Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (SHSC), commonly known as Sunnybrook Hospital or simply Sunnybrook, is an
academic health science centre
An academic medical centre (AMC), variously also known as academic health science centre, academic health science system, or academic health science partnership, is an educational and healthcare institute formed by the grouping of a health profess ...
located in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada. It is the largest
trauma centre
A trauma center (or trauma centre) is a hospital equipped and staffed to provide care for patients suffering from major traumatic injuries such as falls, motor vehicle collisions, or gunshot wounds. A trauma center may also refer to an emergenc ...
in Canada and one of two trauma centres in Toronto, the other being
St. Michael's Hospital. Sunnybrook is a teaching hospital fully affiliated with the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...
. The hospital is home to Canada's largest veterans centre, in the Kilgour Wing and the George Hees, which cares for
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
veterans.
Sunnybrook has made surgical breakthroughs in its history, including the world's first non-invasive opening of the
blood–brain barrier
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective semipermeable membrane, semipermeable border of endothelium, endothelial cells that prevents solutes in the circulating blood from ''non-selectively'' crossing into the extracellular fluid of ...
being performed in 2015.
History
Sunnybrook Hospital had its origins as the Toronto Military Orthopaedic Hospital at 350 Christie Street, which was also known as the Christie Street Military Hospital and, after 1936, the Christie Street Veterans' Hospital. The
Collegiate Gothic
Collegiate Gothic is an architectural style subgenre of Gothic Revival architecture, popular in the late-19th and early-20th centuries for college and high school buildings in the United States and Canada, and to a certain extent Europ ...
building had originally been the site of the National Cash Register Company Factory in 1913 by the architects Page and Warrington, but it was converted for use as a military hospital in 1919 to house soldiers injured during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
as well as some veterans disabled in the
Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sou ...
and the
Fenian Raids. The influx of disabled soldiers returning from
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
led to overcrowding and required a new hospital.
The original site was demolished in 1981 and replaced by Christie Gardens Apartments and Care Facility, at 600 Melita Crescent.
Joseph and Alice M. Kilgour, a wealthy Toronto couple, purchased 154 acres (62.3 ha) in the nearby town of
Leaside
Leaside (/'liːˌsaɪd/) is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located northeast of Downtown Toronto, in the vicinity of Eglinton Avenue East and Bayview Avenue. The area takes its name from William Lea and the Lea family, who se ...
and created Sunnybrook Farm, where they raised horses and hosted fox hunts. In 1928, after Joseph's death, Alice Kilgour donated Sunnybrook Farm to the City of Toronto in his memory for use as a public park.
With the consent of the Kilgour heirs, part of the parkland was transferred to the
Canadian government
The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown-in-C ...
to build a hospital for veterans to replace the Christie Street Hospital. The new building was designed by
Allward and Gouinlock
Walter Seymour Allward, (18 November 1874 – 24 April 1955) was a Canadian monumental sculptor best known for the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Featuring expressive classical figures within modern compositions, Allward's monuments evoke them ...
(
Hugh Allward
Hugh may refer to:
*Hugh (given name)
Noblemen and clergy French
* Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks
* Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II
* Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...
was the son of the sculptor
Walter Seymour Allward
Walter Seymour Allward, (18 November 1874 – 24 April 1955) was a Canadian monumental sculptor best known for the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Featuring expressive classical figures within modern compositions, Allward's monuments evoke them ...
, and
George H. Gouinlock
George may refer to:
People
* George (given name)
* George (surname)
* George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George
* George Washington, First President of the United States
* George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...
is the son of the architect
George Wallace Gouinlock
George Wallace Gouinlock (August 1, 1861 – February 13, 1932) was a prominent Canadian architect. Gouinlock practiced mostly in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, including several designated buildings at Exhibition Place.
His son George Roper Gouinloc ...
).
The first patient was admitted to Sunnybrook Military Hospital in September 1946.
The hospital officially opened its doors in June 1948.
The Christie Street hospital was converted into a senior citizens' home, Lambert Lodge.
In 1973, Sunnybrook Military Hospital became Sunnybrook Medical Centre, and in 1976, it established Canada's first regional trauma unit.
In 1991, the Province of Ontario opened major research facilities to house the rapid growth of on-campus research.
The hospital merged with
Women's College Hospital
Women's College Hospital is a teaching hospital in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at the north end of Hospital Row, a section of University Avenue where several major hospitals are located. It currently functions as an independe ...
and the Orthopaedic and Arthritic Hospital in June 1998 under the provisions of Bill 51, but Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre was deamalgamated in April 2006 to create Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the separate Women's College Hospital.
On July 1, 2012, Sunnybrook and
St. John's Rehab Hospital, which had complementary programs and services, voluntarily merged to provide a continuum of care from acute injury or illness to rehabilitation and recovery.
As of 2016, Sunnybrook maintains three campuses, with its main campus (Bayview) on Bayview Avenue in
North York
North York is one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly north of York, Old Toronto and East York, between Etobicoke to the west and Scarborough to the east. As of the 2016 Census, it had a popu ...
