Homesubcat > Scientific Pillars of Excellence > Urban & Community Health Pillar

Urban & Community Health Pillar

Advancing health equity and improving community wellbeing through innovative interventions and initiatives.

About the Pillar

The Urban and Community Health Pillar compromises a diverse group of researchers focusing on a wide range of fields related to the coordination, accessibility and quality of our healthcare system.

This Pillar showcases a broad spectrum of expertise, encompassing quantitative research (including clinical trials and observational research methods), qualitative research, community and patient engagement, social epidemiology, program evaluation, and knowledge translation. Research conducted by Scientists and Investigators within this Pillar primarily aims to drive change at the clinical and policy levels. Many of our researchers collaborate closely with policymakers at all government levels and with community-based organizations. 

Key research areas under the Urban and Community Health Pillar include social determinants of health, health equity, homelessness and housing, global health and the health of immigrant populations, Indigenous health, youth health, mental health and addictions, genetics, public health, and health policy. The MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions stands as a cornerstone within our Pillar, reflecting Unity Health Toronto’s longstanding commitment to serving urban and marginalized populations.

Looking forward, the Urban and Community Health Pillar aims to foster a cohesive community of researchers, staff and trainees, expand patient and community engagement in the research conducted throughout the organization, and contribute to high-quality, impactful research that directly influences clinical practice and policy across Canada and internationally.

Mission Statement

The overarching mission of the Urban and Community Health Pillar is to enhance health equity (both locally and globally) by improving the health of marginalized populations, and to reduce barriers to accessing essential health services by developing, implementing and evaluating interventions within healthcare and social service systems and at the level of public policy.

Research Focus Areas

  • Social Determinants of Health

  • Health Equity

  • Homelessness and Housing

  • Global Health

  • Indigenous Health

  • Women’s Health

  • Child and Youth Health

  • Mental Health, Addictions, and Substance Use

  • Healthcare Access

  • Public Health

  • Health Policy

  • Social Policy

  • Genetics

  • Patient Safety

Meet the Scientific Director

The Urban and Community Health Pillar is led by Scientific Director Dr. Tara Gomes who provides strategic direction and guidance to the research initiatives and collaborative endeavors undertaken within and across the scientific pillars. Watch this short video to learn more about Dr. Gomes.

Research Matters: Meet Dr. Tara GomesScientific pillar director of urban and community health

Urban and Community Health Pillar Researchers

Affiliated Centres & Programs

  • MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions

    MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions (MAP) is a world-leading research centre focused on addressing complex community health issues through innovative research and solutions, emphasizing the intersection of health and equity, and collaborating with communities and policymakers to create the world's healthiest cities.

  • Survey Research Unit (SRU)

    The Survey Research Unit is part of the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solution with expertise in health equity research data collection as well as recruiting and interviewing diverse populations.

  • Upstream Lab

    The Upstream Lab, based at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, is a non-profit research lab focused on enhancing population health and well-being by addressing social determinants of health.

  • Well Living House

    Well Living House is an action research centre dedicated to Indigenous health and well-being, integrating Indigenous and public health knowledge to foster understanding and sharing of healthy child, family, and community practices.

  • Ontario Drug Policy Research Network

    The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) is a collaborative group of Ontario-based researchers specializing in generating scientifically sound evidence on drug utilization, safety, effectiveness, and costs to inform policymakers, with expertise in pharmaceutical outcomes, economics, and drug-policy research.

  • Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation

    The Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation (CDPE) focuses on enhancing community health and safety through research and outreach on effective drug policy practices, collaborating with governments and communities to inform evidence-based policy responses to substance use.

  • REACH Nexus

    REACH Nexus is a national research group dedicated to addressing HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) in Canada by targeting the undiagnosed, expanding testing options, enhancing care connections, increasing prevention access, and combating HIV stigma.

  • Genomics Health Services Research Group

    The Genomics Health Services Research Group specializes in evaluating the adoption of new genomic technologies in clinical practice through mixed methods research, assessing patient and provider preferences, health outcomes, and economic impacts to inform policy and practice in collaboration with clinicians and policymakers globally.

  • General Medicine Inpatient Initiative (GEMINI)

    The GEMINI program is a unique big data collaborative supporting cutting-edge health research, quality improvement, education, and system analytics. It tracks and compares data on admissions, discharges and tests to more accurately predict the outcomes for individual patients—and to find ways to improve them. 

  • Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR)

    The CGHR’s mission is to lead high-quality public health research that advances global health for all, with particular attention to the world’s poorest populations. CGHR facilitates educational and scientific activities including large-scale epidemiological and clinical studies both within and outside the country.

Resources

  • Ending Race Correction in Health Care Speaker Series

    Race correction in health care is a practice where medical tests and criteria are adjusted based on race, often affecting Black patients differently. This approach, rooted in outdated racist science, can lead to delayed diagnoses and restricted access to critical treatments, as Black individuals may appear healthier than they are due to altered test results. Organized by the Canada-US Coalition to End Race Correction in Health Care, this speaker series will explore the implications of these practices and why dismantling them is essential for equitable health care.

Sponsored Events

Please visit the Events page to learn more about the upcoming learning sessions and events hosted by the Urban & Community Health Pillar. Members of the Unity Health community can also sign up for the internal VPRI weekly newsletter by sending a request to ResearchEvents@unityhealth.to to receive updates on these events.

Banner image by Freepik