Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

02/27/2026

We’re taking a look back at some of the moments from our Black History Month celebrations.

This month, Sunnybrook staff had the chance to learn to play the drums, discuss health disparities affecting the Black community, play weekly trivia, and eat some delicious Jamaican patties.

Thank you to our Black History Month Planning Committee for bringing these events to life and to all those who participated in this year’s events.

02/26/2026

We are proud to be recognized on the Newsweek “World’s Best Hospitals” 2026 list once again. This year, Sunnybrook is ranked #3 in Canada and #30 globally. Thanks to our talented and committed team, we have an international reputation for innovative and ground-breaking treatments and providing the best care when patients need it most.

Learn more about this recognition here: https://sunnybrook.ca/2026/02/sunnybrook-continues-to-rank-among-the-worlds-best-hospitals/

02/25/2026

Jan Linton lived with knee pain for years but pushed through to stay active, playing baseball, curling and pickleball. When the pain became unmanageable, she stopped playing, completed a local assessment and chose full replacements for both knees.

Jan had her first surgery at Sunnybrook's Holland Centre just five weeks after her referral. Through the Toronto Regional Arthroplasty Collaborative (TRAC), teams are reducing wait times for hip and knee replacements across Ontario.

“Every appointment I attended at the Holland Centre, I worked with a team that I could feel was dedicated to my success,” explains Jan. “Three months after my first surgery, while at my post-op appointment, I was can-can kicking into Dr. Nousiainen’s office!”

Learn more about Jan’s story and TRAC: https://ow.ly/e7FE50YlRk3

02/23/2026

Stan Byrne, a healthy 49-year-old mother of two, headed out for an evening run when she started to feel short of breath and chest pain. She thought, “I’m just tired, or getting a cold.” In reality, she was having a heart attack.

Blood tests in the emergency department revealed she had experienced Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) — an uncommon and underdiagnosed condition.

SCAD differs from a typical heart attack. It occurs when a coronary artery tears or bleeds within the artery wall, blocking blood flow to the heart and triggering a heart attack.

With daily medication, Stan has returned to her normal routine and continues caring for her young children. Read more about her journey and learn more about SCAD: https://sunnybrook.ca/2026/02/young-and-fit-like-stan-you-could-still-experience-an-uncommon-heart-attack-called-scad/

02/20/2026

After waiting for a week at another hospital, having minimal information, Chris Silva was transferred to Sunnybrook for a quadruple bypass surgery.

Now, he’s turning that experience into action as a Patient Advisor with Sunnybrook’s Schulich Heart Program.

Chris is helping improve communication and strengthen the patient experience for those arriving from other hospitals.

Read more about his story and learn how to join as a patient or family partner: https://sunnybrook.ca/2026/02/from-patient-to-patient-advisor-chris-story-of-engagement-at-sunnybrook/

02/19/2026

Thanks to a transformational $10M gift from Brian Reeve and his family, Sunnybrook's Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program is expanding access to specialized care for people living with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders. This commitment will accelerate the next phase of growth for Sunnybrook’s Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre, including the creation of the Reeve OCD Centre – a new and permanent home for OCD care at Sunnybrook’s Bayview campus. The expansion will support more timely access to intensive treatment for the estimated 400,000 Canadians living with severe OCD and related disorders, and strengthen collaboration across clinical and research teams.

The gift will also invest in the future through Reeve OCD Fellowships and an endowed OCD Chair, training the next generation of OCD clinicians and researchers. Learn more: https://foundation.sunnybrook.ca/2026/02/sunnybrook-receives-10m-gift-to-expand-ocd/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=OrganicSocial&utm_campaign=SocialMedia26

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02/18/2026

February is Recreation Therapy Month!

We’re proud to recognize our Recreation Therapists, who support healing through meaningful connection, creativity and engagement.

From group programs to one-to-one sessions, their work helps patients find joy, purpose, and routine throughout their care journey. Thank you for the impact you make each and every day.

Watch the video to learn more about Recreation Therapy at Sunnybrook and the impact it has on patients across our organization.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laphZvTo4I4

02/17/2026

This year, February marks the start of the holy month of . During Ramadan, those celebrating will fast from sunrise to sunset, making proper nutrition extra important.

“Maintaining proper nutrition is essential, especially when fasting,” says Radhika Anand, registered dietician at Sunnybrook. “Making sure our bodies have the nutrients they need to function at their best can help us sustain our energy levels and avoid fatigue while fasting.”

Check out our blog to learn helpful tips from Sunnybrook’s clinical nutrition team to make sure you have a safe and successful fast.

Learn more: https://health.sunnybrook.ca/how-to-maintain-good-nutrition-during-ramadan/

02/17/2026

Su***de is a global crisis, claiming more than 700,000 lives each year and affecting millions of families and communities.

The World Health Organization is working to reduce su***de worldwide through research, policy and partnerships. Dr. Mark Sinyor, Psychiatrist in Sunnybrook’s Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, recently became global lead of the Partnerships for Life initiative led by the International Association for Su***de Prevention. He also serves as IASP vice-president and leads Sunnybrook’s Su***de Prevention Research Collaborative, a multidisciplinary team studying the psychological, social and biological factors linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviours to help prevent su***de.

