Category: PSI Highlights

Articles, images and other multimedia that highlight successes that PSI has helped create (ie: CNIB Eye Van).

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Funding Spotlight: Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care, Ontario Edition

The Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care: Ontario Edition – Mapping the Present to Meet Future Palliative Care Needs, a study funded by the PSI Foundation, has officially launched.

Held on June 9th at Vantage Venues in Toronto, the launch event featured a presentation by Pallium Canada CEO Jeff Moat and Lead Researcher Dr. Leonie Herx, who provided an overview of the newly released Ontario edition. PSI Past Chair Dr. Robin Walker and PSI CEO Samuel Moore were also in attendance and led opening remarks.

Reflecting on the funded research grant, Dr. Robin Walker remarked: “this is a wonderful project that has the opportunity to change palliative care and change the system. The Atlas is a wonderful example of increasing knowledge and putting it into practice.”

In 2021, Dr. Jose Pereira of McMaster University’s Family Medicine Department was the recipient of the PSI Health Systems Research award that funded $96,500 towards the Ontario Atlas. This study used a multi-phased mixed-method approach to collect data. In partnership with the Ontario Palliative Care Network, Ontario Health, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO), and McMaster University, this edition of the Atlas provides a snapshot of the state of palliative care in Ontario.

Dr. Leonie Herx highlighted that the Atlas presents data across nine key domains:

    • Demographics
    • Policy
    • Services
    • System performance
    • Education
    • Professional activities
    • Focused populations
    • Community engagement
    • Other activities

She emphasized that the Atlas was designed to reflect and amplify what stakeholders across the province shared with the research team, ensuring the report stays grounded in the lived realities of those delivering and receiving care. Stakeholders are already using data from the Atlas to inform their work.

Looking ahead, Dr. Herx noted the end goal is to create an Atlas that spans all of Canada, with particular attention to addressing the needs of Indigenous peoples. “We not only have the data on the state of palliative care,” she added, “but we also have the data to press for action.”

Thanks to PSI’s support, the study revealed some of the following key findings:

    • Ontario benefits from strong provincial frameworks guiding palliative care.
    • Incomplete data and undefined standards limit effective care planning.
    • There is a significant shortage of acute palliative care beds.
    • In many sub-regions, primary-level palliative care is predominantly delivered by specialist teams.
    • Equitable access remains a critical issue for pediatric patients and underserved populations.
    • A vibrant research community exists, with several university-affiliated centres actively contributing to palliative care research.
    • Rural and remote areas lack formal strategies and often have only partial government funding.
    • There is an inadequate number of hospice and inpatient palliative care unit (PCU) beds across the province.

Funded Research Summary

“Palliative care is a human right. Multiple reports have called for better palliative care access across Canada. Significant gains have been made, but often piecemeal. Access to palliative care still varies considerably across and within provinces/territories. Many hospitals and communities have sub-optimal coverage, and palliative care education is often absent or inadequate in medical and nursing schools. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed strengths and gaps across settings, including in long-term care. Atlases have been developed for Europe, Africa and Latin America to systematically map the status of palliative care across jurisdictions and domains (e.g., governmental and regional policies, resources, specialist palliative care services in hospitals and the community, in-patient palliative care beds (such as units and hospices), education, volunteerism and palliative care for vulnerable populations). This Atlas will describe the current state of palliative care in Ontario regions across such domains and indicators and compare and contrast between (health) regions. Atlases have been effective change agents, identifying excellence ready to spread and highlighting areas for (further) improvement. Canada needs such an Atlas, and this Ontario-based work provides a starting point, harnessing existing data and the insights of clinicians, educators, policymakers and leaders across the province via surveys and key informant interviews.”

As noted by Dr. Herx, atlases serve as powerful tools for change, help identify best practices that can be scaled, and expose areas in need of investment or reform. This Ontario edition offers a valuable foundation for a future Canadian-wide Atlas initiative to improve the health of all.

For more information on the Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care: Ontario Edition, visit pallium.ca/ontarioatlas.

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PSI Profiles: Meet the PSI Team 

Behind the scenes and beyond the hardworking committees and volunteers who contribute to our organization, PSI Foundation is currently run by a tight-knit team of five staff.

Here is a glimpse into each of our team members’ roles, and what we do to deliver funding opportunities to our grantees who contribute their expertise in order to better the health of Ontarians.

Samuel Moore: Executive Director

How long have you worked at PSI?

I have been working at PSI since 2010, so 12 years.

What are the main responsibilities for your job?

To keep staff, physicians, and happy, and to keep everyone (e.g. Board, all Committees, and staff) pulling in the same direction, all working towards meeting PSI’s goals. I focus on both big picture small details, which is always a new challenge. I am expected to evolve in my role as Executive Director.

What is your favourite part of your job as Executive Director at PSI?

My favourite part is working with great people, and working in a wide variety of areas at PSI. For example, I’ll focus on finance one day, then move on to grants the next, then on to governance. Working to make a difference and constantly learning and innovating is another favourite.

What are the most memorable moments from your career?

The most memorable moments are getting PSI to be the first non-American member to join the Health Research Alliance (HRA) , and launching our Knowledge Translation (KT) fellowships.

What did you study in post-secondary?

History, with an emphasis on the history of medicine in Canada.

What are your future plans for PSI as Executive Director?

To see our new PSI strategic plan executed and implemented, as well as to enhance physician-researcher involvement to create an even deeper pool of experts. We are constantly innovating PSI’s current grants programs to meet our goals. Seeing PSI evolve from a smaller regional organization to a larger funder is my ultimate goal.

Jessica Haxton: Grants Coordinator

How long have you been working at PSI?

I have worked at PSI for 11 years.

What are the main responsibilities for your job?

My responsibilities include screening applications, finding external peer reviewers, and getting application ready for internal Grants Committee review.

What did you study in post-secondary?

I studied Molecular Biology and Art History.

 

Heather Bruder: Administrative Coordinator

How long have you worked at PSI?

I have been working at PSI for 4 years.

What are the main responsibilities for your job?

Representing business as first point of contact for all enquiries, support grants funding program activities, by managing external peer review requests, tracking and processing peer reviews. Manage grant payments, including following up with grantees and maintaining payment schedule. Providing administrative support to the Executive Director, Board and Committee members. Organize and coordinate and facilitate several annual meetings and other events with internal/external stakeholders.

What did you study in post-secondary?

History

 

Asumi Matsumoto: Programs Coordinator

How long have you worked at PSI?

I’ve been working at PSI at since September 2016 – so 6 years!

What are the main responsibilities for your job?

My responsibilities adapt depending on the needs of PSI, however, my current ones include:

  • Coordinate the application process for salary support awards
  • Manage the post-award process for all funding streams
  • Maintain PSI’s communication channels
  • Prepare committee meeting material, including dashboards and reports
  • Assist with special projects as assigned

What did you study in post-secondary?

I received my undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences and Psychology at the University of Toronto.

Eunice Lee: Administrative and Communications Assistant

How long have you worked at PSI?

I worked at PSI since May 2019, so for 3.5 years.

What are the main responsibilities for your job?

My job involves designing visuals and writing for PSI through reports, infographics, and social media management, as well as administrative tasks for post-meeting cleanup and our grants system (SmartSimple).

What did you study in post-secondary?

I majored in Journalism with a minor in English.

To read more about PSI’s history, funding, Board of Directors and Management, click here.

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