A message from Dr. Andy Smith
Sunnybrook's President & CEO

Together we have passed the one-year mark since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020.

Around that time, a team of researchers from Sunnybrook, McMaster University and the University of Toronto isolated the virus that causes COVID-19. One week later, on March 17, the Province of Ontario declared a state of emergency – and life as we knew it came to a grinding halt.

As we reflect on the past year, we remember moments of devastating loss, fear of this pervasive virus and uncertainty on what’s ahead.

But amidst the struggle, there have also been shining moments of hope, resilience and unity in the face of the pandemic. That’s where you come in.

As a member of our incredible community of donors who has contributed to Sunnybrook’s COVID-19 Response Fund, your support has been felt every single day of the past year. Thanks to donors like you, Sunnybrook has been able to take on the challenges of COVID-19 while continuing to care for our patients when it matters most.

As you’ll read in this report, you have been instrumental in supporting our front-line staff: both for keeping morale high during challenging times as well as providing the equipment necessary to help care for our patients.

Your generosity is also driving critical research on COVID-19, including on how it impacts the body, how it moves throughout our communities and possible treatments to mitigate its effects.

While we still have so much to learn and must remain vigilant even as we roll out the vaccine distribution, there is plenty of reason to hope – and with donors like you, we know we have the strength of our community by our side, every step of the way.

We can’t say this enough: thank you.

Andy Smith, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS
President & CEO
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre