Hamilton Health Sciences goes beyond its walls

Aaron Levo deeply appreciates the vast opportunities Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) provides its employees.

Levo, vice president, people, culture and communications, started working at HHS 10 years ago in the communications department. In line with HHS’s transformation journey, Levo’s role evolved into what it is today, which is to lead areas including human resources, volunteer resources, communications and public affairs.

“I get to work with a lot of experts in so many fields with a view to making HHS an even better place to work,” he says. “You can build a career here that you wouldn’t get to elsewhere. We actively make sure people are connected to opportunities to advance their career.”

Levo gives examples of colleagues who have started in communications and have followed their unique learning journey, ending up in different departments such as project management. Levo provides another example of nurses who have been able to change their clinical focus and use their knowledge and skills to work in other areas, such as research and leadership roles.

Fatima Sheikh, health equity specialist, equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) and human rights, also values this aspect of HHS. “Something the senior lead in my department does incredibly well is continuously advocate for me in rooms that I am not in,” she says. “If there are initiatives that align with my learning goals, she will put my name forward. That’s a culture that is pervasive that I appreciate so much.”

Levo is also proud of HHS’s value to the city as a whole. “A little more than half of the people who work at HHS live in Hamilton postal codes, and those people attend local events, contribute to the economy, volunteer and take on impactful roles in the community,” he says. “They are integral to the fabric of the city.”

The hospital is also going beyond its walls to improve the community’s health in innovative ways that will benefit health care throughout the province. One example is Sheikh's work as part of a broader initiative that will provide invaluable insight while aligning with HHS’s vision in providing the “best care for all.”

“For a long time in Canada, we haven't collected socio-demographic information of our patients and families, and it became evident that this was important information which we need to better understand our patients and families and to provide better care,” Sheikh says. “It will help us to identify disparities – for example, why is it that certain populations are missing their appointments? Or why are we seeing more people in the emergency departments?”

She says that HHS has “an opportunity to better understand the needs of diverse patient populations, identify and address inequities among patient populations and improve our capacity to offer culturally informed care.”

This program is part of HHS’s ED&I plan, which aligns with the organization’s overall strategic plan, outlining objectives related to employee engagement and career development, sustainability, research, innovation and learning.

“In recruitment, for example, we are thinking about the diversity of the patient population we serve and ensuring that's also reflected in our staff. Or thinking about systemic barriers that make it challenging for certain individuals to move forward in their career and how to address that,” Sheikh says.

This focus on EDI and health equity is important for HHS at the staff, patient, family and system level, says Sheikh. “This is a value that I hold. So, when I see that the organization is upholding it as well, it makes it a place where I want to work, and it gives me confidence in the care that we provide for patients and families.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Hamilton-Niagara’s Top Employers winners, published January 16, 2025 in The Hamilton Spectator. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.