Read how Dr. Sinyor and SPRC investigators Dr. Rachel Mitchell, Dr. Ayal Schaffer and Dr. Rosalie Steinberg are advancing research to prevent su***de and strengthen hope and support worldwide:

Suicidal behaviour is a universal challenge, claiming the lives of more than 700,000 people each year and affecting millions of loved ones and community members. The World Health Organization (WHO) is…

02/13/2026

Yesterday, we welcomed players and alumni from the Toronto Argonauts Football Club to our Veterans Centre.

These visits mean a great deal to the Veterans who call Sunnybrook home. They create opportunities for connection and joy, foster community, and remind Veterans that people continue to recognize and value their service and sacrifice.

Veteran resident Brenda Reid brought her father’s Grey Cup — which he won in 1911 — to share with the players, hoping to inspire them to win the cup this year.

Thank you to Chad Kelly, Ralph Holley and Kelly Wiltshire for visiting!

02/13/2026

February is and tomorrow is ! To celebrate, we asked the team in our Schulich Heart Program to tell us how they keep their hearts healthy — because the best valentine is a healthy heart. ❤️

02/12/2026

With one month to go, momentum is building for the Sunnybrook Hockey Classic on March 27, 2026, at Scotiabank Pond which supports Sunnybrook’s Tory Trauma Program. As Canada’s first and largest trauma centre, the program provides life-saving care to the nation's most critically ill and injured. Your generosity will help Sunnybrook expand its facilities and teams to support even more patients and families in their toughest moments.

Donate or register a team: https://secure.sunnybrook.ca/registrant/TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?teamID=1036677&referrer=none&Referrer=none?

02/12/2026

It's ! We’re so grateful for the resident physicians and clinical fellows who care for patients when it matters most.

Residents in our Department of Family and Community Medicine play a critical role in caring for patients across the lifespan, building lasting relationships and promoting health in our community.

“As we experience a defining moment in primary care, we’re proud to train the next generation of health care leaders,” says Dr. Saswata Deb, Chief of the Integrated Community Program at Sunnybrook. “We’re excited to welcome learners passionate about creating access to care and building a health system that prioritizes better outcomes for all.”

Meet some of our Family and Community Medicine team and learn more about what it’s like to train in our world-class program.

02/11/2026

In recognition of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we spoke with three women with different paths who are inventing the future of health care through their work at Sunnybrook.

Learn more about their stories: https://ow.ly/hRZx50YcNWL

02/10/2026

Have you ever wondered how Sunnybrook responds when we have a large influx of patients following an emergency? This is also known as a Code Orange.

When a mass casualty incident takes place, Ontario turns to Sunnybrook. As Canada’s largest trauma centre, the hospital remains ready 24/7 to activate a Code Orange response. Teams across Sunnybrook work quickly to assess the severity of the incident and respond to save lives.

On October 14, 2025, a gas explosion at a construction site in North York led to us activating a Code Orange.

Read more to learn about what happens behind the scenes and how Sunnybrook teams come together to support patients and each other: https://sunnybrook.ca/2026/02/behind-a-code-orange-when-it-matters-most/

02/06/2026

What started as a normal day quickly became a life-threatening emergency for Frank Mazzuca.

After a sudden brain bleed, Frank was rushed to Sunnybrook, where a multidisciplinary team acted fast. He underwent emergency surgery, followed by a critical stay in the ICU when his condition worsened. Within days, Frank was awake in the ICU and breathing on his own.

Sunnybrook is one of only three hospitals in Canada where Frank could get the care he needed, all in one place, in a coordinated fashion. From neurosurgery, diagnostic imaging, an ICU stay, and precision spinal treatments, teams from across many of Sunnybrook’s 11 programs played a fundamental role in Frank’s survival and recovery.

Read Frank’s full story: https://sunnybrook.ca/2026/02/sunnybrook-saved-my-life-a-multidisciplinary-team-delivering-precision-care-under-one-roof/

02/05/2026

Anita Au spends her days training and supporting nurses in Sunnybrook’s Ross Tilley Burn Centre. Canada’s largest burn centre is like a ‘mini-hospital’, admitting patients directly from the field, supporting them and their families through resuscitation, multiple surgeries, ongoing recovery and rehabilitation.

She recently completed the Advanced Burn Life Support Instructor Course through the American Burn Association, making her one of a handful of professionals in Canada with the designation.

Learn more about Anita’s role and her critical work helping the centre’s nursing team deliver safe, high-quality and specialized care: https://ow.ly/I8Cf50Y8KG5

02/04/2026

Today is , and we’re shining the spotlight on our Odette Cancer Program.

Sunnybrook's Odette Cancer Program is a global leader in complex cancer care, delivering highly specialized and compassionate treatment for individuals facing the most challenging diagnoses. As Canada’s largest radiation treatment centre, we provide precise, innovative, AI-enabled image-guided therapy at an unmatched scale—caring for approximately 10,000 new patients each year.

