Meet the Secretariat
The Secretariat supports and coordinates the work of the MWT-OHT alongside our Partners. They help turn shared priorities into action, connecting people, programs, and ideas across the OHT.
Here are a few reflections from members of the Secretariat on the year 2025.
Briefly describe your role on the Secretariat
Justine Humphries
Executive Lead
”I help connect partners, align our goals, and create the conditions for us to make great things happen together.”
Melanie Yang
Primary Care Transformation Specialist
“In this role, I support primary care planning across the Mid-West Toronto OHT, work closely with the Family Practice Network, and help advance key initiatives such as centralized attachment, attachment pathways, primary care attachment support/resources and primary care engagement.”
Edward Aust
Strategy & Partnerships Lead
“I support the overall strategic direction of the OHT and help build processes to enable collaborative, partner-based work. This includes: funding and accountability agreements, the primary care attachment strategy and related IPCT initiatives, mental health and substance use, navigation and other opportunities raised by our partners.”
Karen Mann
Health System Transformation Specialist
“I support OHT working groups and planning tables so they can improve health care in our community. This includes things like planning better mental health and substance use services, and mapping data about where health needs are highest.”
Drew Wesley
Digital Lead
“I lead the OHT Digital Team working from Women’s College Hospital.”
Meg Carney
Communications Coordinator
“I support communications across the Mid-West Toronto OHT, helping Partners stay connected, informed, and aligned as we work together to improve care in our community.”
Nkem Obinyelaku
Health Systems Planning Specialist, Primary Care
“I support the Mid-West Toronto Family Practice Network (MWT-FPN), acting as the gateway between the Secretariat and our Co-Chairs.”
Sagal Ali
Communications & Equity Lead
“I have the privilege of supporting the communications and health equity working groups, as well as our patient and caregiver partners.”
Cierra Chong
Manager, Health System Planning
“I am responsible for leading business planning cycles, supporting processes to track organizational performance, and project managing strategic projects and partnerships such as our Alternate Level of Care, Preventative Health, and Quality Improvement and Evaluation workstreams.”
What’s a moment from 2025 that made you proud to work within the OHT?
“It’s hard for me to pick just one!! Over the course of the year we have seen so many moments that brought out the best of who we are — the collaboration, the camaraderie, the commitment, and the creativity.
Some moments that come to mind are the IPCT Submissions, the way the MHSU partners have come together to advance really meaningful work in spite of the challenges presented in the sector, the acceleration of prevention and chronic disease management work in the community, and the increasing interconnectivity of all our work.
It was exciting to see what we can accomplish when we truly work as one team, and even more exciting to think about what’s ahead.”
— Justine
“Recognizing the leadership position that the MWT-OHT has taken with eReferral adoption in the Toronto Region. The clinical programs within our OHT have received the highest number of eReferrals and the have the highest number of unique eReferral senders compared to other Toronto Region OHTs.
Also, establishing a Cyber Security Community of Practice within our OHT, an opportunity for all OHT member organizations to share best practices and lessons learned.”
— Drew
“One thing I'm most proud of this year is our preventative care and emergency department avoidance work. We have expanded our health education, promotion, and preventative screening activities through the Open Door program, strengthened pathways to care for diabetic and prediabetic individuals, and focused on implementing upstream interventions to keep older adults healthy and happy in the community.
Each of these programs address the social and clinical causes of disease exacerbation, and work to provide earlier detection and treatment, ultimately resulting in less days in hospital.”
— Cierra
“This summer we met with more than 50 clients in our community who rely on mental health services, to learn more about their needs and priorities. It was so important to hear directly from people about what works and what doesn't.”
— Karen
“My proudest moment this year was working with Partners on Year 4 of the In Your Corner program to continually adapt the model to better meet clients’ needs.
One key adaptation was introducing a rotating service navigator, stationed at set locations across Mid-West Toronto each week, allowing clients to book appointments at their convenience or drop in. As a result, In Your Corner successfully connected all clients to longer-term supports through warm hand-offs this year—a significant achievement!”
— Edward
“A moment that made me proud this year was seeing our collective work on patient attachment move from planning into real implementation. Watching teams across organizations collaborate so quickly and thoughtfully reminded me why this work matters and how committed everyone is to improving the care of all.”
— Melanie
“This year, the OHT was able to increase its Patient and Caregiver Partners by 300%! We have a diverse and dedicated group of people who bring the critical perspective of people with lived experience to the work of the OHT.”
— Sagal
“This year we launched the Monthly Resource Bulletin, and it’s been incredible to see how engaged Partners are with it. Staying connected to the breadth of resources and events across our shared geography has really highlighted the strength of our network.”
— Meg
“Seeing the collaboration on the IPCT Round 2 proposals was a highlight. It showed how much our OHT and primary care partners can rally around a shared goal; teamwork at its best!”
— Nkem
If you could describe our OHT in one word, what would it be?
Momentum
“Because this year felt like things truly started to shift and we’re building something with a real forward trajectory.”
— Justine
Collaborative
— Sagal
Resilient
— Karen
Committed
— Edward
Dynamic
“The pace at which Partners come together to problem-solve and build new approaches reflects the real momentum of this group.”
— Melanie
Motivated
— Cierra
Thoughtful
“The care Partners bring to collaboration and decision-making really stands out.”
— Meg
One local place in Mid-West Toronto we love to recommend
“Nature Spot: Trillium Park for the best views of the City
Shop: Socco Living on Queen West for all things home-goods
Food & Drink: Toss-up between Parallel Brothers and Bar Raval”
— Justine
“Conejo Negro is an incredible restaurant”
— Sagal
“Bloor Gladstone Library”
— Karen
“A neighbourhood gem I would recommend is Alfie’s, specifically the Monalisa sandwich. It’s a bit pricey, but can be shared with 2 people and so worth it!”
— Melanie
“I don’t live in Toronto, but I have a soft spot for Harbord Bakery. We’ve made so many memories there, and their croissants have officially stolen my heart.”
— Nkem
“Joseph Piccinini Community Centre and Earlscourt Park”
— Edward
“Emmer for a fantastic croissant (or any of their baked goods really)”
— Cierra
“Dear Grain on Ossington. Always worth a stop, especially for the sourdough blueberry scone with lemon curd.”
— Meg