatry at Providence
Why did you become a doctor?
I have always been fascinated with the human body and the concept of helping and healing in medicine. The mind-body interface is one we don’t fully understand but in Geriatric Psychiatry I see patients who have led long, full lives and I learn from them each day. I think the main attraction for me is the stories they tell.
What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?
I cherish many aspects of working here at Unity Health but my favorite part is the collegiality and warmth that I experience the minute I step onto the campus. It is a true privilege to work here.
Dr. Nicole Jones, Physician, Houses of Providence
Why did you become a doctor?
As a child I was so intrigued by the human body – how it works & how to “fix it” when it’s “broken”. I was extremely fortunate to have a Pediatrician that looked like me! – a Black female – who served as an early role model and inspiration. As I matured, I also gained an deeper understanding for the role doctors play as educators and advocates, and desired to be a practitioner who promotes of health and wellness within their community by prioritizing preventative care and health maintenance.
What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?
I enjoy being a physician at Unity Health Providence because of the multidisciplinary approach to patient-centred care. The team environment is very supportive and provides effective delivery of healthcare to its patients. Furthermore, having grown up in Scarborough, I love the patient demographic we serve, and I appreciate Providence’s commitment to equity and inclusion within in it’s staff, to better reflect our diverse patient population.
Yolanda Kirkham, Physician, Obstetrics at St. Joseph’s
Why did you become a doctor?
I became an OBGYN because I surprised myself by how much I love surgery and being able to care for women across all life stages.
What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?
My favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health is the sense of being at home whether in the OR or Family Birthing Centre. There is such a sense of community, caring, and friendliness at St. Joe’s that I feel from all who work here.
Dr. Dharini Mahendira, Physician, Rheumatology at St. Michael’s
Why did you become a doctor?
Simply – to help those in need by providing compassionate and meaningful care. I was inspired by the positive impact my father had as a Family Physician. In particular, I wished to direct my passion for women’s health and communities facing barriers towards tangible improvements in health outcomes.
What is your favourite part of being a physician at Unity Health?
My patients and my colleagues! At Unity Health, I have the privilege of working with a talented team to deliver innovative sub-specialized care. As Director of the St. Michael’s Hospital Rheumatic Diseases and Pregnancy Clinic, I collaborate with skilled colleagues to strive for excellence in patient centered care, education and research.
Dr. Vera Dounaevskaia, Physician, Internal Medicine at St. Michael’s
Why did you become a doctor?
I started thinking about profession in medical field in high school. My strengths were biology, curiosity in physiology, and my family and me thought that being a physician would be a good fit with my academic interests. I became a doctor with a goal to help patients and their families to find answers to explain their symptoms, medical concerns (One of the reasons I am general internist is to solve the puzzle), make diagnosis and help patients, their families to go through the journey of medical care; in best case to provide cure, but in most of the time treat their conditions and support their quality of life, to aid in accepting their medical diagnosis and importance of care. Being a doctor also gives you an opportunity to be a teacher to trainees at all level, patients and their families, administrator within hospitals, advocater in Health Care systema, and a life time learner of medicine as well as learning from other health disciplines. The day of the physician is never the same, it challenges you everyday in your career, and it’s definitely never boring. For all of these reasons, I became a doctor.
What is your favourite part of being a physician at Unity Health?
I started at St. Michael’s Hospital as a first year medical student in 2002, and since then spend every year of my training at SMH. I joined SMH as a staff physician in 2010, and shortly after part of Unity Health. It was always my first choice to be a physician at Unity. It’s second home to me, and at times maybe was first. As a physician at Unity Health, you are part of family, not just within your own division but with all departments from medical to support staff, allied health. We are here to work together to serve out patients and their needs.
Dr. David Mazer, Physician, Anesthesia at St. Michael’s
Why did you become a doctor?
I have always been fascinated by science and the complexity of the human body. I became a doctor to provide care and support to others in times of need. My favorite subjects in university were physiology and pharmacology which led to my passion for anesthesiology and critical care. I grew up in Saskatchewan during the inception of Medicare. Had it not been for Medicare I don’t think I would have been able to go to medical school since there were family health issues that would have otherwise impoverished my family. I am the first and only physician in my family and it has been a great privilege to be able to have a positive impact on the lives of so many people.
What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?