We also lead in cancer research and clinical trials, rapidly translating discovery into next-generation treatments for patients.

Learn more about our impact, strategic roadmap, and how we’re inventing the future of health care: https://sunnybrook.ca/programs/odette-cancer-program/

02/02/2026

February marks five years of celebrating Black History Month at Sunnybrook!

This year's theme, Celebrating Five Years of Legacy, Leadership and Community, celebrates five years of honouring Black excellence, resilience, labour, and impact within our hospital and beyond.

It's also an invitation to reflect on the legacies of those who have come before us, recognize the leadership shaping equitable and compassionate care, and reaffirm our commitment to the communities we serve.

To celebrate this milestone, we are revisiting a feature from our first year of celebrations when we sat down with 14 Sunnybrook staff and community members to hear what Black History Month means to them and reflect on their experiences at Sunnybrook.

Read more: https://sunnybrook.ca/2026/02/what-black-history-month-means-to-me/

02/02/2026

Last week, we welcomed Major-General Scott Malcolm, Canadian Armed Forces Surgeon General, and Heather Sey, Canadian Forces Health Services Civilian-Military Cooperation Representative, to Sunnybrook.

We are proud of our strong and long-standing partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces, delivering training and education that strengthen clinical readiness and support CAF members in providing care in the field. Last week’s visit was an opportunity to further strengthen those ties and explore more opportunities to continue our collaboration, making sure that our civilian and military health-care systems can continue to provide life-saving care.

“Canadian Forces Health Services enjoys a longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship with our civilian healthcare partners like Sunnybrook and I look forward to future collaborations with them to enhance overall resiliency in the broader Canadian healthcare system,” said Major-General Scott Malcolm, Canadian Armed Forces Surgeon General. “Robust military and civilian healthcare system partnerships are vital for ensuring mutual operational readiness and interoperability, meaning that we will be collectively better prepared and able to respond quickly and effectively to various health care contingencies and crises, if they arise.“

01/30/2026

At Sunnybrook, we’re working to improve access to primary, community and specialized care by leveraging strategic community partnerships.

Leading this work is our Nurse-Led Outreach Team (NLOT) - a group of three registered nurses, dedicated to providing skilled, time-sensitive care to senior residents in five long-term care (LTC) homes across North Toronto.

The NLOT provides weekly care to residents in the comfort of their homes, as well as education and training for LTC staff to help keep residents healthy and out of the hospital.

By strengthening connections between hospitals, LTC homes, and families, the team continues to redefine how integrated care can better serve North Toronto’s most vulnerable residents, one visit at a time.

Learn more about the work of the NLOT: https://ow.ly/YP1R50Y4ulJ

01/30/2026

This , we’re sharing the Driving and Dementia Roadmap to support people living with dementia and their families.

The roadmap brings together information, videos, worksheets and practical strategies to help families navigate tough conversations, emotions and planning around the decision to stop driving.

The Driving and Dementia Roadmap is available in English and French:

All types negatively affect the person with dementia’s driving by damaging various brain functions that are essential for safe driving.

01/29/2026

When a patient undergoes chemotherapy as a treatment for a cancerous tumour, there is no test to reliably tell early on if and how a tumour is responding.

Sunnybrook researchers however, are finding a way to predict response earlier in the treatment course. A world-first study is combining a specialized ultrasound technique and machine learning to better predict a tumour response early on in chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced breast cancer, enabling a more customized treatment plan.

While the research is ongoing, preliminary data published in npj Precision Oncology is showing promise.

Learn more: https://research.sunnybrook.ca/2026/01/combining-ultrasound-and-ai-to-better-customize-cancer-treatment/

01/28/2026

This month, Sunnybrook’s new Perioperative Cognition Clinic accepted its first patient. The first-of-its-kind in Canada, the clinic supports patients at higher risk of post-operative neurocognitive disorders.

The clinic has an interprofessional care team that collaborates with care services across Sunnybrook, providing a seamless, patient-centred experience that is tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Read more about the clinic and its long-term goal to embed its care model within Ontario’s health system as a sustainable and replicable standard practice that bridges perioperative, cognitive, and neurological care to advance perioperative medicine: https://sunnybrook.ca/2026/01/wrap-around-cognitive-care-for-perioperative-patients/

01/27/2026

The results speak for themselves! In an effort to help reduce wait times for hip and knee replacement surgery in Ontario, the Toronto Regional Arthroplasty Collaborative (TRAC) was created.

Sunnybrook, in partnership with the Health System Performance Network and the Ontario Hospital Association, recently evaluated the program — and the results are clear.

Since launching in 2023, not only has the TRAC program allowed more patients to receive hip or knee replacement surgery, but it has helped patients receive those procedures even faster. Patients are receiving quality care, quicker, and are recovering at home, with fewer overnight stays.

This evaluation shows how integrated, regional care models like TRAC can help transform health-care delivery across the system: https://ow.ly/Clop50Y1Y0L