By: Jenni Bozec​

The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (LMP) at the University of Toronto is expanding and enhancing existing community hospital training opportunities for its Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology residents through new elective rotations within Scarborough Health Network (SHN), deepening hands-on learning while helping meet local health needs.

LMP, home to one of the most comprehensive pathology residency programs in Canada, has long offered Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology (DMP) residents’ exposure to a wide range of training environments and learning opportunities across major academic and community hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area. The expansion into SHN’s hospitals (Birchmount Hospital, Centenary Hospital and General Hospital) adds to the community-based experiences available to residents, allowing greater choice and flexibility within the five-year DMP training program.

This rotation is slated to be offered in the 2026-2027 academic year onwards, and the department is currently in the process of onboarding SHN pathologists with academic appointments to support teaching and supervision.

“This initiative builds on LMP’s strong foundation in community-based education. It aligns directly with our commitment to inclusive community and dynamic collaboration - expanding training pathways while strengthening partnerships that benefit both learners and the populations they serve,” said Dr. Rita Kandel, Chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology.

Aligning with Regional Academic Expansion and Strategic Priorities

The expansion into Scarborough’s hospital network aligns with the University of Toronto’s broader strategy to increase academic engagement and clinical training capacity in the area, including the launch of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) and the development of the U of T Scarborough’s Health Sciences Stream. Through these initiatives, U of T is strengthening ties with community health partners to support clinical education, research and care delivery in one of the city’s most diverse and rapidly growing regions.

“Our residents already benefit from valuable community hospital experiences. This expansion allows us to significantly broaden those opportunities. In doing so, we’re offering a wider range of choice in experiential learning that prepares trainees for diverse career pathways,” said Dr. Susan Done, DMP Program Director at LMP.

A Kickoff Meeting to Build Partnership

The expansion was formally kicked off in January when Dr. Done, Dr. Eleanor Latta (DMP Competence Committee Chair and Competence by Design Faculty Lead) and Postgraduate Education Officer, Paula Nixon, met with the entire SHN Laboratory Services team at SHN’s Birchmount Hospital. The meeting focused on introducing the DMP program, discussing how resident rotations would be integrated into SHN’s existing educational environment, and building relationships across institutions.

“Scarborough is a high-volume, real-world setting where pathology has direct, visible impact on patient care every day,” said Dr. Samir Grover, Executive Vice-President, Academics at SHN. “These rotations advance SAMIH’s goal of expanding community-based specialist training in Scarborough, while building a teaching culture where residents can both learn and provide near-peer education for more junior learners.”

“It was an energizing meeting. SHN already plays a role in education and expanding our partnership with LMP allows us to further contribute to the training of future pathologists while continuing to deliver high-quality diagnostic services to our community,” said Dr. Dhun Noria, Chief of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Director of Laboratory Services at Scarborough Health Network.

Dr. Mojgan Asgari, Physician Education Lead, Lab Medicine and Pathobiology at SHN added, “Our goal is to prepare residents for the full spectrum of pathology practice. By expanding the range of community hospital experiences available, residents gain a deeper understanding of how laboratory medicine supports patient care across different health-care settings. We’re very excited to welcome DMP residents into our hospitals.”​

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