Clinical Research Brings Hope
Every day, research happening at OTMH gives patients and families new options where none existed before.Clinical research at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital is changing what’s possible. From life-saving cancer trials to breakthroughs in heart and kidney care, your support helps bring tomorrow’s treatments to patients today.
As we look ahead, donor support is essential to fuel more trials, strengthen research partnerships, and keep our community at the forefront of innovation.
With your help, we’re transforming care and creating a healthier future for our community.
Meet Dr. Heffernan
With community support, Halton Healthcare’s Clinical Research Program has made significant strides in patient care and medical science. Our work spans cardiology, infectious disease, nephrology, and oncology, including groundbreaking breast cancer trials as part of the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network.
To sustain this momentum, we aim to establish a dedicated Chair for Medical Research—strengthening collaborations and driving innovation. Together, we can transform healthcare and improve lives.
Dr. Michael Heffernan,
Physician Program Director – Clinical Research at Halton Healthcare
Volunteer in Clinical Research
At the heart of every clinical breakthrough are the individuals who say “yes” to being part of something bigger.
Whether supporting clinical trials, surveys, or observational studies, research volunteers play a vital role in turning ideas into real-world care. ↓
Interested in volunteering in Clinical Research? Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Apply Through Volunteer Services
To begin, you must be enrolled in a college or university program and complete onboarding through Halton Healthcare’s Volunteer Services team. This includes:
✔ Two reference forms
✔ Criminal record and judicial matters check
✔ 2-step TB test
✔ MMRV immunization records or proof of immunity
✔ Mandatory orientation (held monthly)
⏰ Planning to volunteer in the summer? Start early to attend the May Orientation.
Step 2: Complete Research Training
Once hospital onboarding is complete, you’ll need to submit documentation to the Research Department, including:
✔ Signed Consent to Collect form
✔ Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certificate (via the CITI Program)
✔ Research SOP acknowledgment form
Questions? Contact: Anna Szydlowski, Research Administrator
📧 aszydlowsk@haltonhealthcare.com
Get in Touch
Suzanne Hallsworth
Chief Development Officer
Oakville Hospital Foundation
905-338-4642
The FOCUS Clinic at OTMH is changing the way cancer patients receive urgent care. Opened in March 2025, the clinic offers same-day support for treatment-related symptoms, helping patients avoid Emergency visits and get care from a team that understands their needs.
Thanks to donor support, this dedicated space delivers faster, safer, more compassionate care — right when needed most.
OTMH is now offering a new cancer treatment called T-cell engaging antibodies, an advanced form of immunotherapy that helps the body target and destroy cancer cells. This treatment offers new hope for patients with myeloma, lymphoma, and lung cancer, especially when other options haven’t worked.
Thanks to donor support through The Big C campaign, the equipment and systems that support this complex care, including lab and pharmacy tools, are in place at OTMH.
Getting a kidney transplant usually involves weeks of tests, referrals, and travel. OTMH’s One-Day Workup finishes everything in one visit.
Inspired by Director of Nephrology Gail Burns’s experience guiding her son Brandon through a transplant from his brother Hunter, OTMH became the first hospital to offer this same-day pathway. Donor-funded lab and diagnostic tools power every step, turning one family’s challenge into a province-wide breakthrough. Discover how your support makes it possible.
Ontario Health honoured Halton Healthcare with a Quality & Innovation Award for the Restore-Me Clinic at OTMH.
Restore-Me is Ontario’s first hospital-based program offering physician-funded 3-D nipple-areola tattooing, a vital finishing step in breast reconstruction. Donor support lets OTMH deliver this service on-site, removing private fees and long travel. Survivors gain confidence, dignity, and closure, and referrals keep rising. Restore-Me is making post-cancer care more accessible and deeply compassionate.
Young adults 18-25 face big mental health and life-transition challenges, worsened by COVID. With donor support, OTMH created the TAY Program, bridging the gap between youth and adult services.
Outreach counsellors meet participants on campus, in coffee shops, and in the community; they provide one-on-one guidance, goal-setting, and life-skills training such as résumé writing. Already, more than 30 youth have regained confidence and re-engaged in school, work, and volunteering.
When COVID-19 left more than half of OTMH’s Emergency Department nursing positions vacant, donors stepped up. Their support launched the Emergency Department Nurse Clinical Mentor Program, pairing seasoned nurses with new recruits for on-the-job coaching. Vacancy rates have plunged from 50% to under 5%, nurse retention has soared to 85%, and patients benefit from safer, faster care. Investing in people is building a stronger, more resilient hospital.