Dr. Lesley Wiesenfeld
Psychiatrist-in-Chief
Sinai Health
Dr. Lesley Wiesenfeld is Psychiatrist-in-Chief of Sinai Health. In her previous role as Deputy Chief she led several transformative programs. She is Head of our Geriatric Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Service, and has been the Quality Improvement Lead for Psychiatry. Her focus on addressing the unique mental health needs of older patients, in particular, those experiencing delirium, dementia and persistent and serious mental illness has helped shape the care for this growing patient population. She has lectured internationally and locally and provided her expertise to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour. Her collaborative leadership of the Safe Patients/ Safe Staff program, which supports patient and staff safety across a continuum of care settings, earned her team a National Healthcare Safety Award from the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Dr. Wiesenfeld is an Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Education
Dr. Wiesenfeld received her medical degree from the University of Toronto, and completed her Geriatric Psychiatry Subspecialty at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. She holds a Masters Degree in Health Care Management from Harvard School of Public Health.
Research
Dr. Wiesenfeld’s research has focused on hospitalized older patients, in particular, patients with behavioural disturbances due to delirium, dementia and mental Illness.
Memberships and committees
- Fellow, Geriatric Psychiatry, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
- MD Licensee, New York State Office of the Professions
- Diplomate, Geriatric Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Licensee, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
- Fellow, Psychiatry, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Awards and recognition
Dr. Wiesenfeld has earned a number of teaching awards including the Bernard Ghert Award for Excellence in Patient Focused Care, and the Wightman-Berris Academy Anderson Award for Extraordinary Contribution to Medical Education. She was also recognized for her teaching by the American Psychiatric Association.