Following a successful academic review, the Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (CQuIPS) has been renewed for another five-year term as an Extra-Departmental Unit (Category C) at the University of Toronto, affirming the Centre’s vital role in advancing quality and safety across the health system through education, research and collaborative partnerships. These next five years also represent an exciting new chapter for CQuIPS with the addition of Michael Garron Hospital (MGH).

A renewed commitment to improving healthcare quality and safety

CQuIPS’ new term, which came into effect on July 1, 2025, was approved after the review recognized it as a leading quality improvement and patient safety (QIPS) centre globally, highlighting its outsized contributions to QIPS capacity building and equity-focused research and scholarship, setting a new bar for the ways in which an EDU-C can add tangible value in the health system.

“On behalf of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety on its renewal,” said Dr. Lisa Robinson, Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Vice Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions at U of T.

“Through its rigorous research and transformative education programs, CQuIPS is strengthening quality improvement and patient safety in our hospitals, leading to improved care and more resilient and equitable health systems. The Centre’s work has had lasting impact across Canada and beyond and I look forward to learning more about its contributions in the years ahead.”

All EDUs thrive as a result of the support they receive from their funding partners. CQuIPS is no different in this regard, with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, the Hospital for Sick Children, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Women’s College Hospital Medicine continuing to provide funding and support for an additional five-year term.

When asked to reflect on the value that CQuIPS partnership brings, Dr. Andy Smith, President and CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre replied: “The return on investment for our organization has been quite simply extraordinary. The most influential and impactful senior leaders in our organization all have deep connections with CQuIPS and continue to derive exceptional value from their ongoing relationship with the Centre.”

Striving for better health outcomes through new partnerships

The addition of MGH as a new partner institution brings opportunities for cross collaboration. MGH brings a deep commitment to health equity, community engagement, and inclusive innovation, which aligns with CQuIPS’ vision “Everyone striving for better health outcomes for all”, while complementing the strengths of the current partner organizations.

“We are very proud to be the first and only large community teaching hospital to join CQuIPS,” says Melanie Kohn, President and CEO, Michael Garron Hospital. “This partnership not only recognizes our past quality and safety achievements but will allow us to further advance our work in this area through access to system leaders, industry experts and learning opportunities. We strongly believe that this partnership will have a positive impact not just on our patients but on our community-at-large.”

Christie Lockhart will assume the role of Interim Associate Director and MGH Site Lead, supporting the Centre’s operations and strategic initiatives during this period of growth. She is currently the Medical Director of Quality, Innovation and Research as well as the Chief of the Department of Midwifery and Co-Program Medical Director of Maternal Newborn & Child Health Service at Michael Garron Hospital. This new partnership model will provide CQuIPS with the necessary resources to continue its journey towards sustained growth and create new opportunities for the Centre to serve as a valued health system partner and global leader in QIPS.

Written by Camille Borromeo Denbigh in partnership with Atifa Hamir (MGH)