Kingston Health Sciences Centre

07/21/2025

🧘‍♀️ 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔. 🙆‍♀️ 𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. 💜 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆.

There’s a sticker on Laurie Hill’s notebook that says “mental health matters.”

It’s more than a colourful decoration. It’s a daily reminder of the commitment she brings to her patients 💜.

Hill is a triple threat when it comes to mental health support: interim programming coordinator for ’s inpatient adult mental health and addiction care program, occupational therapist and certified somatic psychotherapist.

“Recovery looks different for every patient. It’s a deeply personal, non-linear journey. My goal is to help people not just cope, but re-engage with life in ways that feel empowering and meaningful to them.”

Her passion lies in breaking down barriers and stigma.

✨That’s why she’s championing a diverse range of programming to meet individuals where they are and support their unique definitions of recovery✨.

“Programming brings rhythm, predictability and purpose throughout the day. It’s about offering options that meet clinical needs, but also honour the human need for connection, meaning and individualized healing.”

One example is her mindful movement group, a morning practice designed to support mental health recovery, emotional resilience and nervous system regulation.

“Patients have shared the group helps them feel calmer, more present and more hopeful. For some, it’s their first experience of connecting with their body in a way that feels supportive rather than overwhelming.

“We’ve seen improved participation in other therapies, reduced agitation and increased engagement in care. It’s a gentle, accessible invitation to healing. One breath and one movement at a time.”

See what we mean when we say Hill is committed to her patients? She’s always ready to go the extra mile with her signature smile 😊.

“I believe everyone deserves to be met with dignity, especially in their most vulnerable states. That belief shapes how I lead, how I communicate and how I show up every day.”

🌟Because for Hill, “mental health matters” isn’t just a saying — it’s her purpose🌟.

07/15/2025

Less than a year ago, Mary Cross was a newly retired professional looking for a meaningful way to spend her time and stay connected to her community.

Today, she’s one of our dedicated volunteers at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), sharing her time and energy between the Tuck Shop and the Emergency Waiting Room.

“I volunteer for KHSC because it’s a wonderful organization helping thousands and thousands of people,” says Cross.

Read more about Mary's experience volunteering at KHSC: https://kingstonhsc.ca/news/volunteering-khsc-mary-cross

07/09/2025

Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) and the South East Regional Cancer Program have unveiled three new commissioned pieces of art by Indigenous artists as part of the Indigenous Spaces and Places in Health Care Initiative, collaborative effort led by the Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team (FLA OHT), Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC), and Three Things Consulting.

This artwork serves as a reminder that reconciliation in health care must be ongoing, rooted in meaningful representation and sustained by efforts to honour Indigenous knowledge, support cultural healing practices, and foster culturally safer environments.

Read more: https://kingstonhsc.ca/news/khsc-and-south-east-regional-cancer-program-welcome-indigenous-art-through-indigenous-spaces

07/07/2025

🚧 Temporary Ramp Closure: Hotel Dieu Hospital Brock Street Entrance 🚧

Starting Monday, July 7 at 5 p.m., work will begin on HDH's main ramp at the Brock Street entrance. The work is scheduled to continue each evening after 5 p.m. for most of the week, and during this time:
🔹 The ramp will be closed to vehicles.
🔹 Foot traffic will be rerouted, but either the revolving door or sliding door will remain open.
🔹 One of the two ramps will remain accessible.
🔹 Stairs will stay open throughout.
🔹 For evening pickups/drop-offs, please use the UCC/Staff entrance.
🔹 Security will be available to assist with directions.

✅ Daytime access to the ramp will remain open for vehicles.

Plan your visit: https://kingstonhsc.ca/visiting-or-attending-khsc/getting-hospital

Thank you for your patience as we improve our facilities!

Kingston Health Sciences Centre provides care, services and support at two different locations in downtown Kingston and near Queen's University. Hotel Dieu Hospital site Located in the heart of downtown Kingston, covering one city block between Brock

06/30/2025

As Pride Month comes to a close, we're reflecting on the incredible moments that brought our KHSC community together!

This June, we were proud to:
🏳️‍🌈 March in the Kingston Pride Parade
🏳️‍🌈 Host Pride events across both sites, including a sticker giveaway, resource fair, and coffee klatch
🏳️‍🌈 Continue flying our Progress Pride banners high

At KHSC, creating an inclusive, affirming space for 2SLGBTQIA+ patients, families, staff, volunteers, and learners is a year-round commitment. Our Pride Staff Community Group plays a vital role in helping move this work forward— fostering connections, organizing events, and sharing resources across the organization.

Whether you're showing support, learning something new, or making space for inclusion in your daily life—every action matters.

Happy Pride Month ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🤎🖤

06/27/2025

From 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 🎓 to 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒕 🌟 and she’s just getting 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 👠.

Less than two years ago, Andreea Bocicariu was an student walking into on a placement while completing her master’s degree.

Today, she’s a confident hand therapist at our Orthopedics and Plastics Clinic, specializing in upper-limb rehabilitation🫶.

