In photos: 100 connections in 100 days with Melanie Kohn

Today marks Melanie Kohn’s 100th day as President and CEO of Michael Garron Hospital (MGH)!

In June, she penned an open letter to the MGH community; in this letter, she shared her hopes of connecting with, listening to and learning from the people that make up the community at MGH and in East Toronto.

And she has done just that.

“My first 100 days have been a great opportunity to gather thoughtful advice from the incredible people who make up this organization and community,” Melanie says.

“I am deeply grateful to staff, physicians, patients, volunteers, community members, partners, neighbours and donors for the warm welcome and making me feel at home in East Toronto.”

In Photos

In 100 days, Melanie has made 100 connections across MGH and the wider community.

This includes participating in hospital and community events; visiting partners and teams across East Toronto; shadowing healthcare workers on the frontlines; attending more than 30 healthcare team huddles; walking the hallways from the basement, loading dock and up to the patient care floors; and meeting many new colleagues and friends along the way.

Here are 10 photos that capture snapshots of Melanie’s first 100 days at MGH, along with her reflections on each moment.

A community of giving

“On my first day on the job, I attended the MGH Foundation’s Annual Golf Classic Tournament. It was a torrential downpour – but despite the rain, people were in high spirits. It was an early glimpse into the embedded culture of giving at MGH. So many donors came over to tell me what an outstanding hospital this is and how committed they are to the success of our vision and mission. I am deeply grateful to this community for making me feel so welcome on day one.”

A glimpse into the frontlines of patient care

“One of my favourite ways to connect with our frontline teams is through our patient care team huddles across the hospital. These regular huddles demonstrate our strong culture of quality and safety at MGH. Our teams are committed to speaking openly about safety, in the spirit of improvement. Thank you to our clinical care teams – from nurses, physicians, allied health professionals and more – for your commitment to safe and compassionate care for our community.”

Cuddling our tiniest patients

“I met Betty Hicks, Volunteer Experience Council Chair, in our Special Care Nursery to learn about our volunteer baby-cuddling program. The purpose of the program is to ensure that premature and sick newborns and infants have someone to hold them and provide them with comfort and safety when a family member cannot. Volunteers like Betty are part of the fabric of this hospital, who contribute to excellent patient care experiences and model the values and culture of MGH.”

Youth Wellness Hub opens in Thorncliffe Park

“I was thrilled to participate in the grand opening of the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub in July. This bright and welcoming 11,000-square-foot space provides a variety of integrated walk-in services for youth aged 12 to 25, including mental health and substance use supports, employment and settlement services, trades training and social programs. The Youth Wellness Hub demonstrates the value and promise of integrated healthcare systems, and what is possible when we think beyond our traditional roles; when we work together to support our community and wrap services around people – when they need it and where they need it.”

The precision required for meal delivery in hospital

“Food service delivery is truly a precise and complex process – and Elaine Tabbuac (right) does it with poise, ease and patience. Given the many varying needs of the patients we serve, ensuring they receive the right meals at the right time is an important part of their health and daily routine. Food Services is part of MGH’s Support Services team, which consists of more than 300 team members who support everything from cleaning, linen delivery, food services, patient transport and more.”

Celebrating MGH physicians and women in leadership

“It was my distinct pleasure to meet emergency medicine physicians Dr. Rajani Vairavanathan (left) and Dr. Ruchi Mohindra (right), who were recently recognized with prestigious awards from the University of Toronto and the Toronto Women of Emergency Medicine. It was so energizing and inspiring to meet such brilliant and humble individuals who exude such passion for their work. Our physicians’ continued commitment to excellence at MGH consistently impresses me.”

Behind the scenes of patient care

“We often take for granted the extensive level of coordination and planning that goes into running a hospital. Our employees working in the skilled trades play a critical role in supporting patient care. Our Maintenance team responds to requests and collaborates with different departments to inspect, maintain and repair hospital infrastructure equipment and systems, which allows us to work as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

Under the microscope

“It was a pleasure to meet with our laboratory services team – a dynamic group of individuals who love what they do. Many of them have long-standing careers at MGH that span 20 to 30 years. Laboratory services are an essential part of any hospital, offering a range of diagnostic testing that is crucial for patients to understand their health and for providers to understand how to best care for them.”   

Incredible partnerships that span beyond hospital walls

“I had the opportunity to tour our partner locations where health, community, social and primary care services are delivered across East Toronto. I met with valued partners from the South East Toronto Family Health Team, Health Access Taylor-Massey, Transitional Care Program at WoodGreen Community Services, Flemingdon Health Centre, Health Access Thorncliffe Park and the incredible team (pictured here) at our off-site Kew Beach Unit, operated in partnership with VHA Home Healthcare.”

Ice cream brings a community together

“In August, we hosted a staff summer social and it was so much fun to connect with staff and physicians and meet new friendly faces. I was so enriched and invigorated by the smiles, jokes and laughter. Sometimes even a small gesture can make a big impact. Thank you everyone for taking time out of your day to enjoy a tasty treat!”