Thousands of Ontario's top applied health professionals and students will soon connect to the global grid of research networks, with the opportunity to access new and exciting tools and resources, and to collaborate with research partners across Canada and around the world, as The Michener Institute connects to ORION later this summer.

"Joining ORION gives Michener access to a high speed network that will open up the ability to collaborate with other hospitals and educational organizations in a digital environment," said Dr. Paul Gamble, President & CEO, The Michener Institute.

With over 5,000 full-time, part-time and continuing education students, The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences is Canada's only post-secondary institution devoted exclusively to applied health science education. Since 1958, Michener has educated applied health professionals in such fields as medical laboratory science, medical radiation sciences, respiratory therapy, chiropody, diagnostic cytology, genetics technology, ultrasound and cardiovascular perfusion.

As a post-secondary, diploma and certificate granting institution, The Michener Institute joins several Ontario universities and colleges, all interconnected over ORION, that are responding to education needs in health care.

All full-time programs offered by the Institute today include educational preparation as well as clinical education at one or more affiliated clinical sites located throughout Ontario and beyond.

A number of applied health institutions are connected to ORION, such as the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Sudbury and Thunder Bay, Ontario Telemedicine Network, Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences, and teaching and research hospitals including the Hospital for Sick Children, London Health Sciences Centre and the University Health Network.

Michener will be connecting through GTAnet to the ORION optical exchange site at Toronto Front Street.

Learn more about The Michener Institute at www.michener.ca.