Our stories

CHEO – A dream come true for Jeanette McNalty

Meet Jeanette McNalty, Occupational Therapist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Inpatient Medicine

Jeanette has always known she wanted to work in health care – her mom was a nurse, after all. So Jeanette went to Brock University intending to become a pediatrician.

Her time at school inspired her to become an occupational therapist (OT). She finished her bachelor’s and master’s, and then worked in schools for 12 years.

“It would be so cool to be an OT in the NICU. I love feeding, I...

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How volunteering helped Divya find her path

Meet Divya Massilamani, Clinical Administrative Assistant in Genetics

As a high school student, Divya dreamed of going into medicine, specifically pediatrics. To complete her mandatory volunteer hours, she volunteered at CHEO and quickly realized that there was more to this hospital than she thought. With so many ways she could get involved with kids, Divya realized there was no better place to work than CHEO.

While getting her Bachelor of Science, Divya got a short contract as a project...

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Allison’s journey to becoming a nurse practitioner

Meet Allison Helmer, passionate Nurse Practitioner, at CHEO.

Growing up, Allison’s mother and both grandmothers were proud nurses. So, it was no surprise when she decided to follow in their footsteps.

Inspired by the experience of witnessing the birth of her godchildren, Allison applied to CHEO after graduating from Nipissing University and secured a nursing position on the surgical team. Shortly thereafter, she was presented with another opportunity at a different hospital. However, Allison...

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A sneak peek at the layout of CHEO’s new treatment centre

This is an important summer for CHEO’s new Integrated Treatment Centre as staff, medical staff and some families get a first look at the proposed layout and provide their feedback to help shape the space.

The new integrated treatment centre, which will be built in front of the main CHEO building on Smyth Road, will offer improved care and coordination, and increase access to services for children and youth living with complex medical, developmental, behavioural and mental health needs.

Set to open in 2028, the new six-

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"CHEO is a special place." - Ashley Hilliard

Meet Ashley Hilliard, Recreation Therapist at CHEO.

For Ashley, CHEO is a special place. It’s where she landed her dream job, where she found her voice as a recreation therapist, and ultimately what led to the adoption of her son, Dawson.

Early on, Ashley knew she wanted to work with kids with disabilities. When she started here in 2011, Ashley initially found it tough as summer can be a busy time, but she credits her fellow colleagues to helping her find her feet.

“I’m lucky that I started off...

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