At Lakeridge Health, we have chosen to invest in education and research not because conditions were perfect, but because the need was clear. Community hospitals make up over 90 per cent of hospitals in Canada 1, 84 per cent in Ontario, and account for more than 70 per cent of hospital beds 2, yet they are often underrepresented in research and academic activity.

Concentrating knowledge creation in a small number of hospitals limits system-wide learning and the ability to generate evidence and educational experiences that reflect the populations we serve.

If we are serious about quality, safety, and equity, then knowledge creation cannot be confined to a small subset of institutions. Expanding programs in community hospitals strengthens system-wide learning, ensures findings and education are locally relevant, and builds the knowledge needed for an equitable, effective Learning Health System. 

This is what courageous leadership looks like in a community hospital.

Building Academic Medicine Where Care Is Delivered 

Re-Establishing a Coherent Academic Network 

Over the past four years, under the leadership of the Academic Affairs and LHEARN program,  the Lakeridge Health Education and Research Network (LHEARN) – “Quality Care Starts Here” – has evolved into a coordinated academic and learning platform – integrating simulation, health sciences library services, education, and training services. 

Rather than isolated initiatives, LHEARN now functions as an enabling system: supporting clinicians, learners, and teams with access to evidence, training, and innovation tools that translate directly into safer, higher-quality care.

Leading on Culture and Leadership Design 

Courage also means examining how leadership systems are designed and experienced. In partnership with Dr. Notisha​ Massaquoi and the Black Health Equity Lab (BHEL) at University of Toronto, Scarborough, we are preparing to lead the RULES Study, Rewriting the Rules of Leadership: A Gender-Informed Study of Credentialed Staff Leadership in Community Hospitals, to better understand how leadership structures, norms, and gender and identity dynamics shape professional culture and decision-making. 

By generating evidence in this area, we are helping to build a stronger foundation for leadership in community hospitals - leadership that is more inclusive, more effective, and more sustainable. ​

Growing Research While Delivering Care 

In a resource-constrained setting, Lakeridge Health has expanded its research capacity through a determined “build while delivering” approach. ​

Over the past two years, this model has driven a 21.7 per cent growth in our research portfolio, creating more opportunities for patients to access novel therapies and innovation close to home. Today, the organization supports more than 140 active studies, including clinical trials and investigator-led projects, advancing care locally while contributing to national scientific forums. This momentum reflects disciplined investment in governance, ethics, and operational support, even in the face of constraint. 

Strengthening Research Culture and Capability 

Partnering to Extend Impact 

Recognizing that collaboration accelerates progress, Lakeridge Health partners with provincial and national networks, including Clinical Trials Ontario, the Canadian Critical Care Clinical Trials Group (CCCTG), the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN), Network to Networks (N2), and Building Capacity for Research in Community Hospitals (RICH‑Canada). Together, these partnerships create a coordinated, pan‑Canadian ecosystem that strengthens hospital-based research capacity and amplifies the reach and impact of locally led studies.  ​​

Courage, With a Long View