For Jeff Reinhart, MHSc student at IHPME, providing care to marginalized communities, particularly the LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive populations, has always felt personal.
By: Marielle Boutin
Jeff grew up in Alberta in the 90s, where he first began to witness the impact of HIV, as the AIDS epidemic continued its devastating spread. By the early 2000s, he transitioned to working across Canada, deepening his understanding of the disease’s widespread impact on communities nationwide.
“Many people I’ve known and loved have been HIV-positive, and seeing their humanity has always been obvious and deeply important to me,” says Jeff.
This emotional resonance has since driven his commitment to supporting efforts to reduce stigma and improve care.
In November of 2024, he took on a leadership role with Sherbourne Health, as Director of Clinical Operations. Jeff began his career at Sherbourne in 2013 as a Registered Nurse before spending nearly eight years building clinical experience. He then transitioned into project management and managerial positions, before ultimately assuming his current directorial role.
Sherbourne Health is nestled between the neighbourhoods of Church-Wellesley, Upper Jarvis and Cabbagetown and provides support such as LGBTQ+ health services, mental health and counseling services, health promotion and community programs, services for newcomers, harm reduction services and infectious disease testing and treatment.
Jeff feels a deep connection to the community, both personally and geographically, as he lives in the neighbourhood.
It all fits together in a way that feels natural and holistic, being a healthcare provider and a member of this community creates a unique synergy. It’s been incredibly rewarding to contribute in this way.
Jeff’s career has been shaped by several notable successes and achievements.
In 2017, he joined a team of volunteers at an unsanctioned overdose prevention site at Moss Park before being brought on as a Registered Nurse after the group received government funding. Reflecting on this experience, Jeff feels fortunate to have been a part of it.
“I learned so much from doing that work. The community they [the leaders in the space] built was incredible inspiring, especially given the stigma and devaluation people who use substances often face. Despite these challenges, they managed to form a supportive, vibrant community, which is both beautiful and humbling.”
As the founding nurse at the Blue Door Clinic, he established a program providing HIV care to over 300 uninsured and undocumented clients, saving countless lives. As Manager of CATIE’s Hepatitis C Program, Jeff co-founded and expanded a provincial campaign to a national initiative that raised awareness of hepatitis C and harm reduction.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he managed operations for Sherbourne’s award-winning vaccine clinic, which helped administer nearly 50,000 doses.
Jeff’s work is rooted in the idea that all communities are equally deserving of care and support. As he transitions into his new leadership role, he is focused on ensuring that services are useful and responsive to marginalized communities.
“Leadership, in my view, carries an ethical obligation to prioritize equity and social justice. I deeply value these contributions and hope others do as well. Access and equity have always been central to my nursing practice, so it’s natural for me to want to bring that focus to leadership too.”
These achievements, among many others, led to Jeff being presented with the Don Ford Memorial Leadership Award at the 2024 Moonshot event, recognizing him for his commitment to lifelong learning and demonstrated leadership potential.
Looking ahead, Jeff is eager to explore the broad perspectives of the sector from his directorial role with the goal of building a more integrated healthcare system and better serving those on the margins, allowing them to access care at multiple points, and reducing administrative barriers.
He credits the Health Administration (MHSc) program for providing him with a solid understanding of these perspectives, enabling him to support leaders, foster collaboration, and drive system integration to address challenges such as Alternate Level of Care (ALC), ER diversion, and wait times, ensuring no one falls through the cracks.
“The MHSC program has provided so much information that I want to take some time to reflect on what I’ve already learned,” says Jeff. “From the very beginning, I was able to take things from the classroom and apply them at work the following week, which I found really valuable. I want to go back and review some of that material to see what additional insights I can bring into my work.”
Ultimately, he hopes his efforts will contribute to simplifying and streamlining a system he calls a “wicked problem,” which is constantly evolving.
“I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to figure this out – it’s possible I might fail, but that would be a valuable learning opportunity in itself. We’ll see.”
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Communications
Marielle Boutin
Email Address: ihpme.communications@utoronto.ca