Please see below for the following updates:

• Reminders and instructions for Epic Systems Training registration
• Start winding down activities to prepare for the launch of our new EPR system
• Posting for Medical Director, Palliative Care
• WebCV Decommissioning and Transition Plan
• Story: Medical oncologist seeks to better equip the cancer care workforce around the world
• Join us in honoring Dr. Rob ‘Sarge’ Sargeant’s legacy!
• AFP Innovation Fund (IF) Call for Proposals – Submission deadline August 21/24
• REMINDER: Submit your 2023/2024 Annual Activity Reports – Active Staff Members ONLY
• REMINDER: 2023/2024 Annual Activity Reports – Courtesy Staff ONLY - Please fill out the online survey

Please note: All DOM physicians including courtesy and clinical associates:  Even if you are using/have recently used Epic at another hospital, you are still required to register for training at SMH.  A training exemption will be made available for physicians who have recent and related Epic experience but until the exemption process opens in August, all physicians should secure a spot for training. Don’t delay – training spots are quickly filling up.

Please be reminded that all Unity Health staff and physicians who will use the new Epic EPR system once it launches on Nov. 30 are required to complete Epic Systems training ahead of go-live. Physicians are responsible for registering themselves. Training registration is now open. Please see below for important reminders and step-by-step instructions on how to register. 

Registration instructions 

Training has been preassigned in Elevate, Unity Health’s Learning Management System (LMS). To enrol in a classroom training session, please see this tip sheet, this how-to video or follow the steps below. You can also find an introduction to Elevate in this short overview video.

1. Sign into Elevate (https://elevate.unityhealth.to) using your Unity Health credentials. This is the same network username and password that you use to log into other Unity Health systems. 
   • Note: You can access Elevate through any browser and on any device. You do not need to be logged into Citrix or FortiPortal, or on a Unity Health device. 
2. Once logged in, you’ll see a My Learning Progress widget on the right-hand side of the home page, below the Elevate banner. In that widget, find the course you want to enrol in. 
   • Note: You won’t be able to see your Epic Systems training courses until 7 a.m. on June 24. If you still don’t see your courses after that time, click on “View All” at the bottom right-hand side of the widget. 
3. Click on the course title you want to enrol in. 
4. In the Enrolment Options box, click on the “Choose Session” button. 
5. From the available list of sessions, select the one you want to enrol in. 
6. Click the “Confirm” button to enrol in the chosen session. 

If you encounter any issues trying to register once the training registration window opens, please log a ticket with the HelpDesk using the ServiceNow portal (NOT via phone or email). A member of the EPR Education team will review your ticket and get back to you as soon as possible. 

Reminders 

• Training courses have been pre-assigned in Elevate. Physicians are only responsible for selecting the date, time and location that they want to attend training.  
• ALL Unity Health physicians are required to register for training. A training exemption will be made available for physicians who have recent and related Epic experience but until the exemption process opens in August, all physicians should still secure a spot for training. 
• Physicians will have to dedicate one day for Epic training, to be done in-person. 
• Physicians do not need to register immediately on June 24 but please note that classroom training sessions will be available on a first come, first served basis.  
  • Each track has a collection of date/time options that are fixed and cross the three sites.  
  • Based on information provided by clinical groups, some tracks include Saturday options. 
  • There are enough classes for everyone, and everyone will have to choose one. 
  • Epic requires that all physicians at Unity Health be registered by Aug. 30. 
• Registration is NOT restricted to your home site. It's recommended that you choose the date/time that works for you, and do not restrict yourself by only looking at one site. 

Thank you in advance for your attention to this. If you have any questions, please see the resources available on the EPR System Training page on UnityNet or email [email protected]. 

We’re less than four months away from the launch of our new electronic patient record (EPR) system and preparations are ramping up. It’s an exciting time for Unity Health but it’s also a busy time as leaders continue to balance the needs of their teams and departments with the preparations required for our new Epic system. 

Beginning in September, most Unity Health staff, physicians and learners will be required to complete Epic Systems training and partake in other readiness activities. To create capacity for these activities, ALL leaders and teams across the organization are asked to wind down all non-essential activities. This means: 

• Pausing all non-Epic related activities that are not core business operations
• Delaying all new initiatives, meetings, councils and committees until the New Year

Over the summer, leaders must identify activities, meetings and initiatives that will be paused to create time to focus on Epic this fall. This applies to everyone across the organization, not just those directly impacted by Epic. Even teams who aren’t directly impacted by Epic may have meetings or initiatives that draw on teams who are. Please be mindful of everyone’s time, energy and resources.

If you have any questions about how to wind down activities in your area, please speak with your senior directors or VPs. They’re available to work with you on an appropriate wind down plan.  

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. There’s a lot of great work happening to make this new system possible and we’re nearing the home stretch!  

Please find the attached posting for the role of Medical Director, Palliative Care.  This is a cross-site program position that works in close collaboration with the Senior Clinical Program Director, Rehabilitation and Palliative Care. 

The role provides clinical leadership for Palliative Care inpatient and outpatient services across all Unity Health sites and ensures the provision of evidence-based care for patients. This opportunity is open to Active staff physicians in the Department of Rehabilitative Care at Providence Healthcare and Departments of Medicine (General Internal Medicine) and Family & Community Medicine at both St. Michael’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Health Centre.  The remaining Divisions and Departments sit in other Unity Health Programs. 

Interested applicants should please forward a one-page statement of interest, curriculum vitae and a list of internal and external referrals who can be contacted regarding their candidacy to: Trixie Williams, VP Clinical, Rehabilitation, Transitions and Pharmacy at [email protected]. 

