Health Systems Resilience
Reliable and equitable access to healthcare is a cornerstone of Canada’s social and economic stability.
Health systems resilience is the capacity of healthcare systems to prepare for, adapt to, and recover from disruptions—while continuing to deliver timely, high-quality care across diverse and geographically distributed populations.
At the University of Toronto, this work integrates clinical care, public health, data science, and engineering to strengthen decision-making, coordination, and system performance in both routine operations and emergencies.
Why this matters
Continuity of care
Supports health systems in maintaining reliable service during emergencies and periods of stress.
System coordination
Brings together hospitals, public health, engineering, and data science to strengthen decision-making.
Capacity building
Creates pathways through research, partnerships, and training to improve long-term resilience.
Entities
Dalla Lana School of Public Health
The Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) at the University of Toronto is a leading public health research institution advancing multidisciplinary work in epidemiology, health systems, environmental health and the social determinants of health. Its research generates population-level data, analytic methods and policy frameworks that inform both civilian public health practice and broader applications in health security, emergency preparedness, environmental risk assessment and global health governance.
Connect with DLSPH
CRAFT (Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies)
The Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT) is a collaborative platform led by the University of Toronto, the National Research Council of Canada and Unity Health Toronto. CRAFT advances microfluidics, or the precise manipulation of fluids at micron scales, for biomedical, diagnostic, and bioengineering applications. Its research and prototyping infrastructure enables the development of compact, high-precision systems such as point-of-care diagnostics, organ-on-a-chip models and biofabrication tools, generating technologies across healthcare, biomanufacturing, biodefense and advanced laboratory automation.
Connect with CRAFT
Emerging and Pandemics Infections Consortium
The Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC), which includes the Toronto High Containment Facility (THCF) Containment Level 3 laboratory, has supported the Greater Toronto Area’s biomedical ecosystem for more than two decades. EPIC facilitates high-impact academic and industry research on infectious pathogens, including HIV, tuberculosis and emerging global health threats. Through coordinated research, training and knowledge translation, EPIC accelerates the development and implementation of diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines and clinical interventions that strengthen regional and national response capacity.
Connect with EPIC
Institute of Health Emergencies and Pandemics
The Institute of Health Emergencies and Pandemics (IHEP) is an interdisciplinary research ecosystem dedicated to advancing science and policy on health emergencies, pandemics and large-scale crises. Its work spans infectious disease threats, chemical and biological hazards, natural disasters and mass casualty events. IHEP fosters collaboration across medicine, public health, engineering, social sciences and policy to strengthen preparedness, response and equitable recovery capacity in Canada and globally.
Connect with IHEP
Centre for Healthcare Engineering
The Centre for Healthcare Engineering brings together engineers, clinicians, and health system partners to address complex challenges in healthcare delivery. Through data-driven research and real-world collaborations, CHE develops engineering and analytical solutions that improve patient outcomes, system efficiency, and healthcare resilience.
Connect with CHE
Toronto Academic Health Science Network
The Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) brings together the University of Toronto and 14 leading academic hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area. As one of the world’s top-ranked health research clusters, TAHSN integrates clinical care, research and innovation at scale. This network enables rapid translation of discovery into practice and supports advanced capabilities in areas such as trauma care, critical care medicine, infectious disease response and complex surgical interventions, reinforcing Canada’s life sciences and health security capacity.
Connect with TAHSN
Related news and events
Preparing Canada’s health system for military conflicts: a framework for civilian-military medical readiness
NEWS | April 3, 2026
A national framework for civilian military medical integration should rest on 3 pillars: sustained clinical readiness through shared training and embedded personnel, scalable dual use medical capacity, and formalized coordination supported by interoperable data systems
Biosecurity and Health Emergency Preparedness in Today's Research and Development Landscape
EVENT | Friday, March 6, 2026, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
U.S. Navy CAPT Andrew Letizia (MD, MTM&H, FIDSA) will provide a keynote address on biosecurity and health emergency preparedness, including a brief history, the opportunities, and current concerns as scientific knowledge and tools have become more powerful and accessible in enabling developments of dual-use technologies. The talk will highlight how advances in the life sciences intersect with ethical use considerations, public safety, and public policy, as well as what steps countries should take to strengthen health emergency preparedness to establish health security.
Exercise Canada Paratus
NEWS | February 6, 2026
Read about the Dalla Lana School of Public Health’s collaboration with the Canadian Armed Forces to simulate the challenge of maintaining Canadians’ access to care while managing a high and sustained flow of casualties evacuated to Canada for treatment and recovery.
Training
Ph.D.: Psychology
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science
BSc: Psychology
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga