Page 3 of 5: Message from Jonathan Fetros, VP Clinical: Orla Smith, Senior Clinical Program Director, Medicine Program and Emergency Care Program, has accepted a role at Sunnybrook

July 11, 2024

It is with mixed emotions that I share that Orla Smith, Senior Clinical Program Director, Medicine Program and Emergency Care Program, has accepted a new role as Operations Director of the Tory Trauma Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Orla’s last day at Unity Health Toronto will be September 5, 2024. 

Orla has been a valued member of the Unity Health team for nearly 25 years. She started her career in the St. Michael’s Hospital’s Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU) as a Registered Nurse. Since then, she has taken on leadership roles in critical care, emergency medicine, medicine, research, and professional practice at St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s. She has also been a respected teacher and mentor, an innovative researcher, and has built meaningful and impactful relationships across the network and sector. She was recognized in 2022 with the Ella Ferris Culture of Leading Award. 

Earlier this year, Orla took on the role of interim Senior Clinical Program Director of the Medicine Program in addition to her role as Senior Clinical Program Director of Emergency Care. During her tenure as a Senior Clinical Program Director, she has been instrumental in driving forward initiatives to improve access and flow across our network to make sure that patients receive the care they need where and when they need it. Under her leadership, St. Joseph’s Emergency Department (ED) was recognized provincially for showing the greatest improvement in length-of-stay, and the site launched the Acute Internal Medicine (AIM) Clinic in partnership with Medicine to expedite specialty assessments for ED patients and divert ED admissions. 

Over the pandemic, Orla co-led various elements of our COVID-19 response, and most recently she has been an active member in our work on the Electronic Patient Record, participating in and leading work groups to inform the design and functionality of the system. With her guidance, Unity Health’s world-class specialty care areas have thrived and earned accolades for their work. In 2018, Orla led the St. Michael’s MSICU team to achieve a Gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, recognizing high quality patient and family outcomes through evidence-based practices. 

Orla has made a lasting impact across Unity Health that will continue to strengthen care in the future. It will come as no surprise that when asked, Orla shared she is most proud of the relationships she has made over the course of her career at Unity Health. We are grateful for her contributions and leadership.

Please join me in congratulating Orla on this exciting new chapter. Recruitment for the Senior Clinical Program Director, Medicine is in progress while recruitment for the Senior Clinical Program Director of Emergency Care, Access & Flow will begin next week. Details of a full transition plan will be shared at a later date.