Welcoming Dr. Justin Kutzko as CW OHT Palliative Care Primary Care Lead

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. Justin Kutzko has been selected as the new Palliative Care Primary Care Lead. About Dr. Justin Kutzko Dr. Kutzko graduated from the University of Queensland Medical School in 2011 and he completed his postgraduate clinical fellowship training in general practice as well as palliative medicine in Australia. After moving to Canada with his family in 2022 he held positions as a Palliative Care Specialist at Sunnybrook Hospital, and then William Osler Health System from 2023 to the present. Dr. Kutzko has a strong interest in health […]

Osler Collaboration Survey

William Osler Health System has asked the CW PCN to share this message with family physicians and NPs who provide comprehensive longitudinal primary care on their behalf: Strengthening Collaboration between Community Physicians and Osler Dear Colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your input on how we can create a more seamless, connected system—one that supports you to deliver timely, coordinated and convenient care to your patients in partnership with William Osler Health System (Osler). At Osler, the health and wellbeing of our community guide everything we do Strong and integrated connections between our hospital and […]

Peel Public Health Respiratory Illness Season Updates [March 8 – March 14]

Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of March 8 to March 14. This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health. As […]

Welcoming Dr. David Borts as CW OHT Primary Care Specialist

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. David Borts has been selected as the new Primary Care Specialist representative for the CW OHT Primary Care Council (PCC), following an election at the October Central West Primary Care Network (CW PCN) Annual General Meeting. About Dr. David Borts Dr. Borts graduated from McGill Medical School in 1980 and completed residency training in both internal medicine (1984) and cardiology (1986). He has been a clinical cardiologist serving the community of Brampton for 36 years. In 2007, he completed an MBA at the Schulich School of […]

PPH: Respiratory Illness Season Updates [October 26 to November 1]

Please find below Peel Public Health’s respiratory illness season key messages and data highlights for the period of October 26 to November 1. This summary includes relevant details related to Peel’s respiratory illness landscape. The information is intended to help streamline public health messaging across our Peel system partners. Please reference this material as needed for any respiratory illness status updates and share the information with your respective staff and partners as relevant. Peel Public Health asks that our content not be changed. If supplemented, please indicate which portions are your own and which originate from Peel Public Health. As […]

Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) at Osler

The following is being shared on behalf of William Osler Health System: William Osler Health System (Osler) launched the Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) in March 2025. For the past 13 years, Osler has been providing life-saving lung cancer screening services through the High-Risk Lung (HRL) program. We are in the process of transitioning eligible HRL  patients into the OLSP resulting in several key advantages, including: Once a patient is referred and deemed eligible to participate in the OLSP, all recalls and diagnostic follow-up are managed by OLSP radiologists and staff at Osler. Osler is able to further grow and […]

New Hepatology Consult Clinic at Etobicoke General

Dr. Hamant Shah is opened a new Hepatology Consult Clinic at Etobicoke General. The clinic runs on most Wednesday mornings (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) in the Outpatient Medicine Clinic Area on the Lower Level. Dr. Shah’s primary clinical interest is viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV), though he will also see patients with other hepatology concerns, such as abnormal liver tests, fatty liver disease (MASLD), and Cirrhosis. The clinic is designed for consultation with short-term follow-up. The aim is to provide timely access to hepatology input, establish diagnosis or management plans, and then transition patients back to their primary care […]

Essential Role of Primary Care in RSV Vaccine Administration

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization is available to the following groups for the 2025/2026 respiratory season:  Primary care plays an especially important role in administering the RSV vaccine this season, particularly for the following groups who will have limited access to the vaccine from other settings:  Billing for RSV Immunization  More Information: 

Ministry of Health Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Program for 2025/26 Season

The Ontario Ministry of Health has updated the details of the COVID-19 Vaccine Program for the 2025/2026 season.  The COVID-19 vaccines available this season are: LP. 8.1 COVID-19 Vaccine Vaccine Platform Age for use in Ontario Moderna Spikevax messenger RNA 6 months to 11 years Moderna Spikevax messenger RNA 12 years + Pfizer COMIRNATY messenger RNA 5 to 11 years Pfizer COMIRNATY messenger RNA 12 years + For detailed vaccine information see the Ministry of Health – Health Care Provider Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Vaccine. TPH Recommends Health Care Providers:  *Providers interested in enrolling should follow the steps listed on TPH’s Vaccine Ordering from Toronto […]

TPH Respiratory Vaccine Clinic for Children Under 3 Years of Age

To support early childhood immunization and reduce the burden of respiratory illness in this vulnerable population, Toronto Public Health (TPH) is launching a new Infant and Toddler Respiratory Vaccine Clinic at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, operating from October 27, 2025, to the end of March 2026. Note: A health card is not required. Children aged 36 months and under will be eligible to receive: Vaccine/Immunization Eligibility Covid-19 vaccine Children 6 to 36 months of age Influenza vaccine Children 6 to 36 months of age RSV monoclonal antibody Infants 8 months of age or younger Children up to 24 months of […]

SCOPE – New Palliative Care Pathway

The SCOPE Team is excited to announce that starting October 6th, 2025, SCOPE users will have access to a new Palliative Care pathway, in partnership with Brameast Famly Health Organization! Through this pathway, you can access advice related to palliative care for the following criteria: Interested in the SCOPE Program? The CW OHT SCOPE Program is open to any primary care providers (family physicians or nurse practitioners) practicing in Brampton, Malton, West Woodbridge, or North Etobicoke, who is a member of the CW OHT. Interested in learning more and signing up? Click here!

Welcoming Dr. Marian Chen as CW OHT’s Palliative Care Primary Care Lead

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. Marian Chen been selected as the new Primary Care Lead for Palliative Care, playing a critical role in representing primary care providers within the Palliative Care Planning Table, ensuring alignment with the CW Primary Care Network (PCN) priorities. About Dr. Marian Chen Dr. Chen is a palliative care physician at William Osler Health System. She completed Palliative Medicine Enhanced Skills training at the University of British Columbia, following Family Medicine residency at the University of Toronto. Dr. Chen provides both hospital-based and community palliative care across […]

Interprofessional Primary Care Team (IPCT) Call for Proposals 2026/27 (Round 2)

The Ministry of Health has launched Round 2 of the Interprofessional Primary Care Team (IPCT) Call for Proposals for 2026/27. This funding will expand access to primary care across Ontario, with a goal of connecting 500,000 more people to a primary care clinician or team. As part of the Central West Ontario Health Team’s (CW OHT)’s broader Primary Care Attachment Plan; to bring more primary care closer to home and ensure every resident is attached by 2029, we are actively preparing to submit proposals. Unlike the last round, where timelines were very tight, this process provides more time for engagement and planning. The deadline […]

COVID Vaccine Ordering Portal Open – Toronto Public Health

Toronto Public Health (TPH)’s COVID-19 vaccine ordering portal is now available. Toronto providers enrolled in the COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Program can place their orders directly through the online portal at CovidVaccineOrder.ca. Toronto providers should follow the program schedule and launch dates for vaccine administration to eligible populations (i.e. high-risk vs general population). Please see TPH’s previous Vaccine Alert for program eligibility and specific product details. Questions: Contact Toronto Public Health at [email protected] or 416-338- 7600, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Service is available in multiple languages. For the TPH release, see below or click here.

Immunization Letters for the 2025-2026 School Year

Beginning September 17, 2025, Peel Public Health will mail immunization screening letters to students who require immunizations as outlined in the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). For the 2025-2026 school year: ISPA vaccine indications for students The antigens required under ISPA align with the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules in Ontario. The minimum age at first dose and spacing between doses must be followed to meet the ISPA requirements. What to do if a student presents with a screening letter If a student presents to your practice with an immunization screening letter, follow these steps: Vaccines received out of province should be […]

Nominate a Colleague for Recognition at the Upcoming Annual General Meeting!

At our upcoming Annual General Meeting on October 22, we hope to recognize many of you for the work you do and are using this opportunity to ask you to nominate a colleague for recognition. We are asking you to reflect on colleagues that you think are going above and beyond and fill out a short form to explain why they should be recognized. We will dedicate time to acknowledge them and provide them with a recognition award. Too often as providers we neglect the great work we take on and accomplish and this is a step toward addressing this deficit. […]

Welcoming Dr. Ilan Shahin as CW OHT’s Patient Attachment Primary Care Lead

The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is pleased to announce that Dr. Ilan Shahin been selected as the new Primary Care Lead for Patient Attachment, playing a critical role in supporting collaboration amongst community providers to expand team-based primary care to increase primary care attachment for people living in Central West. About Dr. Ilan Shahin Dr. Shahin has been in practice as a family physician for over a decade across a variety of settings. He maintained a roster as part of a FHG in downtown Toronto before transitioning to emergency medicine in rural settings and eventually at Osler, […]

Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus risk in Peel

EEEv is a rare but severe mosquito-borne illness with a high case fatality rate. Risk in Peel is very low because the primary vector, Culiseta melanura, is rarely found locally due to limited suitable woodland swamp habitat. No horses, mosquitoes, or humans in Peel have ever tested positive for EEEv. Areas of Ontario with suitable habitat, particularly cottage country and eastern regions, are more likely to have EEEv detected in mosquitos and horses in the late summer and early fall. However, reports of human infections with EEEV have been rare; historically there have been four human cases of EEEV in […]

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