Dermatology: For Patients
Women's College Hospital
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto Western
The Hospital for Sick Children
The Division of Dermatology at the University of Toronto is affiliated with three academic sites including Women’s College Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Toronto Western Hospital. We provide patient care in areas of general dermatology and unique subspecialties including skin surgery (Mohs surgery), phototherapy, wound care, patch testing, cosmetic and pediatric dermatology.
How to become a patient:
To be seen in a general dermatology, or one of our subspecialty clinics, patients must be referred by a family doctor or specialist. Please see below for specific referral information.
Women’s College Hospital
In 1943, Dr. Ricky Kanee Schachter was appointed head of dermatology at Women's College Hospital, making her Canada's first woman leader of an academic division of dermatology. During her 40 years at Women's College Hospital, Dr. Schachter worked tirelessly to build the hospital's dermatology program into one of the country's finest clinical and teaching units. No doubt she succeeded.
Mohs micrographic surgery has the highest cure rate of any treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer. Women's College Hospital has the only specially trained physicians in the GTA who perform this groundbreaking procedure.
What's more, our academic dermatology program today is the largest and most diverse in the GTA, and provides care that, in many areas, is unique. For instance, we help patients manage chronic and life-threatening skin conditions through our PhotoTherapy Education and Research Centre, the first and largest of its kind in Ontario. Our Wound Care Centre is known internationally. And most recently, our Ricky Kanee Schachter Dermatology Centre has opened Ontario's first Multicultural Dermatology Clinic for those with non-Caucasian skin.
Women’s College Dermatology offers the following programs:
- General dermatology
- Skin surgery (Mohs)
- Phototherapy
- Wound Care
General Dermatology
Ricky Kanee Schachter Dermatology Centre
New patients: A general referral including all relevant diagnostic test results from a family physician or specialist is required to be faxed to 416-323-6236.
Skin Surgery
Women's College Hospital Skin Surgery (Mohs) Centre
Our Mohs surgeons (Drs. Chan, Murray, and Solish) see patients with biopsy proven non-melanoma skin cancer in consultation at Women’s College Hospital. Please include pathology results with all referrals. A detailed description or photograph may be included and if we can accurately assess the tumour’s size, we will book the consultation and surgery on the same day to reduce travel.
New patients: A special referral form along with a pathology report must be filled out by the referring physician.
*Please note that the Women’s College Hospital General Dermatology clinic manages all referrals for general dermatology and pigmented lesions including melanoma and dysplastic nevi. They can be reached by fax 416-323-6236 or phone 416-323-7546.
Phototherapy
Phototherapy Education and Research Centre (PERC)
The Phototherapy Education and Research Centre (PERC) treats skin conditions that improve with light and systemic therapies including psoriasis, cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) and other photo-response diseases. Narrowband UVB and PUVA are available.
New patients: A referral must be faxed to the clinic by a dermatologist or oncologist to 416-323-6254.
Wound Care
Women’s College Hospital Wound Care Centre
Our Wound Care Centre is recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise in wound care. We have developed the treatment model and the standard of care for wound healing, wound-related education, and innovative patient care. The Wound Care Centre takes an interdisciplinary approach, involving health professionals from a variety of fields. All types of chronic wounds are treated.
New patients: A general referral form must be filled out by a physician or CCAC nurse and faxed to 416-323-6215.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
The Division of Dermatology at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is a key provider of dermatologic care in Ontario with almost 40,000 patient visits per year. We are the leading advanced medical dermatology clinic in Canada for treating major severe conditions such auto-immune diseases, skin cancer, severe psoriasis, as well as common skin ailments such as acne and rosacea. We provide specialized patch testing, surgical experience and esthetic dermatology services including laser treatments.
Services offered:
- General dermatology
- Specialized clinics
- Patch testing
- Cosmetic dermatology
General Dermatology
Patients are generally seen in our general dermatology clinic and subsequently flow into our specialized areas of expertise as needed.
New patients: To be seen as a new patient, a special referral form must be filled out by a family physician or specialist and faxed to 416-480-6897.
Existing patients: Patients who have been seen by one of our dermatologists in the last year may be seen in follow-up. If it has been more than 12 months since your last visit, or you have a completely new issue, a new referral is required.
Referrals from healthcare providers: To refer a patient to our program, please fax a referral letter, including the patient's legal name, date of birth, home address, phone number(s), OHIP number and physician's signature. The referral must be faxed to the clinic of choice. Our fax number is 416-480-6897.
We have two referral forms, a General Dermatology referral form and a Patch Test referral form:
Patch testing
You have been referred to the Patch Test Clinic at Sunnybrook Dermatology for assessment of your skin condition. You have met with a doctor and other healthcare professionals who have discussed your signs and symptoms and contacts and decided that patch testing might be helpful in deciding the cause of your rash. The following information will help to explain the test.
What is Patch Testing?
Patch testing is a simple procedure that attempts to identify substances that may be causing an allergic reaction on someone’s skin.
New patients: A special referral form must be filled out by the referring physician and faxed to 416-480-6897.
Cosmetic Dermatology
We offer individualized cosmetic treatments including laser therapy. We offer a variety of lasers at Sunnybrook Dermatology. We offer treatments for hair removal, facial redness, vascular and pigmented lesions, tattoo removal as well as cosmetic fillers and Botox.
New patients: For patients interested in cosmetic procedures, no referral is required. An appointment is made by phone by calling the cosmetic line at 416-480-5222. A consultation fee of $100.00 plus HST will be charged.This fee is taken off your first treatment within the year of your visit.
Toronto Western Hospital
The Dermatology Clinic at Toronto Western Hospital (University Health Network) offers general dermatology services for patients with conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema and autoimmune conditions including lupus.
Toronto Western Hospital Dermatology Clinic
New patients: A general referral including all relevant diagnostic test results from a family physician or specialist is required to become a patient.
*Usually the referring doctor will contact the patient with scheduled appointment time. If the patient does not receive appointment information within one-two weeks, we recommend calling the referring physician’s office.
General Dermatology
The Division of Dermatology at the University of Toronto offers care to patients with common skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer as well as rare and advanced conditions affecting the skin, hair and nails.
General medical dermatology services are offered at the following sites:
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
- Women’s College Hospital
- Toronto Western Hospital
The Hospital for Sick Children
Pediatric Dermatology
We are affiliated and work closely with pediatric dermatologists at the Hospital for Sick Children. Please refer to their website for more information