In Our VoICES

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In Our VoICES is an ICES podcast that takes you beyond the data to meet the people – and hear the stories – that help shape health and healthcare, for all of us.

Sep 23

Rethinking Concussion Recovery with Dr. Donald Redelmeier

What happens after a concussion, and could its effects linger far longer than most people realize? In this episode, Dr. Donald Redelmeier discusses what population-based research reveals about the lasting effects of concussion for some patients, from traffic risks to long-term recovery and disability. Dr. Donald Redelmeier received his MD from University of Toronto, completed postgraduate training at Stanford, and obtained a Masters degree in Health Services Research as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. His research spans a variety of areas emphasizing the psychology of decision making and the epidemiology of motor vehicle trauma. Dr. Redelmeier serves as a Professor at the University of Toronto; a Senior Scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute; a Senior Scientist at ICES; and a Staff Physician in General Internal Medicine at Sunnybrook (Canada’s largest trauma hospital). Resources ICES | Concussions and risk of a subsequent traffic crash: retrospective cohort analysis in Ontario, Canada ICES | Prior concussions and risk of disability for patients after a motor vehicle crash EPISODE CREDITS: Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha Music licensed through Melodie Music LINKS: Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca
Aug 26

More Than Numbers: The Canadian Perinatal Opioid Project with Dr. Andi Camden and Ashley Smoke

What can a national health data system reveal about perinatal opioid use in Canada and the supports families need most? In this episode, Dr. Andi Camden and peer researcher Ashley Smoke speak about the Canadian Perinatal Opioid Project, its interactive dashboard, and the importance of storytelling, community engagement, and compassionate, evidence-based care. Dr. Andi Camden is an Epidemiologist and Senior Research Associate at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children at SickKids and the University of Toronto, as well as an ICES Fellow. She holds both a PhD and an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Toronto, where she also completed a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship. Andi’s research uses administrative data and community engagement to explore the impact of medication use, including opioids, during pregnancy on maternal and child health across the life course. Andi currently leads a Public Health Agency of Canada-funded project called the Canadian Perinatal Opioid Project where she is developing Canada’s first health data system to monitor perinatal opioid use and subsequent health outcomes. Ashley Smoke is a First Nations community member from Alderville First Nation, a Peer Researcher with the Canadian Perinatal Opioid Project, a Drug Strategy Coordinator, consultant, and public speaker based in Port Hope, Ontario. Ashley brings together professional expertise and lived experience to help achieve better healthcare for people who use drugs, particularly Indigenous families and pregnant and parenting people. Both of their children were born while Ashley was receiving methadone treatment, giving them firsthand experience navigating pregnancy, parenting, health care, stigma, and systems that often make families feel judged rather than supported. Through research, education, and advocacy, Ashley works to challenge harmful assumptions and help build more compassionate, culturally safe, and evidence-based approaches to perinatal substance use care. Resources Dashboard - Canadian Perinatal Opioid Project EPISODE CREDITS: Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha Music licensed through Melodie Music LINKS: Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca
Jul 29

The Value of Data in Dementia Care with Dr. Susan Bronskill and Christina Stergiou-Dayment

How can data and community partners work together to shape the future of dementia care? In this episode of In Our VoICES, ICES’ Dr. Susan Bronskill and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario’s Christina Stergiou-Dayment discuss how partnerships, data analytics, and community-based data are improving support for people living with dementia and their care partners while informing the future of dementia care across Ontario and Canada. Susan E. Bronskill, PhD is interim Chief Science Officer and a Senior Scientist at ICES where she leads the Life Stage Research Program. She is also a Professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Dr. Bronskill is a national expert in health services research using administrative databases with a focus on older adults, pharmacoepidemiology and neurodegenerative diseases. In collaboration with policymakers and health system stakeholders, she studies transitions between health care sectors and focusses on improving quality of care, medication use, health services utilization and health care outcomes — particularly in people living with dementia from Alzheimer’s disease or other causes. Christina Stergiou-Dayment is the Chief, Programs & Clinical Operations Officer with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and is a Healthcare Professional with experience working across community, hospital, and long-term care sectors. Christina’s key areas of focus include healthcare management, program planning, partner engagement, and evaluation. Most importantly, Christina is dedicated to promoting client-centred approaches to care with improved health outcomes and increased quality of life. Resources Alzheimer Society of Ontario ICES | Applied Health Research Questions | AHRQ ICES | Health system utilization and outcomes for clients of the Alzheimer Society First Link Care Navigation ICES | Dementia prevalence by FSA in Ontario ICES | Profile of community-dwelling older adults with dementia in Ontario LHIN regions, 2007-2017 EPISODE CREDITS: Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha Music licensed through Melodie Music LINKS: Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca
May 27