I may be the only physician who has worked at two different St. Michael’s Hospitals – the first being a small rural hospital in Saskatchewan where I was the only doctor. The best part about my career here has been the people I have worked with – the patients, practice partners, physician colleagues, nurses, other health care providers, research collaborators, research ethics board, support staff, mentors and learners have all made my time here so enjoyable, rewarding and fulfilling. Being part of an academic health network provides a unique opportunity to improve the health of others either directly as a doctor providing patient care and indirectly by contributing to the education of the next generation of health care providers or through the discovery and implementation of new ways to improve care. In my 30+ years here, I have provided care to people over the entire spectrum of human existence – from the joy of the first breath of a newborn baby to the last breath of a patient in the ICU (and countless people in between). I am very grateful for the opportunities that Unity Health and St. Michael’s Hospital have provided to me.
Dr. Jonathan Ailon, Physician, Internal Medicine at St. Michael’s
Why did you become a doctor?
Like most people who went into medicine, I don’t think I had a clear understanding of what it meant to be a doctor when I started med school. I initially had the sense that doctors applied knowledge and skills to stave off illness and to save lives. What I have since learned is that being a physician is really about working as a team, and walking alongside patients and families as they navigate health and illness, providing medicine and support when required, but most providing compassion and humanity.
- What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?
The care providers at Unity Health are truly invested in the wellbeing of patients and their families. We truly celebrate our patients’ successes and grieve their losses. Most of all, we care for people, not diseases. It is a privilege to be part of such a compassionate and talented team.
Dr. Alexandra Bite, Physician, Anesthesia at St. Joseph’s
Why did you become a doctor?
I knew from a young age that I wanted a career in healthcare, but I didn’t know what form that would take. In high school, I had an amazing science teacher with a PhD in biology who inspired me to study health sciences at university.
After university, I worked as a nurse in Toronto, Montreal & Australia before I applied to medical school. Helping patients and families while using the knowledge of physiology, pharmacology and anatomy that I learned in residency and medical school makes my job very rewarding and interesting. Every single day is different!
What is your favourite part about being a physician at Unity Health?
The people are the best part about Unity Health! We are lucky to have a smaller hospital where we work closely with amazing nurses, nursing assistants, RTs, anesthesia assistants and physician colleagues across multiple specialties. There is a really great culture of putting patients first which translates to being able to provide exceptional patient care that I am really proud about. It is a great feeling to finish a day in the OR knowing I made an impact in a patient’s life.
COVID-19 levels in the community are currently low. In consultation with our Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Workplace Health, Safety and Wellness (WHSW) teams, and with other Toronto region hospitals, we are updating our guidance on staff, physician, volunteer, visitor and patient masking requirements at Unity Health. On Monday, April 22, 2024 the following changes will come into effect.
Note: These changes do NOT apply to The Houses of Providence (HOP). Long-term care home specific guidelines will be updated separately.
Masking for all clinical interactions is no longer routinely required for staff, physicians, learners and volunteers or visitors in most clinical and patient-facing areas in both the inpatient and ambulatory setting.
Masking is still required on 8PGT (hematology/oncology ward) and in our Medical Day Care Unit (MDCU) at St. Michael’s as some patients in these areas remain at very high risk of severe COVID-19. Active monitoring of the masking approach in these areas will continue. Staff should continue to mask if indicated by their own point-of-care risk assessment (PCRA).
Masks are still required for staff in these circumstances:
- When providing care to, or within the room of patients on IPAC Additional Precautions where a mask is indicated (e.g. Droplet-Contact precautions) or when specifically required by IPAC or WHSW
- When providing care to, or within the room of patients on our hematology/oncology ward (8PGT) or our Medical Day Care Unit
- During outbreaks if directed by the Outbreak Management Team
- At the discretion of the healthcare worker based on their PCRA as part of routine practices
As masking requirements are relaxed, please note that:
- Visitors who are feeling unwell should not visit.