“My student placement left a lasting impression on me. The collaborative atmosphere, mentorship opportunities and strong sense of community made it a place I could genuinely see myself growing professionally.

“I felt supported right from the beginning and starting my career here felt like a natural step.”

And that first step has turned into a stride — and a career full of purpose.

“My work involves helping patients regain strength, motion and function in their hands and arms. I collaborate closely with orthopedic and plastic surgeons to create individualized home exercise programs and fabricate custom splints, always aiming to help patients return to their meaningful roles and activities.”

Bocicariu says she’s always been drawn to working with people in an impactful way... and that’s exactly what she’s doing at KHSC❤️.

“Every patient brings a unique story and set of goals, and being able to help them achieve those goals, whether it’s regaining the ability to cook a meal or return to a favorite hobby, is incredibly rewarding.

“Seeing progress, even the smallest wins, reminds me why I chose this profession.”

That’s probably why nine times out of 10 (OK, let’s be real — 9.5 times out of 10🤣) you’ll see her sporting a smile from ear to ear😁.

“A positive mindset and a willingness to support others are essential in a fast-paced, high-demand clinic like ours. We’re all working toward the same goal, excellent patient care and that takes communication, flexibility and mutual support.

“Knowing I’ve contributed to someone’s recovery in a hands-on, personal way is a privilege I don’t take lightly.”

Bocicariu’s career may just be getting started, but something tells us she’s only getting warmed up —✨one patient, one purpose-filled step at a time✨.

06/25/2025

💕🫀𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. At 23 weeks pregnant, Julia Morris just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

As she turned in for bed on New Years’ Day 2025, she started to experience a severe tightness in her chest. Her husband, Brandon, called an ambulance and she was rushed to the emergency department at . 🚑

Diagnostic imaging revealed something devastating – a nine-centimetre mass in her heart.

Small pieces of the tumour were breaking off into Julia’s bloodstream and traveling around her body. With imminent risk to both her and the baby, she was told she needed open heart surgery.

Since waiting until after the baby was born was not an option, the Morris’ faced one of the hardest decisions of their lives: terminate the pregnancy before cardiac surgery or have the surgery and hope for the baby’s survival.

“We thought this could be the last chance to grow our family,” Julia shares, reflecting on those early, impossible conversations. “We knew it was a really big risk, but I didn’t want to give up before giving it a chance.” ❤️❤️❤️

On the day of the surgery, everyone came together in the operating room with one clear mission: 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲.

Together, while closely monitoring both patients, the team expertly extracted the tumour from Julia’s heart. After nearly a month in the cardiac sciences unit, Julia returned home to prepare for her next chapter: becoming a mother of two.
👶👦

Julia admits navigating all the unknowns was scary but trusted the expert care providers who were with her every step of the way.

“They didn’t just save me; they saved our unborn baby. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for each one of them.”

Now, Julia is embracing being a parent of two and is a testament to the unshakable strength of motherhood. 👩‍🍼💪

“I’ve learned a valuable lesson about who I am as a person, and that is I’m not one to take the easy road out of things,” Julia smiles, while feeding Johnny. “I hope my sons will someday understand those lessons & it will help them thrive and get through tough situations in life.”

06/24/2025

🙌 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦! 🌟

Our 54-strong inpatient mental health and addiction nursing team got a boost this month with the addition of five new nurses to Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s Mental Health and Addiction Program, the largest and most unique program of its kind in southeastern Ontario.

These compassionate professionals are joining us from across the province, including 𝗦𝘂𝗱𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆 and 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼, and they’re bringing with them the skills, heart, and dedication needed to support the more than 𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 admitted to our program each year.

They will be working across all acute and inpatient areas, including general adult care, intensive observation, emergency care, and in the child and youth unit which serves the whole southeast region.

Mental health and addiction nurses are highly trained professionals with wide-ranging knowledge of mental health disorders, therapies, treatments, and mental health legislation.

🎉 Welcome to the team. We are excited to have you with us! 🎉

06/23/2025

The Kingston General Hospital (KGH) Auxiliary has made a significant investment in local health care, presenting Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) with $314,650 at their 120th Annual General Meeting held earlier today.

The funds will be used to purchase a Point-of-Care ultrasound machine for the pediatric program, four NICU ventilators and 15 oncology treatment chairs. In addition to the equipment purchases, the KGH Auxiliary also provides annual educational funding for KHSC staff through the Millennium Bursary Fund, as well as subsidizing departmental programs to support Elder Life and Critical Care.

Read more: https://kingstonhsc.ca/news/kgh-auxiliary-donates-nearly-315000-khsc-equipment-education-bursaries

06/21/2025

KHSC is proud to join the broader Kingston community today for the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at Confederation Park, connecting with community members and sharing information about Indigenous programs, resources, and supports available at KHSC.

National Indigenous Peoples Day, which celebrates the diverse cultures, languages, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, aligns with the Summer Solstice—a time of renewal, connection to the land, and spiritual significance for many Indigenous Peoples. Different Nations may refer to this day in their own ways (e.g., Solidarity Day).

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day! Happy Summer Solstice! We wish you a day filled with learning, unlearning, reflection, and celebration.