What the Data Really Says About ADHD in Pregnancy with Dr. Jonathan Zipursky

What does the latest data say about ADHD and pregnancy, and how should those findings be understood without stigma or fear? In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Zipursky discusses why supportive, personalized care and informed decision-making are key for people navigating pregnancy with ADHD. This episode is a shorter, refreshed take as we try out a new format that zooms in on a single study, giving us the chance to explore it in more depth while still delivering the key insights in a quick, focused way. Let us know what you think! More than 90% of pregnant individuals will use at least one medication during pregnancy, and at least half of those who breastfeed will continue to use medications. Despite this, there remains a paucity of data on the safety of drugs in pregnancy and lactation. Dr. Jonathan Zipursky’s research uses population-based administrative health data to investigate the maternal and neonatal safety of drug use in pregnancy and postpartum. One of his primary interests is investigating controlled substance use in pregnancy and lactation. Resources ICES | Maternal attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and adverse obstetrical and perinatal outcomes: a population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada EPISODE CREDITS: Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha Music licensed through Melodie Music LINKS: Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca
Apr 22

Beyond Genetics: Understanding Hereditary Cancer with Dr. Raymond Kim, Tamara Braid, and Katie Lark

How can linked genetic and health data transform cancer research? In this episode, we explore how the Ontario Hereditary Cancer Research Network (OHCRN) works with patients and researchers to improve prevention and care, and how linking with ICES data supports a better understanding of hereditary cancers across Ontario. Dr. Raymond Kim is a Medical Geneticist and hereditary cancer syndrome researcher. He is the Medical Director of Cancer Early Detection at the Princess Margaret, University Health Network, and a staff physician at Mount Sinai Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Kim’s research employs technologies like cell free DNA (cfDNA) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), with the overarching goal of advancing oncology diagnostics and therapeutics towards precision care, often through application of these genomics technologies. He serves as the Head of the Provincial Genetics Program at Ontario Health and leads the Ontario Hereditary Cancer Research Network (OHCRN) at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR). Tamara Braid, MS, CGC, is a board-certified genetic counsellor and Clinical Program Manager of the Ontario Hereditary Cancer Research Network (OHCRN) at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR). She earned her Master of Science in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College in 2017. Prior to joining OICR, Braid worked as a cancer genetic counsellor at NYU Langone Health in New York, and as a laboratory coordinator and paediatric genetic counsellor at the Hospital for Sick Children. Braid is an active member of the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC), and serves as member and previous co-chair of the Education Committee. Katie Lark is a BRCA1 carrier and an impassioned cancer-awareness advocate dedicated to bridging the gap between clinical research and the patient experience. Since 2021, she has served as a Patient Partner in Research for the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) and OHCRN, where she contributes to research steering committees and collaborates with scientists to ensure study designs remain relevant to the community. Resources: OHCRN Misty’s movie reference: Innerspace (1987) - IMDb EPISODE CREDITS: Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha Music licensed through Melodie Music LINKS: Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca
Mar 26

More Than a Prescription: Building Community for Better Care with Dr. Kate Mulligan and Liv Mendelsohn

How is social prescribing reshaping modern healthcare—and what could it mean for patients and caregivers? In this episode Dr. Kate Mulligan and Liv Mendelsohn discuss what social prescribing is, its impact on health care, and the need for investment and policy change to embed the practice in care systems. Dr. Kate Mulligan is an award-winning health geographer, implementation scientist, and policy advisor who helps to grow systems that strengthen community and neighbourhood leadership for health, equity, and resilience around the world. She is Canada's 2025-2026 Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow in Healthcare Policy and Practice with Stanford University and the City University of New York. Kate is also the founding Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing, an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, and a member of the ICES Scientific Advisory Committee. Liv Mendelsohn, MA, MEd, is Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, where she leads research, innovation, policy, and co-design to strengthen support for caregivers and care providers across Canada. A lifelong caregiver with lived experience of disability, Liv is committed to building a Canada where caregiving is recognized, valued, and shaped by those with lived experience. A senior fellow at Massey College, she serves on the City of Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee and on the boards of the Kids Brain Health Foundation and the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto. Resources Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence – Supporting Family Caregivers and Care Providers Strengthening Care: A Toolkit for Caregiver-Focused Social Prescribing The Ontario Caregiver Organization The Case for Social Prescribing - Macleans.ca Toronto Public Library expanding social, crisis support services to more branches | CBC News EPISODE CREDITS: Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha Music licensed through Melodie Music LINKS: Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca
Feb 25

