Mobilize patients at least three times a day
Use progressive, scaled mobilization
Assess mobility within 24 hours of the decision to admit
Our History
Through collaboration between investigators interested in geriatric medicine, MOVE iT (Mobilization of Vulnerable Elders in Toronto), a project focused on the implementation of an innovative, scalable strategy to promote early mobilization and prevent functional decline, was conceptualized. Through CAHO Artic Funding the collaboration grew to include additional academic hospitals in Ontario. With the success of the initiative, it was further expanded across hospitals in Ontario, Canada and internationally.
MOVE iT
In collaboration with investigators interested in Geriatric Medicine, a project focused on promoting early mobility was introduced.
MOVE ON+
MOVE iT / MOVE ON was expanded to an additional 15 units in seven of the MOVE ON hospitals.
Who We Are

Dr. Barbara Liu, MD, FRCPC
Director and Developer of MOVE
Dr. Liu is the Executive Director of the Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto and Professor at the University of Toronto. Together with the Regional Geriatric Programs of Ontario, she is leading the provincial Senior Friendly Care strategy in Ontario. Dr. Liu’s research focuses on evaluation of interprofessional geriatric health services, appropriate medication use, and falls prevention.
Dr. Sharon Straus, MD, FRCPC
Director and Developer of MOVE
Sharon E. Straus is a geriatrician and clinical epidemiologist who trained at the University of Toronto and the University of Oxford. She is the Director of the Knowledge Translation Program and Physician-in-Chief, St. Michael’s Hospital. She holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Translation and Quality of Care and has authored more than 400 publications and 3 textbooks in evidence-based medicine, knowledge translation and mentorship. She is in the top 1% of highly cited clinical researchers as per Web of Science. She holds more than $57 million in peer reviewed research grants as a principal investigator. She has received national awards for mentorship, research and education.


Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc, MD, FRCPC
Project Lead, MOVE AB
Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc is an academic geriatrician. She completed residency training in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Toronto, before completing a research fellowship in quality improvement and research methodology at the University of California, San Francisco through the VA Quality Scholar program. She is currently Department of Medicine Deputy Head (Academic), Geriatric Medicine Division Head and Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. Her major research interests involve the use of knowledge translation (KT) to improve the care provided to older adults. She is the University of Calgary Brenda Strafford Foundation Chair in Geriatric Medicine, and the Canadian Frailty Network KT Committee Chair, a NCE network funded to improve care for frail elderly.
Alekhya M. Johnson, MPH
Implementation Coach
Alekhya M. Johnson is the Knowledge-to-Practice Manager at the Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto. She has experience with the dissemination, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of evidence in healthcare practice. She has a special interest in sustainability and has published literature and given workshops on the science and practice of sustaining change. Alekhya is also skilled at obtaining stakeholder buy-in and at managing people and projects; she has used these strengths to oversee the execution of multiple knowledge translation projects at the local, provincial, and national level. Alekhya holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Queen’s University School of Community Health and Epidemiology.
