Dr. Alysha Ladha has been named as the new inpatient medical director, effective September 1. 

Dr. Alysha Ladha has been a leading physician on the brain injury rehabilitation team (BIRT) for almost a decade. She is also an assistant professor at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Throughout her tenure, she has exemplified client and family centered, compassionate and excellent care and a passion for teaching the next generation of highly skilled physicians and leaders in pediatric rehabilitation.  

In her new role, Dr. Ladha will be at the forefront of shaping inpatient medical care,  working hand-in-hand with physicians and clinical teams to ensure that children, youth and their families receive exceptional, compassionate care. She will also champion research initiatives within inpatient units,  partnering with physicians and the Bloorview Research Institute to drive innovation. 

“I’m excited about the future. We have such a talented, innovative and caring group of clinicians on our inpatient teams. I’m confident that together we will continue to learn and grow, enriching the clinical care that we provide in the context of research, education and quality improvement,” says Dr. Ladha. 

Journey at Holland Bloorview

Dr. Ladha’s interest in developmental pediatrics began in 2011 during a rotation at Holland Bloorview in residency, inspiring her to pursue the Developmental Paediatrics Subspecialty Residency and Fellowship Program  at Holland Bloorview in 2013 – Canada’s largest training program of its kind. 

Since joining Holland Bloorview as a physician in the brain injury rehabilitation team (BIRT) unit in 2016, Dr. Ladha has guided the multidisciplinary team for a nearly a decade in supporting clients with brain injuries caused by accidents, strokes, cancer and other factors. 

During this time, Dr. Ladha has taken on many leadership roles. Over the past year, she deftly led the physician inpatient scheduling project in close consultation with team members to support physicians in their academic demands (i.e.: research, education, quality improvement)) while continuing to provide excellence in clinical care. She also oversaw the Summer Medical Student Scholarship Program. Dr. Ladha serves as the equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility lead for University of Toronto’s Division of Developmental Pediatrics. She also just completed a term as the president of the Holland Bloorview Medical Staff Association. 

“Dr. Ladha is a caring and passionate physician who goes above and beyond with every client in her care. She is a strong leader who is well respected among her peers and with the interprofessional team with whom she collaborates,” says Dr. Golda Milo-Manson, vice president of medicine and academic affairs. “I am so thrilled to be working alongside with Dr. Ladha in her new role.”

Dr. Ladha succeeds Dr. Peter Rumney, the respected outgoing director of inpatient care and brain injury rehabilitation, who shaped pediatric care for over 35 years. Dr. Rumney will continue contributing to important ambulatory clinical work part-time.

“Dr. Rumney has been a wonderful mentor. His legacy lives on in the BIRT program and the families he has supported for over 35 years,” reflects Dr. Ladha. “His generosity, kindness and desire to change the system is unmatched. I’ll miss seeing him every day.”