, the satellite Holland Centre (
orthopaedic
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternatively spelt orthopaedics), is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...
and
arthritic
Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In some ...
care) on Wellesley Street East, and
St. John's Rehab on Cummer Avenue. SHSC became affiliated with the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...
in 1966.
On January 25, 2020, Canada's first presumptive positive case of
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
was brought into Canada by a man in his fifties who had recently travelled to
Wuhan
Wuhan (, ; ; ) is the capital of Hubei, Hubei Province in the China, People's Republic of China. It is the largest city in Hubei and the most populous city in Central China, with a population of over eleven million, the List of cities in China ...
,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. The man, who called
9-1-1
, usually written 911, is an emergency telephone number for the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Palau, Argentina, Philippines, Jordan, as well as the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), one of eight N11 codes. Like other emergency nu ...
soon after he had become ill with minor symptoms, was placed in isolation in Sunnybrook.
On January 27, the
National Microbiology Laboratory
The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) is part of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the agency of the Government of Canada that is responsible for public health, health emergency preparedness and response, and infectious and chronic d ...
, in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
, confirmed that the man in isolation was the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the country.
By January 31, the man felt well enough to return home.
Areas of focus
Veterans Program
Sunnybrook has the largest veterans care facility in Canada. It is partnered with
Veterans Affairs Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC; french: Anciens Combattants Canada) is the department within the Government of Canada with responsibility for pensions, benefits and services for war veterans, retired and still-serving members of the Canadian Arme ...
, and provides long-term and complex hospital care to about 500
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
veterans.
Staff provide three categories of care to veterans: physical support, cognitive support and
palliative care
Palliative care (derived from the Latin root , or 'to cloak') is an interdisciplinary medical caregiving approach aimed at optimizing quality of life and mitigating suffering among people with serious, complex, and often terminal illnesses. Wit ...
.
The Veterans Centre is located in the Kilgour and George Hees wings of the hospital.
Research is conducted through the Veterans & Community research program through Sunnybrook Research Institute.
Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program
The program provides care to people with brain-related disorders and conditions. The program's main areas of focus include
stroke
A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...
,
dementia
Dementia is a disorder which manifests as a set of related symptoms, which usually surfaces when the brain is damaged by injury or disease. The symptoms involve progressive impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior, which negatively affe ...
s and
mood and
anxiety disorder
Anxiety disorders are a cluster of mental disorders characterized by significant and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear such that a person's social, occupational, and personal function are significantly impaired. Anxiety may cause physi ...
s.
Brain sciences research is also conducted through the Hurvitz Brain Sciences research program through Sunnybrook Research Institute.
Holland Musculoskeletal Program
The program focuses on
musculoskeletal injury
Musculoskeletal injury refers to damage of muscular or skeletal systems, which is usually due to a strenuous activity and includes damage to skeletal muscles, bones, tendons, joints, ligaments, and other affected soft tissues. In one study, rough ...
, total
joint replacement
Replacement arthroplasty (from Greek ''arthron'', joint, limb, articulate, + ''plassein'', to form, mould, forge, feign, make an image of), or joint replacement surgery, is a procedure of orthopedic surgery in which an arthritic or dysfunctional j ...
and major biological restoration. Areas of expertise include traumatic injury management; joint reconstruction and replacement; rehabilitation;
rheumatology
Rheumatology (Greek ''ῥεῦμα'', ''rheûma'', flowing current) is a branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis and management of disorders whose common feature is inflammation in the bones, muscles, joints, and internal organs. Rheumatolog ...
; sports injury management; and complex upper and lower limb surgery.
Musculoskeletal research is also conducted through the Holland musculoskeletal research program through Sunnybrook Research Institute.
DAN Women and Babies Program
The program provides pre-conception,
pregnancy
Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops ( gestates) inside a woman's uterus (womb). A multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins.
Pregnancy usually occurs by sexual intercourse, but ca ...
, birth and post-birth care to pregnant women, including those with high-risk pregnancies. It also provides
gynecological
Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined area ...
care to patients. The program also has a
neonatal intensive-care unit
A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), also known as an intensive care nursery (ICN), is an intensive care unit (ICU) specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants. Neonatal refers to the first 28 days of life. Neonatal care, as kn ...
(NICU). The NICU is a high-risk regional neonatal nursery, and one of three serving the Central East Region of Ontario. They care for infants requiring Level III or Level II neonatal care. In 2017, the program opened North America's first pregnancy clinic for women with physical mobility disabilities.
Research in
obstetrics
Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...
,
neonatology
Neonatology is a subspecialty of pediatrics that consists of the medical care of newborn infants, especially the ill or premature newborn. It is a hospital-based specialty, and is usually practised in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The ...
, obstetrical anaesthesia and women's reproductive health is also conducted through the Women & Babies research program through Sunnybrook Research Institute.
Schulich Heart Program
The program is named for
Seymour Schulich
Seymour Schulich, Order of Canada, OC ( , born January 6, 1940) is a Canadian businessman, investor, author, and philanthropist.
