Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 122
122
( 2026)
SPONSOR CONTENT
People are key at Scarborough Health Network
M
arlena Isaacs, a
unit coordinator
in the Centenary
Hospital
emergency
department at Scarborough
Health Network (SHN), was
making her way to the lobby
coffee shop when she spotted a
familiar face — a patient she had
cared for in the department just
two days earlier, now discharged
and heading home.
“I’m so happy to see you walking
out the door,” she told him. He
smiled and shared how thankful
he was for the team’s care that
helped him get back on his feet.
For Isaacs, who meets patients
at their most vulnerable, it’s rare
to see them again once they’ve
moved beyond the emergency
department.
Scarborough Health Network physicians outside the emergency department at Birchmount Hospital.
Caring for people when
it matters most is what
we do — and that begins with caring for the
incredible team who
care for our patients.
— Noura Gharibo Shaw
Vice President, People and
Chief Human Resources Officer
“It was such a good feeling,”
she says. “You want to see your
patients be well and go home.
That’s what makes it worthwhile
coming to work every day.”
Moments like these, where
compassionate care transforms
lives, begin with caring for the
people who deliver that care.
Across SHN’s three hospitals
and multiple community sites,
employee well-being, professional
growth and inclusion remain top
priorities.
“We are focused on maintaining
a culture of excellence and
innovation,” says president and
CEO David Graham. “That means
equipping our team with the tools
and environment required for
sustained success and exceptional
quality care.”
To strengthen that commitment,
SHN launched its five-year
People Strategy in 2024.
Informed by workforce feedback,
the strategy focuses on five
pillars: development, wellness,
inclusivity, recognition, and
workforce sustainability. SHN’s
board of directors and the CEO
championed the plan, reinforcing
the organization’s dedication to
people-focused care.
“Caring for people when it
matters most is what we do — and
that begins with caring for the
incredible team who care for our
patients,” says Noura Gharibo
Shaw, vice president, people
and chief human resources
officer, who led the strategy’s
development.
“This strategy ensures our
people feel valued, supported and
empowered, while positioning
SHN as an employer of choice: an
excellent place to work, practise,
learn and volunteer.”
As part of that commitment,
SHN’s EnRoute programs provide
specialized training and career
development for nurses and
other staff. Participants receive
hands-on experience, tuition
support and a permanent position
in their chosen department upon
completion. These programs —
covering areas like critical care, the
operating room, and emergency
medicine — equip staff with the
skills and confidence to thrive.
“Our product is our people, and
that’s what sets us apart,” says
Gharibo Shaw.
Another cornerstone initiative,
PeopleFirst: Compassionate
Care, focuses on fostering
compassion toward both
patients and colleagues while
embedding diversity, equity and
inclusion principles that reflect
Scarborough’s vibrant community.
At SHN, everyone is encouraged
to bring their whole selves to
work. The workforce comes from
all over the globe, leading SHN
to style itself as a special place