The Palliative Care Revolution with Dr. Hsien Seow and Sheli O’Connor

What if reframing palliative care as an early, community‑rooted approach could transform how Canadians navigate serious illness? In this episode Dr. Hsien Seow and Sheli O’Connor discuss how education, public engagement, and patient‑centered care can reduce stigma and ensure more compassionate support for patients and families. Dr. Hsien Seow is the Canada Research Chair in Palliative Care and Health System Innovation and a Professor in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University. He is an ICES scientist who publishes health care research focused on palliative care and serious illness. He is the cohost of the Waiting Room Revolution podcast, and author of the book, Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest. Sheli O’Connor’s more than 30‑year career in community‑based work has focused on educating, supporting, and empowering people to advocate for themselves within the health care system, including developing an elder abuse response network and strengthening supports for vulnerable older adults. She went on to lead a three‑year Advance Care Planning initiative and, as Director of Community Engagement for Hospice of Waterloo Region, worked to reduce stigma around dying, death, and grief through cross‑sector collaboration and public engagement. Most recently, she founded “Dying to Learn,” a consultation and project‑based business dedicated to building compassionate, community‑rooted approaches to palliative care. Guided by her conviction that “if it doesn’t happen in the community, it doesn’t happen,” Sheli focuses on building compassionate communities where people are supported where they live, work, pray, and play. She holds a Master of Social Work degree in Community Development and brings over three decades of experience collaborating with the public and community partners in creative, evidence-informed ways to strengthen collective understanding and confidence in caring for one another. ICES Research you heard about ICES | Timing of palliative care, end-of-life quality indicators, and health resource utilization ICES | Identification of the physician workforce providing palliative care in Ontario using administrative claims data ICES | Effect of early palliative care on end-of-life healthcare costs: a population-based, propensity score-matched cohort study ICES | Community-based specialist palliative care teams and health system costs at end of life: a retrospective matched cohort study ICES | End-of-life outcomes with or without early palliative care: a propensity score matched, population-based cancer cohort study EPISODE CREDITS: Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha Music licensed through Melodie Music LINKS: Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca
12/17/2025

Leading with Data, Guided by Purpose: Reflections from Dr. Michael Schull

How do you guide a research and data analytics institute through massive growth, a pandemic, and the rise of AI? In this episode, Michael Schull shares insights from 12 years as CEO of ICES, celebrating its achievements and outlining the opportunities he sees for ICES to advance health care and health research in Ontario. Michael Schull, MSc, MD, FRCPC, is a nationally recognized leader with a track record of driving digital transformation, building national and international research and data partnerships, and organizational growth and sustainability. Prior to joining the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, he served for 12 years as CEO and Senior Scientist at ICES, Canada’s leading health services research and data analytics institute. He is a founding member of Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN), a pan-Canadian network of health data and research centres seeking to facilitate and enable pan-Canadian research, and past co-director of the International Population Data Linkage network. During his tenure at ICES, Michael led major initiatives related to expanding researcher access to new data types, creating a virtual data platform for linked datasets and launching a health AI data and analysis platform. He also engaged the public and communities in the work of ICES to ensure alignment with public values and strengthened relationships with Indigenous partners. Michael is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto and a Senior Scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute. His research areas include health service utilization, quality of care, health system integration and patient outcomes, and evaluation of health policy. His work has focused on strengthening Ontario and Canada’s health research infrastructure for the analysis of large, routinely collected data sets, and creation of new data access models for research and health system evaluation. Fluent in both English and French, Michael was born in Montreal and raised in Québec before relocating to Ontario, where he earned a BA and M.D. from Queen’s University. He later completed an MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from McGill University and a Harkness Fellowship with the Commonwealth Fund in the US. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. He is currently based in Toronto. More information about ICES and DRAC ICES | About Us | Community of Research, Data & Clinical Experts ICES | Applied Health Research Questions | AHRQ ICES | Public and Community Engagement at ICES ICES | Partnerships & Collaborations | Indigenous Partnerships, Data and Analytics Digital Research Alliance of Canada EPISODE CREDITS: Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha Music licensed through Melodie Music LINKS: Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca

In Our VoICES is an ICES podcast that takes you beyond the data to meet the people – and hear the stories – that help shape health and healthcare, for all of us.

Creator

ICES
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

23
Rating

Clean
Show Website

In Our VoICES