Biography
Schulich was raised in a Canadian Jews, Jewish family in Montreal, Quebec.[philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...]
from
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
. The centre, as per the name, is a cardiac care centre providing treatment, prevention and care of
heart diseases
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, hea ...
.
The centre performs heart surgeries, tests and procedures, including various minimally invasive heart procedures.
Research is also conducted through the Schulich heart research program through Sunnybrook Research Institute.
Odette Cancer Program
The Odette Cancer Program provides care to patients with various types and stages of cancer. The centre also has a focus on cancer prevention, detection and patient education. Various clinical trials are also run out of the centre.
Research is conducted through the Odette Cancer Centre research program through Sunnybrook Research Institute.
Research spans from the topics of
basic genetics,
biochemistry
Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology and ...
and biology of cancer.
Tory Trauma Program
The program provides
critical care and
trauma care
Major trauma is any injury that has the potential to cause prolonged disability or death. There are many causes of major trauma, blunt and penetrating, including falls, motor vehicle collisions, stabbing wounds, and gunshot wounds. Depending ...
to patients. The
emergency department
An emergency department (ED), also known as an accident and emergency department (A&E), emergency room (ER), emergency ward (EW) or casualty department, is a medical treatment facility specializing in emergency medicine, the acute care of pati ...
is open 24 hours a day. The trauma centre is the largest in Canada, providing
emergency medical services
Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to definitive care. ...
to patients suffering
traumatic, life-threatening injuries.
The trauma program also works in conjunction with the
Ross Tilley Burn Centre.
Research is also conducted through the Tory Trauma research program through Sunnybrook Research Institute.
St. John's Rehab
St. John's Rehab Program provides specialized rehabilitation, education and support for people recovering from complex, life-changing illnesses and injuries, including:
amputation
Amputation is the removal of a limb by trauma, medical illness, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on indi ...
s,
cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...
,
cardiovascular surgery
Cardiac surgery, or cardiovascular surgery, is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. It is often used to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (for example, with coronary artery bypass grafting); to corr ...
,
organ transplants
Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and placed in the body of a recipient, to replace a damaged or missing organ. The donor and recipient may be at the same location, or organs may be transpo ...
, orthopaedic conditions,
stroke
A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...
and neurological conditions,
traumatic injuries and complex medical procedures and conditions. It is home to Canada's only organ transplant rehabilitation program and Ontario's only burn rehabilitation program.
Rehabilitation research is also conducted through the St. John's Rehab research program through Sunnybrook Research Institute.
Integrated Community Program
The Integrated Community Program was established to ensure that the transition from hospital to the next step is one where everyone involved is both informed and engaged. This program also includes Sunnybrook's emergency care.
Heliport
A helicopter pad is located at the east end of the hospital grounds, as well as on the rooftop of the building’s M-wing. Sunnybrook handles
air ambulance
Air medical services is a comprehensive term covering the use of air transportation, aeroplane or helicopter, to move patients to and from healthcare facilities and accident scenes. Personnel provide comprehensive prehospital and emergency and cri ...
flights with urgent trauma cases from the
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area, commonly referred to as the GTA, includes the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel, and York. In total, the region contains 25 urban, suburban, and rural municipalities. The Greater T ...
if an ambulance run is not possible. Only two other hospitals in the City of Toronto proper have helipads:
St. Michael's Hospital and the
Hospital for Sick Children. Sunnybrook has been equipped with a helipad since 1977.
The new M-wing helipad became fully operational in January 2020. The platform's dimensions, measuring 75 ft by 75 ft, make it Canada's second-largest helipad.
Former private clinic
Sunnybrook Hospital was from 2001 to 2003 the site of Ontario's first private for-private cancer clinic to be created since the inception of
Medicare. The clinic operated after the hospital's regular working hours and was owned by Tom McGowan. An investigation by the Auditor General of Ontario revealed that the clinic's cost per procedure was $500 greater than the public sector's and that waiting times did not decrease in the public system after the clinic's had opened.
Holland Centre
The Holland Centre consists of the Orthopaedic Program located in
Downtown Toronto
Downtown Toronto is the main central business district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located entirely within the district of Old Toronto, it is approximately 16.6 square kilometres in area, bounded by Bloor Street to the northeast and Dupont Stre ...
, on 43 Wellesley Street East.
The Holland Orthopaedic and Arthritic Centre was initially founded as the Orthopaedic and Arthritic Hospital by James E. Bateman and Charles S. Wright II in 1955, based on a charter procured by C. Stewart Wright, an
orthopaedic surgeon
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternatively spelt orthopaedics), is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...
. It merged with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in 1998.
The Holland Centre was named as a centre of excellence in
joint replacement
Replacement arthroplasty (from Greek ''arthron'', joint, limb, articulate, + ''plassein'', to form, mould, forge, feign, make an image of), or joint replacement surgery, is a procedure of orthopedic surgery in which an arthritic or dysfunctional j ...
.
References
External links
Sunnybrook Health Sciences CentreSunnybrook FoundationSunnybrook Research InstituteSunnybrook PARTY
{{authority control
Hospitals in Toronto
Hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto
Academic health science centres
Hospitals established in 1948
Heliports in Ontario
Certified airports in Ontario