People & Progress

People

IMAGINE consists of a team of students from several health faculties and programs (medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, speech-language pathology, and health administration) as well as preceptors that span all ranks within the university's health science faculties.

IMAGINE has secured the support of Deans as well as multiple faculty-specific advisors. St. Christopher House: The Meeting Place and the Central Toronto Community Health Centre-Queen West Site have also been immensely supportive of the IMAGINE initiative.

Progress

We have currently finished our initial task of setting up the group, getting buy-in from key stakeholders, establishing links with U of T administration, LHINs and the ministry, establishing our framework, major fundraising, etc. and have moved onto phase 1 of our project.

Phase 1 involves securing additional funding for further development, planning the budget and researching details such as insurance policies and coverage for students and professionals in order to enable clinical practice. In the meantime, we aim to facilitate the creation and maintenance of positive, trusting relationships with clients that will allow the IMAGINE volunteer team to provide holistic health care. To achieve this, we are currently offering health promotion workshops and running outreach events.

To explore this population's health needs and to promote health, we have held and will continue to hold educational sessions at St. Christopher House: The Meeting Place (at Queen & Bathurst). These are delivered by an interprofessional team of students, on a variety of health topics from contraception and cold/flu prevention to hypothermia and street safety.

IMAGINE has also collaborated with the staff at St. Christopher House: The Meeting Place as well as the St. Felix Centre to coordinate events such as the Heart Health Dinner and initiatives such as the Socks, Hats, and Mitts charity drive. These events are well-received by volunteers, staff, and most importantly, the clients.

As of March 2010, we are finalizing arrangements with the Central Toronto Community Health Centre-Queen West Site and the University of Toronto for the clinic pilot.

Supporters

Aside from the indispensable guidance and support provided by the faculty and staff at the University of Toronto, as well as staff at the Central Toronto Community Health Centre-Queen West Site, St. Christopher House: The Meeting Place, and St. Felix Centre, IMAGINE has also received financial contributions from Toronto Notes (Graduating MD Class of 2009), the Canadian Medical Association, the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, the University of Toronto's Medical Society, Loblaws, and the Canadian Federation of Medical Students.