Meet Dr. Irène Mathieu: A Female Pediatrician Now Accepting Newborns for Primary Care on the Danforth

Last updated: May 23, 2026

By Dr. Irène Mathieu, MD

Dr. Irène Mathieu, MD, is a female pediatrician now accepting newborns and children for ongoing primary care at Thrive Kids Clinic, a pediatric practice at 2686 Danforth Avenue in East Toronto. Her practice opened to new patients in May 2026. A referral from a family physician, midwife, or obstetrician is required, and visits are OHIP-covered for eligible Ontario patients. The clinic sits on the Bloor–Danforth subway line between Main Street and Victoria Park stations, and offers a Newborn Bridge Visit pathway for families discharged from local hospitals, including Michael Garron Hospital.

Why East Toronto Needs More Newborn Primary-Care Access

East Toronto is home to a growing population of young families, many of whom deliver at Michael Garron Hospital and other birthing centres along the Bloor–Danforth corridor. Connecting a newborn with a pediatric primary-care provider in the first weeks of life supports feeding, weight gain, jaundice monitoring, and early developmental screening. The Canadian Paediatric Society emphasizes timely follow-up after hospital discharge as a cornerstone of newborn care.

According to Statistics Canada’s 2024 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, 33% of children and youth in Ontario who do not have a primary health care provider have no one in the area taking new patients.

Adding another female pediatrician to the Danforth means more families in the neighbourhood can find a pediatric primary-care home close to where they live, work, and ride transit. For many parents, having a clinic two blocks from a subway stop is the difference between making and missing a one-week weight check. Dr. Mathieu joins a team of pediatricians at Thrive Kids who have trained or worked with Michael Garron Hospital, SickKids, and the University of Toronto, and who together support newborn-through-adolescent primary care in East Toronto.

What Dr. Mathieu’s Practice Looks Like at Thrive Kids

Dr. Mathieu sees infants, children, and adolescents from ages 0 to 18, with current intake prioritized for newborns and infants. Her clinical interests include community-engaged pediatric primary care, health equity, and continuity of care across a child’s first year, and she speaks English and Spanish with families in the exam room. She completed medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, on the Global Health Track.

Newborns referred to Dr. Mathieu typically follow a two-step pathway. The first step is a Newborn Bridge Visit, a focused early-life appointment that the clinic aims to schedule within the same week of hospital discharge — often within 72 hours, depending on referral volume on a given day. This is a typical target, not a guarantee. The second step is rostering for ongoing primary care, so the same pediatrician follows the child through well-baby visits, immunizations, growth checks, and beyond.

Visits with Dr. Mathieu include:

• An early-life Newborn Bridge Visit covering feeding, weight, jaundice screening, and parent questions

• Ongoing newborn and well-baby care with the same pediatrician across visits

• Routine immunizations and developmental screening on the Canadian schedule

• Support for feeding, sleep, and early parenting concerns, with referral pathways to SickKids and other specialists when needed

All visits are OHIP-covered for eligible Ontario patients.

What Drew Dr. Mathieu to Newborn Care

Pediatricians who focus on newborn primary care often describe the first weeks of life as a period when small, attentive interventions — a feeding adjustment, a weight recheck, a question answered without rushing — shape how a family moves into parenthood. For Dr. Mathieu, that early window is also where continuity of care begins: meeting a baby in the first days, and then following the same child through toddlerhood, school years, and adolescence.

Dr. Irène Mathieu, MD, pediatrician at Thrive Kids Clinic, on the value of newborn primary care:

“I love connecting with young people and their families. My goal is for my patients to feel seen, cared for, and empowered.”

That perspective shapes how Dr. Mathieu structures her newborn pathway at Thrive Kids — early access first, then long-term continuity with the same pediatrician.

How to Refer a Patient to Dr. Mathieu

Family physicians, midwives, and obstetricians can refer newborns and children to Dr. Mathieu through three channels. The preferred channel is Ocean eReferral, which routes directly into the clinic’s referral inbox. Fax referrals can be sent to 416-849-2261, and the clinic can be reached by phone at 416-849-2260 during open hours.

Once a newborn referral is received, the clinic’s typical target is to acknowledge it within one to two business days, after which intake staff contact the family directly to confirm scheduling. Actual response time depends on referral volume on a given day. For complete referral instructions, intake forms, and what to include with a referral, see the information for referring physicians page.

How Parents Can Book with Dr. Mathieu

Thrive Kids Clinic is a referral-based pediatric practice, so parents cannot book directly. To see Dr. Mathieu, ask your family doctor, midwife, or obstetrician to send a referral through Ocean eReferral or by fax to 416-849-2261. Once the referral is received, the clinic will contact you to schedule. Visits are OHIP-covered for eligible Ontario patients. You can find more on what to expect on the newborn care and booking pages.

If your child is already established with Thrive Kids and is acutely ill during clinic hours, call us to join that day’s Daily Sick Visit List. The list is for established patients only and operates during regular clinic hours.

If your child is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

To start care with Dr. Mathieu for your newborn or child, ask your family physician, midwife, obstetrician, or hospital paediatrics team for a referral to Thrive Kids Clinic. For scheduling questions, our team can be reached at 416-849-2260, and more details are on our booking page. Thrive Kids Clinic — 2686 Danforth Avenue, Toronto.