The Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management (DAPM) at the University Health Network, Sinai Health, and Women’s College Hospital is the largest University of Toronto affiliated anesthesia department. The department provides services at three major academic centers, and a total of eight member hospitals, including Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Women’s College Hospital, Bridgepoint Hospital, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Kensington Health.
The scope of our clinical practice at these hospitals is wide and includes: 1) peri-operative care for all surgical subspecialties except for trauma and pediatrics; 2) non-operating room anesthesia care delivery in multiple procedural areas; 3) critical care delivery at multiple critical care units; 4) comprehensive management of acute, transitional, chronic, and cancer pain; 5) sub-specialized units including the
hyperbaric unit, the
malignant hyperthermia clinic, the
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome clinic, and the
SleAP program; and 6) the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program, which reports through the department.
The department also has a large, highly regarded research program that is led by several world-renowned researchers who are affiliated with the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Krembil Research Institute, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Women’s College Research Institute, and the Wilson Centre. The department also highly prioritizes education and teaching, and has a strong, diverse education program supported by a large number of talented, dedicated clinician-teachers and educators.
One metric that perhaps most succinctly illustrates the scope of the department is a ‘by the numbers’ overview: currently, our clinical, research, and education activities involve 130 physicians, 45 anesthesia assistants, 11 nurse practitioners, 60 clinical fellows, 8 graduate students, and 78 research, administrative, and allied health staff.
THE DEPARTMENT’S VISION AND PURPOSE
The department’s vision is, “Excellence through collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.” This vision statement succinctly encapsulates our values and guides our strategic plan for achieving the shared purpose of the department, our member health networks, and the University of Toronto`s Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Although the purpose statement is slightly different at each organization, the core purpose is perhaps best encapsulated by UHN as, “Excellence in care, discovery, and education.”
