As of March 21, 2025, MGH’s main entrance on Coxwell Avenue is closed as the next phase of our redevelopment project begins. Patients and visitors can use the new temporary main entrance on Sammon Avenue between Coxwell Avenue and Knight Street. View our campus map.
Each summer, Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) is abuzz with fresh energy as the hospital welcomes new healthcare learners for the academic year.
This year marks an important milestone as MGH welcomes a larger cohort of residents from new institutions for 2025/26. MGH has two new partnerships – the School of Medicine at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and the Scarborough Academy of Medicine (SAM) at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC).
“Our hospital has a long history of fostering positive learning environments for trainees,” says Dr. Sheila Laredo, Vice President of Academics and Chief of Staff at MGH. “We believe that learning and discovery are essential components of advancing evidence-based healthcare. At MGH, we provide trainees with hands-on clinical experience, teaching them how to deliver seamless, compassionate and high-quality care to the patients and families we serve.”
In a first for the hospital, MGH will host eight psychiatry residents from TMU. These residents will be rotating through clinical areas including inpatient psychiatry, child and youth mental health programs and substance use services.
“What psychiatry residents get at MGH is a strong sense of community,” says Dr. Victoria Lee, Staff Psychiatrist and Education Lead for Medical Trainees in Psychiatry at MGH. “Not only do we treat within our own walls a very diverse patient population with a wide variety of illnesses, but we also go into the community to see patients in their own environments. This offers trainees a firsthand look at the social, economic and environmental factors that can impact patients’ mental health.”
Dr. Rodney Chan, Psychiatry Resident at MGH, echoes this sentiment. “When I was a medical student, I had the opportunity to meet patients where they were and learn how their unique backgrounds influenced the care they received. Having that context is so important to me and it’s why I’m hoping to stay connected to community hospitals throughout my career.”
The presence of new residents can also positively affect educators, patients and staff at MGH. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn reinvigorates the clinical environment and for established staff at MGH, mentoring and teaching creates opportunities to improve patient care.
“It’s clear to me that the physicians at MGH are very learner-oriented. Right away, I’ve noticed there’s a strong focus on making this a great educational experience for all of us,” says Dr. Chan.
In addition to the cohort of psychiatry residents, four family medicine residents from TMU are currently at MGH for their Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OB/GYN) rotations. They will be with the hospital for the next few weeks. Throughout this academic year, more small groups will be rotating through their OB/GYN placements at MGH.
On July 2, MGH welcomed 16 family medicine residents from U of T. They will be with MGH for the next two years and will complete core rotations, both on the hospital campus and various family medicine sites.
“Our partnership with U of T to host family medicine residents is a cornerstone of medical education at MGH,” says Dr. Peter Tzakas, Director of Medical Education at MGH. “We look forward to having them with us over the next two years as they become part of our community.”
After they finish their orientation in July, MGH staff will see the residents rotating through various departments. For Dr. Tzakas, this hands-on experience in a diverse community setting is what distinguishes MGH as a valuable training site.
“What makes MGH unique compared to other hospitals is our deep connection to East Toronto. Our residents get the opportunity to be embedded in a community that reflects the diversity and complexity of modern healthcare needs, which prepares them exceptionally well for their future practice,” says Dr. Tzakas.
As the hospital expands its role as a teaching hospital, these new partnerships in medical education represent more than an increased number of learners on campus.
They reflect MGH’s commitment to training the next generation of healthcare professionals, who will serve East Toronto’s communities with the clinical skills, cultural competency and community-focused approach that defines excellence in patient care.