Applications for the position will be accepted until August 29^th at 5:00pm. 

It would be most appreciated if you could please forward this information on to your respective departments.  If there are any questions please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Trixie Williams

Vice President, Clinical-Rehabilitation, Transitions and Pharmacy

P: 437-243-3276 | [email protected]

Executive Assistant: [email protected]  P: 416.285.3666 x 54070

Dear Department of Medicine colleagues,
 
In May of this year, we informed you that our department would be decommissioning WebCV and transitioning to Elements. This decision is based on several factors including lack of improvement, the need to allocate resources more effectively and the availability of the new university tri-campus application called Elements.
 
In preparation for the decommissioning of WebCV, MedIT has shared with us the following transition plan: 
 
WebCV CV Data Entry Deadline
 
We will no longer accept CVs for entry into WebCV from those not going forward for promotion/CFAR next year after July 31, 2024. We will ensure that all data entry work on our queue is completed on or before September 30, 2024.
 
WebCV will continue to be used for the current promotions cycle (submitting in April 2025), so if you are considering going forward for promotion in this cycle, you are encouraged to submit your CV for entry into WebCV as soon as possible. There will be a second cut off date of October 15, 2024 for this group, with the plan of decommissioning WebCV in April 2025 after these faculty have extracted the data they need.
 
Curation support for Elements is ongoing. If you have yet to provide your consent and CV to the curation team to populate your profile, please complete this form. Alternatively, feel free to start engaging with Elements directly. 
 
Website Accessibility
 
WebCV will continue to be available until April 2025 but support will be limited. Therefore, we recommend faculty members download their WebCV reports (CV, TER, AAR, CPA, etc.) prior to April 2025. Faculty can update, save and use said reports for promotion or review assessment submissions if they are up for this year.
 
Teaching Data Migration
 
On June 30, 2024, we exported and migrated the teaching data from WebCV to Elements. The Teaching and Supervision section on Elements has been hidden on DoM Faculty profiles and will be released shortly, once the ingested teaching data from WebCV has been reviewed.
 
We appreciate your cooperation during this transition and will provide more information as it becomes available.

Dr. Nazik Hammad is passionate about improving global inequities and disparities in cancer care.

She was raised in Sudan, Africa and holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Khartoum, as well as a Master of Science in Fundamental Immunology from the University of Toronto (U of T) and a Master of Education in the Health Professions from Johns Hopkins University.

While she initially began specializing in infectious diseases after her internal medicine training, she later realized she was more interested in pursuing oncology. Today, she’s a Clinician Educator at St. Michael’s Hospital and a professor of medical oncology at U of T.

“Cancer is a major global health challenge and this drives my desire to better equip the cancer care workforce, both in Canada and around the world,” she says.

Read the Full Story HERE

Join us in honoring Dr. Rob ‘Sarge’ Sargeant’s legacy!

11 cyclists, including 8 St. Michael’s doctors, are tackling a 486km tour through Italy’s Dolomites to raise funds for General Internal Medicine.

Support our riders or start your own cycling fundraiser to continue Dr. Sargeant’s patient-centered vision. Every kilometer counts!
Donate now: https://www.stmichaelsfoundation.com/dolomites

#CycleForSarge #StMichaelsHospital

To start your own fundraiser please email: [email protected]

Applications are now being accepted for Round 17 of the AFP Innovation Funds.  As in previous years, the DOM will have an internal review of the Innovation Fund applications in order to optimize the chance for successful applications.  For 2024/2025, the Department of Medicine has been allocated $480,154.40 in total for new projects, after year 2 funding from last year’s approved projects is removed.  We are suggesting a maximum budget per project of $100,000.  There is also a competition for a large budget cross-discipline proposal of up to $200,000 for 2 years.

We ask that applicants send their complete applications to Jessica Comilang by August 21, 2024.  This deadline is for both large budget and all new initial proposals for the DOM internal review process.

Please check your inbox for emails from Jessica on this topic for full details, guidelines and required forms. You must be a full member of the DOM practice plan to apply as PI. Dr. Andrew Advani is overseeing this process on behalf of the Department of Medicine this year.

Due date:  September 1, 2024

The Department of Medicine is committed to ensuring your career satisfaction and success. With this goal in mind, and due to our size, all full time DoM members are requested to participate in a biennial Faculty Review, at a minimum. This meeting provides you the opportunity for formal discussion about what is and may not be working to achieve your goals, to ensure you are meeting the expectations of your job description from the point of view of your division, department and university, and to facilitate your continued career success.  Faculty members who are in their first 5 years of a faculty appointment will be met with annually. If you have a pressing need to meet or would like to meet annually, please reach out to the PIC office so that we can accommodate this. The priority is to ensure your needs are met and we will do whatever we can in the PIC office to help you achieve your career goals.  You are also encouraged to meet annually with your Division Head to review your career goals and activities, including a discussion of your annual activity report.

Thank you to those who have already submitted.

Due date:  September 1^st, 2024

This year, we are circulating a revised online form for your 2023/24 activity report as we would like to ensure we have a full understanding of your clinical and scholarly contributions to St. Michael’s Hospital.  All medical staff holding a courtesy appointment in the St. Michael’s Department of Medicine are requested to complete this online report by September 1, 2024, which will be reviewed by myself and your Division Head.  This information will be used to inform re-appointment to St. Michael’s Hospital next year.   For those of you who hold a faculty appointment, please note that this report is separate and distinct from the reporting you provide to the University of Toronto. Your time to complete this report is appreciated.

https://knowledgetranslation.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1TCV3Bpxbgn1sGi

Thank you to those who have already submitted.