Women in our workplace experience unique gender-based challenges and a broad range of inequities. UHN is working to address these inequities and to empower and uplift women and gendered minorities.
Strategic Research Initiatives Development
Gender Equality

UHN has invested in inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) initiatives to advance gender equality. Key actions include launching the UHNWomen Strategic Plan to address gender-based inequities, dedicating resources to implement the plan, and partnering with organizations to collect and analyze sex-disaggregated data as well as develop training to address inequities. Collectively, these activities seek to improve work-life balance, achieve gender balance in hiring and leadership and supporting integration of sex and gender-based analysis in research practice. 

  • UHNWomen
    Founded in 2018, UHNWomen was created to confront gender-based inequities and empower women across UHN. We use the term “women” inclusively and welcome all people who identify as such. Recognizing that women—defined inclusively—face unique barriers that affect not only their own careers but also the organization’s overall performance, UHNWomen works to close these gaps by fostering a supportive, inclusive culture that uplifts everyone—staff and patients alike—at every role and level.
     
    Driven by a clear mission and strong values, UHNWomen is committed to building a workplace where women can thrive. Its 2022–2025 Strategic Plan guides this effort through five key priorities, ranging from leadership development to advocacy for equitable policies. The plan itself was shaped collaboratively, with UHN leaders and staff contributing through a formal governance structure and well-defined strategic frameworks.
     
    Among its many initiatives, UHNWomen hosts an annual event that highlights the distinct challenges women encounter in the workplace—including gender-based obstacles across life stages, mentorship gaps, and unconscious bias in areas such as academia, clinical care, commercialization and business operations.
     
     
  • Canada Research Chairs Program
    The Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) implemented the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan in May 2017 to respond to the recommendation that institutions adopt greater transparency in their allocation, selection and renewal processes for chairholders. The CRCP action plan is aimed at supporting institutions in addressing the underrepresentation of the four designated groups (FDGs)—women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and members of visible minorities—within the program. 
     
    The University of Toronto (U of T) administers the CRC program for itself, UHN and other TAHSN-affiliated research hospitals. U of T collects and shares aggregated equity data with partner hospitals to monitor progress toward CRC equity targets and to guide nomination calls. UHN has implemented different measures—including targeted special calls, unconscious bias training and data tracking—to address the underrepresentation of Women and Gender Minorities in the CRC program. Learn more about this here.
     
  • Supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
    UHN’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Steering committee works to promote and foster respect for the voices, interests, and issues of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities that provide or use UHN services by networking and advocating for inclusion at UHN and in the community. 
     
    The committee supports UHN's ongoing efforts to create service, work, and learning environments that are accessible, inclusive, respectful, and welcoming by challenging discrimination against gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
     
    UHN has worked closely with The 519 Creative, a non-profit Toronto-based organization that advocates for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, to develop a guide toward creating spaces that are free from discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression for those who identify as trans and gender non-conforming. More information about the kit and the committee can be found here.
     
  • Contact us

    For more information about these initiatives, please contact edi@uhn.ca. 
Grants
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UHN has invested in inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) initiatives to advance gender equality. Key actions include launching the UHNWomen Strategic Plan to address gender-based inequities, dedicating resources to implement the plan, and partnering with organizations to collect and analyze sex-disaggregated data as well as develop training to address inequities. Collectively, these activities seek to improve work-life balance, achieve gender balance in hiring and leadership and supporting integration of sex and gender-based analysis in research practice. 

  • UHNWomen
    Founded in 2018, UHNWomen was created to confront gender-based inequities and empower women across UHN. We use the term “women” inclusively and welcome all people who identify as such. Recognizing that women—defined inclusively—face unique barriers that affect not only their own careers but also the organization’s overall performance, UHNWomen works to close these gaps by fostering a supportive, inclusive culture that uplifts everyone—staff and patients alike—at every role and level.
     
    Driven by a clear mission and strong values, UHNWomen is committed to building a workplace where women can thrive. Its 2022–2025 Strategic Plan guides this effort through five key priorities, ranging from leadership development to advocacy for equitable policies. The plan itself was shaped collaboratively, with UHN leaders and staff contributing through a formal governance structure and well-defined strategic frameworks.
     
    Among its many initiatives, UHNWomen hosts an annual event that highlights the distinct challenges women encounter in the workplace—including gender-based obstacles across life stages, mentorship gaps, and unconscious bias in areas such as academia, clinical care, commercialization and business operations.
     
     
  • Canada Research Chairs Program
    The Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) implemented the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan in May 2017 to respond to the recommendation that institutions adopt greater transparency in their allocation, selection and renewal processes for chairholders. The CRCP action plan is aimed at supporting institutions in addressing the underrepresentation of the four designated groups (FDGs)—women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and members of visible minorities—within the program. 
     
    The University of Toronto (U of T) administers the CRC program for itself, UHN and other TAHSN-affiliated research hospitals. U of T collects and shares aggregated equity data with partner hospitals to monitor progress toward CRC equity targets and to guide nomination calls. UHN has implemented different measures—including targeted special calls, unconscious bias training and data tracking—to address the underrepresentation of Women and Gender Minorities in the CRC program. Learn more about this here.
     
  • Supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
    UHN’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Steering committee works to promote and foster respect for the voices, interests, and issues of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities that provide or use UHN services by networking and advocating for inclusion at UHN and in the community. 
     
    The committee supports UHN's ongoing efforts to create service, work, and learning environments that are accessible, inclusive, respectful, and welcoming by challenging discrimination against gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
     
    UHN has worked closely with The 519 Creative, a non-profit Toronto-based organization that advocates for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, to develop a guide toward creating spaces that are free from discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression for those who identify as trans and gender non-conforming. More information about the kit and the committee can be found here.
     
  • Contact us

    For more information about these initiatives, please contact edi@uhn.ca.