Social Prescribing in Ontario: Health Equity and High Expectations

Dr. Kate Mulligan, Director of Policy and Communications, Alliance for Healthier Communities, Assistant Professor, School of Social & Behavioural Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Faculty Affiliate, School of Cities, University of Toronto, Board Member, Toronto Board of Health

Dr. Kate Mulligan is a health geographer and policy professional with a critical public health orientation and a strong interest in advancing healthier and more equitable communities. Her research and policy work has been supported by Toronto Public Health, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Health Canada, and the United Nations. In addition to her work directing policy and communications staff for Ontario’s 100+ community-governed comprehensive primary health care organizations, Kate is a partner on the DLSPH project on Public Health Training for Equitable Systems Change and a lead author on Health Canada’s 2021 climate and health adaptation assessment. Kate is also the director of Ontario’s first social prescribing project, currently underway in 11 community health centres across the province. This project aims to improve health outcomes for marginalized and socially isolated people and to reduce health systems utilization by creating a clinical pathway between mainstream health systems and community and voluntary supports.