Our Science of Care Institute propels multidisciplinary ideas into practice to drive the discovery and delivery of life-changing care. Building on a strong foundation of researchers, clinician scientists and trainees affiliated with Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI), the Science of Care Institute brings health-care professionals together to produce high-quality research that can bring about health system transformation.
A core component of our Science of Care Institute is our Centre for Nursing Excellence, co-led by Jane Merkley (RN, MScN), Executive VP, Chief Nurse Executive and COO at Sinai Health, and Lianne Jeffs (RN, PhD), the Institute’s Chief Science Officer. Backed by a visionary $10-million campaign led by Maxine Granovsky Gluskin and fellow women philanthropists, the Centre is empowering nurses to lead change from the front lines, where care is delivered. Their collective momentum was on full display during Nursing Week 2024, with a Nurse-Led Research and Innovation Showcase highlighting standout projects in compassionate care, system learning and workforce well-being.
Among the participants was Rebecca Ngu (RN), who shared her Nurturing Nurses Mentorship Program, a 15-week initiative for early-career nurses in labour and delivery. Funded by the Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation, Rebecca’s program seeks to better support new nurses during their transition to practice period through one-on-one mentorship with an experienced nurse and additional training on topics such as compassion fatigue, moral distress and psychological safety. Through dedicated mentorship, the program has already seen positive outcomes, including increased confidence and morale and reductions in stress among new nurses, with mentors reporting renewed insight and compassion through this program.
“When you give nurses the tools and support to lead research, they don’t just improve care — they transform it. That’s what the Science of Care Institute is all about.“
— Dr. Lianne Jeffs, Chief Scientific Officer, Science of Care Institute
In the realm of complex wound care, Maria Becerra (NP), Anna Kha (RN) and Sarabeth Silver (RN) presented findings from their project using amniotic membrane to treat challenging ear, nose and throat (ENT) wounds. Patients with head and neck cancers undergo extensive surgical procedures and are at high risk for wound complications, such as infection and bleeding. Their work is helping to understand the impact of amniotic membranes as well as how we might improve access to this post-surgical treatment.
At Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, an interprofessional group of researchers jointly led by Mary Zheng (RN), psychiatrist Jon Hunter (MD) and hospitalist Jordan Pelc (MD) have come together to study the complex network of relationships involved in complex continuing care.
This year also welcomed two key positions within our Centre for Nursing Excellence: Dr. Marianne Saragosa, Embedded Nurse Scientist, and Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis, Heather M. Reisman Chair in Perinatal Nursing Research. Together with Dr. Jeffs, these three nurse scientists have highly successful academic track records and hold Tri-Council funding (highest source in Canada) for their respective research programs and associated highly qualified personnel.
This spirit of innovation extended to September’s Science of Care Expo and continues through new projects such as a Canadian Institutes of Health Research–funded study led by Marianne Saragosa (RN, PhD), who is piloting a mobile app to support dementia patients and their families through personalized, connected care.
From mentorship to mental health, nurses at Sinai Health are leading change, supported by research infrastructure, scientific leadership and a donor community deeply invested in the science of compassionate care.