Canadian College of Health Leaders Podcast

Canadian College of Health Leaders
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Canada's health system runs on leadership. The CCHL Podcast exists to celebrate it, examine it, and strengthen it. Hosted by Sue Owen, CEO of the Canadian College of Health Leaders, the show brings two series to life. In Conversation With features senior health leaders from across the country reflecting on the moments and decisions that defined their careers. Real Stories puts the LEADS framework into practice told through the voices of leaders living it every day in their organizations. This is the community that makes belonging to the College so great. And now, it has a voice. MOC Credit: Engaging and listening to the podcast entitles certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE / Fellow) to 0.5 MOC Category I credits toward their maintenance of certification requirement. New episodes drop monthly. Hit follow and be part of the conversation and stay connected with us on: Official Website: https://cchl-ccls.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canadian-college-of-health-leaders/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCHL.National/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/cchl_ccls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cchl_ccls/

Episodes

  1. 22h ago ·  Bonus

    Special Edition: Excellence Is for Everyone — Sarah Wells | CWHLC 2026

    In this special edition of In Conversation With, host Sue Owen speaks with Olympian, keynote speaker, leadership and innovation expert, and Amazing Race Canada competitor Sarah Wells ahead of her keynote at the 2026 Canada West Health Leaders Conference. Sarah shares how her experiences as an elite athlete, including the disappointment of missing the 2016 Olympic Games, shaped her perspective on excellence, resilience, and success. She discusses why excellence is not about perfection or simply achieving an outcome, but about who we become in pursuit of our goals. The conversation explores the role of mentors, coaches, community, and feedback in helping us grow, and why excellence is not reserved for elite performers. Sarah also shares how the small things, from how we communicate to how we show up each day, can make a meaningful difference in how we lead and work with others. Listeners will get a glimpse into the ideas and stories Sarah will bring to the stage at the Canada West Health Leaders Conference in Calgary this October. Discover Western University’s new Doctor of Health Sciences program. Western University’s three-year, fully online Doctor of Health Sciences program is designed for experienced health professionals ready to lead, innovate and create greater impact. Applications open November 1. Explore the program and subscribe for application and webinar updates: https://bit.ly/46xyCkP

    Special Edition: Excellence Is for Everyone — Sarah Wells | CWHLC 2026

  2. 6d ago

    Special Edition: What Problem Are We Trying to Solve? — Rocky Ozaki | CWHLC 2026

    In this special edition of In Conversation With, host Sue Owen speaks with Rocky Ozaki, Founder and CEO of the NoW of Work, ahead of his keynote at the 2026 Canada West Health Leaders Conference. Rocky shares his perspective on how healthcare leaders can approach artificial intelligence without getting caught up in the rush to adopt every new technology. He discusses the importance of starting with the problem an organization is trying to solve, putting good governance in place, and considering whether the challenge is actually related to people, processes, automation, or AI. The conversation also looks at how leaders can think about AI investment and return on investment, prepare themselves for a rapidly changing workplace, and remain adaptable when it is difficult to predict where the technology is heading. Rocky also gives listeners a preview of his upcoming conference keynote and what he hopes attendees will take away from the session, including a better understanding of AI, practical ideas they can apply, and a greater sense of agency in navigating what comes next. Discover Western University’s new Doctor of Health Sciences program. Western University’s three-year, fully online Doctor of Health Sciences program is designed for experienced health professionals ready to lead, innovate and create greater impact. Applications open November 1. Explore the program and subscribe for application and webinar updates: https://bit.ly/46xyCkP

    Special Edition: What Problem Are We Trying to Solve? — Rocky Ozaki | CWHLC 2026

  3. Sep 15

    Special Edition: Inside the LEADS Refresh — Dr. Graham Dickson and Dr. Phil Cady

    The LEADS framework has been refreshed to reflect the evolving realities of health leadership. Host Sue Owen is joined by Dr. Graham Dickson and Dr. Phil Cady and to discuss the research, engagement, and key changes that shaped the refreshed framework. The conversation explores how leadership is changing in an increasingly complex health system and why leaders need new approaches to navigate uncertainty, collaboration, and systems-level challenges. Dr. Graham and Dr. Phil share insights on the importance of co-creation, adaptability, equity, and collective leadership, including the shift from “Systems Transformation” to “Shape Systems.” They also discuss how LEADS can serve as a practical guide for leaders in their everyday work and support leadership development across healthcare. About Dr. Graham Dickson Dr. Graham Dickson is Professor Emeritus at Royal Roads University and CEO of LEADS Change and LEADS Global. He has been involved with LEADS since its inception and has supported leadership development across Canada and internationally. About Dr. Phil Cady Dr. Phil Cady is President of Cognitive Leadership Strategies West (CLSWEST) and has more than 30 years of experience in applied leadership development. A former officer in the Canadian Forces Health Services, he is an Adjunct Professor of Leadership at Royal Roads University and served as principal investigator for the LEADS Refresh.

