New Clinical Teaching Unit Opens at St. Mary’s General Hospital
In partnership with McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote, School of Medicine, the new unit provides more skills-based training to teams and clinicians
Kitchener, ON (September 4, 2024) – Today, St. Mary’s General Hospital, in partnership with McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote, School of Medicine, officially opened their new Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU). Boasting 20 beds and a dedicated Internal Medicine Services teaching space, the CTU applies a multi-disciplinary approach to care.
Located on St. Mary’s 4th Floor Medicine Unit, the new CTU has 20 beds and a teaching space under the portfolio of Internal Medicine Services. The CTU applies a multi-disciplinary approach to care leveraging the expertise of internal medicine physicians, residents and clerks, nursing teams and allied health professionals. Through teaching rounds, together, residents and nursing staff work and learn alongside one another to expand their collective knowledge in their practices and grow hospital-based health education.
“This is an exciting addition to St. Mary’s and for Waterloo Region,” says Mark Fam, President of St. Mary’s General Hospital. “Through the CTU and this strengthened partnership with McMaster, we’re investing in our own team while generating a talent pipeline as we look for ways to attract new healthcare professionals to the many opportunities and advantages of living and working in Kitchener-Waterloo. This teaching model benefits patient care experiences, as the hospital teams have a continuous influx of new learning with each placement round. I’m so proud of the teams and our generous donors for making this a reality.”
“The McMaster Waterloo Regional Campus DeGroote School of Medicine opened its doors in 2007 and has since seen over 300 medical student graduates, many of who have remained in the Region to practice,” says Dr. Margo Mountjoy, Regional Assistant Dean, McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote, School of Medicine. “Since 2011, the Internal Medicine Postgraduate program at McMaster has expanded, doubling its original graduate numbers, with 15 graduates to date, providing many trained healthcare professionals for the community. Clinical teaching units accommodate medical students during the clerkship phase as well as residents who have completed their medical degrees. Under the guidance of their supervisors, residents can support, and mentor clerks and clerks can assist pre-clerks in providing high level patient care and fostering educational opportunities. Patients and health care teams benefit from CTU’s as multi-displinary rounds increase patient safety and communication between health care providers, patients and their families.”
Made possible through funding by the St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation, the CTU began treating patients on St. Mary’s 4th Floor Medicine Unit in July.
“Supporting the new CTU at St. Mary’s boasts a number of wins,” says Susan Dusick, President, St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation. “It directly impacts the positive experience of patients, who have the chance to receive care from an interdisciplinary team of eager learners. It’s a win for the hospital, as it builds a talent pipeline with one of the country’s leading medical schools. And, it’s a win for the residents, nursing students and mentors, as they can learn and grow alongside each other. We are grateful to our generous donors for funding innovative healthcare here in Waterloo Region.”
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Media Contacts
Victoria Ott
Integrated Director, Strategic Engagement
Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital
Victoria.Ott@grhosp.on.ca
519-588-4687
Rochelle Howarth
Communications Coordinator
McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote, School of Medicine
howarr10@mcmaster.ca
905-688-5550 ext. 21112
About St. Mary’s General Hospital
Located in the heart of Kitchener, St. Mary’s General Hospital is home to the Regional Cardiac Centre, Regional Chest Program, and Regional Eye Program. As globally recognized leaders in our field for world-class, innovative healthcare, our vision of
“Inspiring Excellence. Healthier Together” is not just about our approach to patient-centred care, it’s also about our commitment to our staff.
For a century, St. Mary’s has provided compassionate care to the communities of Waterloo-Wellington, and beyond, serving over 1.4 individuals every year. We are the second-largest acute care hospital in the St. Joseph’s Health System with a team of over 2,000 staff, physicians and volunteers dedicated to ensuring patients receive the highest-quality care possible.
Learn more about Our Mission, Values and History and the Future of Care at SMGH.ca.
About McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote, School of Medicine
McMaster University’s medical school was established in 1965, and name the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine in 2004. It offers programs in undergraduate, postgraduate medical education as well as Canada’s first programs for midwives and (civilian) physician assistants.
The Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster is the birthplace of problem-based learning and evidence-based medicine, which the British Medical Journal (PDF) describes as one of the most important medical advances in the past 150 years.
We have a storied history of creating leaders in health, research and industry. We are dedicated to educational excellence and driving innovative research. Our focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative learning taught by world-renowned faculty, combined with our high-impact and joint research, positions Health Sciences at the forefront of global health impact.
Our enhanced focus on, and commitment to, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility (IDEA) and Indigenous Health establishes us as a champion of diversity and change.