Unity Health Toronto and Oak Valley Health are creating a streamlined care pathway to provide patients with timely access to advanced cardiac procedures and interventions at St. Michael’s Hospital. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Oak Valley Health – which includes Markham Stouffville Hospital, Uxbridge Hospital and the Reactivation Care Centre – as it works towards a Level 4 Regional Cardiac Program status, expanding clinical care for its patients.

The partnership will support cutting-edge research and clinical trials by advancing education and training between clinical experts. Teams will also share best practices and maintain quality assurance, ensuring a high level of care from start to finish. 

“As one of the leading community hospitals in Ontario, our partnership with St. Michael’s Hospital is vital for advancing cardiac care at Oak Valley Health. Clinicians will work together to improve patient outcomes, strengthen immediate access to acute care, and lay the foundation for ongoing advancements, benefiting our communities and ensuring the highest standard of care. Together, we remain dedicated to delivering an extraordinary patient experience,” said Terri Stuart-McEwan, Vice President of Clinical Programs and Chief Nurse Executive, Oak Valley Health. 

As a globally-recognized acute care hospital in downtown Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital, a site of Unity Health Toronto, will provide a comprehensive range of advanced cardiac services, including coronary procedures, advanced electrophysiology, structural heart procedures, and cardiac surgery. Oak Valley Health will continue to play a crucial role in ensuring continuity of care for inpatients. Together, this partnership will enhance cardiac care capacity, support patients, and foster seamless hospital integration. 

“St. Michael’s Hospital is proud to partner with the dedicated teams at Oak Valley Health to provide advanced cardiac care to the communities they serve. We are a committed partner in Ontario’s health care system and this new care pathway expands our ability to provide world-class cardiac care to all in need,” said Sonya Canzian, Executive Vice-President of Clinical Programs, Unity Health
Toronto. 

The partnership is aligned with the framework set by Ontario Health’s CorHealth Regional Cardiac Program, which provides strategic leadership to improve cardiac, stroke and vascular care in the province. 

“Over the years, the Heart, Lung and Vascular program at St. Michael’s has grown into a national and global leader in heart and vascular care. As a Level 8 Regional Cardiac Program, we are proud of our wide-ranging expertise, including in minimally-invasive and catheter-based procedures, structural heart interventions, surgical valve repair, and complex arrhythmia management. We look forward to working with Oak Valley Health to build healthier communities,” said Dr. Howard Leong-Poi, St. Michael’s Hospital Heart, Lung and Vascular Medical Director. 

 Plans for additional cardiac care at Oak Valley Health include launching a pacemaker clinic in early 2025, enhancing its Level 2 coronary care unit, and developing comprehensive device implantation services and a diagnostic cardiac catheterization lab. This partnership aims to improve the efficiency and accessibility of cardiac services across Ontario, offering more patients the same access to care. 

“Cardiac patient visits are on the rise, and by 2030 our hospital could serve a population close to 500,000. To provide the care our rapidly growing and aging community deserves, we are committed to expanding our patient-centred cardiac services. Our valued CODE-STEMI program, in partnership with Southlake Regional Health Centre, continues to provide life-saving treatment for acute myocardial infarction. Additionally, our new collaboration with St. Michael’s Hospital will further strengthen our efforts to deliver comprehensive, first-class cardiology care closer to home,” said Dr. Paul Hacker, Lead Cardiologist, Oak Valley Health.

Additional quotes:

“For the past few months, the dedicated members of the Heart, Lung and Vascular team at St. Michael’s have been preparing for this new partnership with Oak Valley Health. I would like to thank our team members for their hard work and collaboration, particularly between clinicians and administrators, to facilitate this new care pathway which sees patients receive the care they need, when they need it.” – Desa Hobbs, St. Michael’s Hospital Senior Clinical Director

“The entire Cardiology team at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto are thrilled to begin a very important relationship between Oak Valley Health and the entire Heart and Vascular program. We have always worked very well together, and this formal relationship will help the teams at both Oak Valley Health and St. Michael’s provide the highest quality, and timely care to the communities of Markham, Stouffville and Uxbridge.” – Dr. Kim Connelly, Division Head, Cardiology, St. Michael’s Hospital

“The Division of Cardiac Surgery at St. Michael’s Hospital has always had a wonderful working relationship with the phenomenal doctors at Oak Valley Health. We are thrilled to formalize this partnership. The communities of Markham-Stouffville-Uxbridge will surely benefit from our close collaboration.” – Dr. Bobby Yanagawa, Division Head, Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital

“At Oak Valley Health, we are committed to delivering exceptional, compassionate care that prioritizes both safety and quality. As we continue to advance community-based care, we look forward to developing our partnership with St. Michael’s Hospital, putting patients first, enhancing our collective efforts and expanding access to a comprehensive range of cardiac services. Together, we are building something greater for patients and the communities we serve.” – Carnett Howell-Belle, Patient Care Director, Acute Medicine, Oak
Valley Health 

“With combined, excellent leadership and dedicated cardiac teams, we are growing our cardiac services to be increasingly patient-centred. Health care is our top priority, and access to better, comphrensive care is a goal we strive for no matter the place we deliver care. Oak Valley Health and St. Michael’s Hospital’s partnership signals innovation, growth, and hope, bridging the gap and bringing the same quality of care to patients in Toronto and the York and Durham regions.” – Dr. Douglas Wan, Cardiologist, Oak Valley Health 

About Unity Health Toronto

Unity Health Toronto is one of the largest health care networks in Ontario with a wingspan across Toronto’s core. The wide range of services we offer, supported by our university affiliation, strong community partnerships, and global reputation in research, education, and innovation, positions us as a leader in delivering collaborative, integrated, and high-quality care. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient, and equitable health system for everyone.

Unity Health Toronto’s three hospital sites, including St. Joseph’s Health Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, and Providence Healthcare, have been an integral part of Toronto’s neighbourhoods for generations, providing compassionate, quality care in direct response to the changing needs of the communities they serve. That shared legacy bonded them as they became one network in 2017, and it continues today as we develop a path forward together as Unity Health Toronto. 

Our motto – Caring hearts. Leading minds – captures the dual commitment everyone carries at Unity Health Toronto to compassionate patient care and excellence in education, research and innovation. We are advancing healthcare for all united by one vision: The best care experiences, created
together.

For media inquiries please contact Communications@UnityHealth.to 

About Oak Valley Health

Oak Valley Health is one of Ontario’s leading community health care organizations. Across our two hospitals, Markham Stouffville Hospital and Uxbridge Hospital, as well as our Reactivation Care Centre, we deliver safe, high-quality care to more than 441,000 patients annually through diagnostic and emergency care services, clinical programs in acute care medicine and surgery, addictions and mental health, and childbirth and children’s services. Oak Valley Health is proud to be part of the Eastern York Region North Durham Ontario Health Team. With over 600 professional staff, over 3,300 dedicated staff, and more than 900 active volunteers, we are committed to celebrating our people, fostering connections, and driving innovative growth. We provide integrated care for healthier communities and deliver an extraordinary patient experience through our honoured to care culture to residents of Markham, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Uxbridge, and beyond. For more information, visit oakvalleyhealth.ca. 

For media inquiries, please contact: Alysia Burdi Senior Communications Specialist, Oak Valley Health aburdi@oakvalleyhealth.ca