- Outpatients with respiratory symptoms should continue to mask
- Masks will remain available to all staff, patients and visitors and masks are always welcomein all spaces where they are not required
- If a patient asks that a mask be worn during their care, we encourage staff to mask; if a patient has chosen to be masked, it is also suggested that staff mask when providing care or when in close proximity to the patient
- For inpatients on Droplet-Contact precautions, masks must still be worn, if tolerated, when outside their room (e.g. during transport to medical imaging)
These guidelines apply to all staff, physicians, volunteers, visitors and patients. Unity Health will remain a mask-friendly space and all are welcome to continue masking in all areas. Masks will continue to be supplied by Unity Health at all facility entrances and will also be available in clinical areas. Masking requirements are subject to change depending on virus activity in the hospital and community, and it may be necessary to bring back mask requirements for the fall/winter respiratory virus season or when community levels of COVID-19 and other respiratory illness activity are high.
Resources to communicate this change:
- A printable posterto display in hospital units
- A letterfor inpatients
- A scriptdetailing masking information
Information about the new masking guidelines will be available on Unity Health’s website and updated posters will be posted at hospital entrances. If you have further questions, please contact the Infection, Prevention and Control team for your unit.
On Monday, May 6 between 12:00 and 2:00 a.m., SPOK will be undergoing maintenance to their system which will interrupt the audio and vibrate notification sounds. You will still receive the page and content of the message, but there will be no alert sound. This will impact all SPOK users at Unity Health who use the system.
Switchboard will continue to process all codes during the planned outage. If you have any questions, please reach out to Laurent Veron.
We invite interested individuals to apply for the Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Lead for the SMH DOM. This is a critically important position that will be action oriented and focus on using the roadmap from the Anti-Racism Working Group to dismantle racism across medical education and patient care. The job description is attached. If you are interested, please submit a letter of intent and CV to [email protected] by May 6, 2024.
Dear Executive Committee,
If you have not already done so, please help to disseminate the IM PD posting broadly. Posting close is Thursday May 23rd, 2024. Should anyone be interested in the role please have them reach out to Arno, Gillian or I. Posting information is summarized below.
Role: Internal Medicine, Program Director
Posting close date: Thursday May 23, 2024
https://jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-Assistant-Associate-Full-Professor-Program-Director%2C-Internal-Medicine-ON/580158317/
Email applications to the attention of Monica Flak: [email protected]
Eligibility:
The ideal candidate is a respected teacher and mentor with well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, organizational leadership experience, and an interest in education scholarship. Applicants must have/be eligible for a full-time clinical academic appointment at the rank of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor at the University of Toronto. Applicants must hold an MD degree, be a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Internal Medicine (or international equivalent),and be licensed or eligible for medical licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The PD for Internal Medicine will receive administrative support and an annual stipend of $175,000 inclusive of HST from the Department of Medicine paid via hospital practice plan.
For more information:
DoM Chair, Dr. Gillian Hawker: [email protected]
VC Education and Search Chair, Dr. Arno Kumagai: [email protected]
Strategic Planning Officer, Monica Flak: [email protected]
Kind Regards,
Monica FlakPronouns: she/her Strategic Planning OfficerDepartment of Medicine | Temerty Faculty of Medicine | University of Toronto C. David Naylor Building: 6 Queen’s Park Crescent West, Third FloorToronto, ON, M5S 3H2E: [email protected] www.deptmedicine.utoronto.ca
On Tuesday May 7, 2024 the Biochemistry Division will be transitioning to new instrumentation at St Michael’s Hospital. The lab will be without automation for 3 months, which will require manual handling of all samples that come to the chemistry lab. This includes tests such as electrolytes, creatinine, troponin and endocrine tests, etc.
While the lab will do their best to limit the impact on patient care, please expect some delays in testing during this transition period. We are unable to process add-on testing during this transition period without automation (approximately 3 months).
|
Topic |
Expectations/Action |
|
Add-on testing |
° No add-on testing will be possible for the next 3 months ° Collect another tube will be the requirement |
|
Testing delays |
° Critical care and STAT samples will be prioritized during this transition ° Expect delays up to 6-8 hours for routine testing, but note the lab will do everything to minimize delays |
|
Reference Ranges |
° Be mindful that some assays will have reference range updates |
Thank you for your patience with us while we work to make meaningful laboratory improvements at St. Michael’s Hospital and across Unity Health.
If you have any questions, please reach out to any member of the Unity Health Biochemistry team.
Daniel Beriault, MSc, PhD, FCACBHead of Biochemistry[email protected] Sarah Delaney, PhD, DABCC, FCACBClinical Biochemist[email protected] Jeff Companion, MLTLaboratory Manager[email protected]