Recipient of the 2019 HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR

Janna Di Pinto

Nominated For: HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR

Janna Di Pinto is very honoured to be selected as a candidate for the Annual Hospital Social Worker of the Year Award through the Ontario Brain Injury Association. 

Janna completed her Master of Social Work at Yeshiva University from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. She has been working as a clinical social worker for more than 30 years. She is currently working in the Trauma Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (SHSC). Janna supports patients, and families, who have sustained multiple, often complex injuries, including traumatic brain injury. Provision of ongoing support, education about brain injury, and recovery, and linkage to community agencies is a key feature of her role.

Janna began her career in Thunder Bay’s Social Services, moving to Toronto to work at the former Queen Elizabeth Hospital, now known as Toronto Rehabilitation Hospital, on the brain injury and stroke rehabilitation programs. She then transitioned to Rehabilitation Management Inc. as a Case Manager, for individuals who had Traumatic Brain Injuries before moving to SHSC. She has specialized knowledge and expertise working with the Geriatric population as a result of working on the Geriatric Internal Consultation Team for many years. She is involved in many committees, including Senior Friendly, Mobility, Medical Assistance in Dying, Advanced Care Planning, P.A.R.T.Y. program (Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth), Clinical Documentation, and Trauma Council.

Janna is a very strong advocate for clients, ensuring the best interests of patients are considered and accommodated. She provides crisis and adjustment counselling, ongoing education, and support to both patients and their family members. She mediates where necessary and collaborates with internal and external providers to ensure the needs of her clients are met. Janna plays a strong role in discussing future care needs and Goals of Care to help families plan ahead.

Additionally, Janna was awarded the Clinical Teaching and Supervision Award from SHSC in 2011. She is an Adjunct lecturer at the University of Toronto Factor-Intwentash Faculty of Social Work. Beyond her commitment to social work student education, she is passionate about interprofessional collaboration and education and provides regular education to physicians and staff regarding Consent and Capacity Legislation.  Janna is a mentor to other staff on this issue and many others. She also participates in medical student shadowing opportunities.

Janna is also a member of the Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT) a provincial organization, which operates as a mobile crisis team to support local communities when an adverse advent occurs. In this role Janna was deployed to Attiwapiskat, Ontario in 2016, to support indigenous youth during a suicides crisis. She has taken special training in working with Indigenous populations. Other community involvement includes her annual participation in the Brain Injury Society of Toronto annual 5 km run.

When not working Janna enjoys very fast paced long walks, reading, board games, kayaking, travelling and socializing with friends.