    Special Edition: Inside the LEADS Refresh — Dr. Graham Dickson and Dr. Phil Cady

  4. Aug 25

    Bloom Where You’re Planted — Andrew Williams

    What does it take to lead through constant change while staying grounded? Host Sue Owen speaks with Andrew Williams, President and CEO of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, about leadership, trust, relationships, and navigating change across rural and multi-site healthcare environments. Drawing on nearly four decades of leadership experience, Andrew shares lessons on building trust, staying visible and connected to communities, supporting teams through change, and maintaining balance and personal renewal. He also reflects on the importance of mentorship, continuous learning, and focusing your energy on what you can control and influence. About Andrew Williams: He is President and CEO of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, leading four hospitals serving communities in Southwestern Ontario. With nearly four decades of healthcare leadership experience, he has worked across rural, community, teaching, and research hospitals, as well as regional and international health environments. He is a long-standing Accreditation Canada surveyor, serves on the Ontario Hospital Association Board of Directors, and received the 2024 National Mentorship Award from the Canadian College of Health Leaders

    Bloom Where You’re Planted — Andrew Williams

  5. Aug 5

    How Thoughtful Disruptors Are Changing Healthcare — Dr. Bhavini Gohel

    In this episode of In Conversation With, host Sue Owen speaks with Dr. Bhavini Gohel, a hospitalist physician, global health leader, and climate and health strategist with Alberta Health Services. Drawing on a career that spans frontline clinical care, leadership, and training at Harvard and Oxford, Dr. Gohel reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped her understanding of leadership and strengthened her commitment to climate action, health equity, and systems change. Together, Sue and Bhavini explore what it means to lead in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. They discuss the importance of challenging the status quo, embracing collaborative and adaptive leadership, and recognizing the deep connections between healthcare, climate, and public policy. About Dr. Bhavini Gohel: Dr. Bhavini Gohel is a hospitalist physician and global health leader who leads climate and health strategy within Alberta Health Services. She is passionate about advancing health equity and developing the next generation of healthcare leaders.

    How Thoughtful Disruptors Are Changing Healthcare — Dr. Bhavini Gohel

  6. Jul 2

    Healthcare Is a Humanity Business — Dr. Michael Heenan

    In this episode of In Conversation With, host Sue Owen sits down with Dr. Mike Heenan, President and CEO of St. Joseph's Health System and President of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton — one of Ontario's most respected and innovative health leaders. Michael's path to the CEO chair is anything but conventional. He started his career as a political aide to the Minister of Health before becoming a strategy and quality consultant, then a director, then a vice president moving across multiple hospital settings, stretching into clinical programs, and even being restructured out of his job twice. In this honest and wide ranging conversation, Michael and Sue explore what it really takes to build a 25 year career in health leadership. They discuss the mentors who shaped him, the defining moments that tested him, and why he believes the future of healthcare depends on leaders who are willing to have mature, courageous conversations about the system — not just manage within it. About Dr. Michael Heenan: Dr. Michael Heenan is President and CEO of St. Joseph's Health System and President of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. He holds a PhD in Business, is an assistant professor at McMaster University, and previously served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Hospitals and Capital at Ontario's Ministry of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Healthcare Is a Humanity Business — Dr. Michael Heenan

  7. Jun 9 ·  Bonus

    Special Edition: The Conversations Healthcare Is Afraid to Have — Amie Archibald-Varley | CNC 2026

    In this special edition, host Sue Owen sits down with Amie Archibald-Varley, registered nurse, bestselling author and co-host of Canada's number one nursing podcast, The Gritty Nurse, ahead of her keynote at the CCHL National Conference in Montreal. Amie's path to becoming one of healthcare's most outspoken voices started in a dark place. After experiencing workplace bullying and gaslighting in a leadership role, she found herself quitting her job with no prospects and a system completely unprepared to support her mental health recovery. That experience became her fuel. She started The Gritty Nurse with a colleague, a microphone and a mission to have the conversations healthcare keeps behind closed doors. In this honest conversation, Amie and Sue talk about workplace violence, mental health, self care and what courageous leadership actually looks like in practice. Amie's message to every health worker is simple and direct: you matter more than the job. They will repost that position in two weeks. Take care of yourself first. About Amie Archibald-Varley: Amie Archibald-Varley is a registered nurse, bestselling author of The Wisdom of Nurses and co-creator of The Gritty Nurse, Canada's number one nursing podcast. She serves as a Knowledge Mobilization Consultant with the Canadian Nurses Association and is a sought-after keynote speaker represented by the National Speakers Bureau.

    Special Edition: The Conversations Healthcare Is Afraid to Have — Amie Archibald-Varley | CNC 2026

  8. Jun 1

    Leading with Authenticity — Altaf Stationwala

    In this episode of In Conversation With, host Sue Owen sits down with Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO of Unity Health Toronto and recipient of CCHL's 2026 Distinguished Leader Award. A business school graduate who stumbled into healthcare through a capstone project, Altaf's journey to the top of Ontario's health system is a masterclass in finding your unique value and staying true to who you are. In this candid conversation, Altaf and Sue explore what it takes to build a lasting career in health leadership — the mentors who opened doors, the uncomfortable moments that built confidence, and why integrity is the one thing a leader can never afford to compromise. About Altaf Stationwala: Altaf Stationwala is President and CEO of Unity Health Toronto, encompassing St. Michael's Hospital, St. Joseph's Health Centre and Providence Healthcare. Previously President and CEO of Mackenzie Health for over 14 years, he is the 2026 recipient of CCHL's Distinguished Leader Award and a past winner of the Outstanding Young Health Executive of the Year Award in 2007.

    Leading with Authenticity — Altaf Stationwala

  9. May 22 ·  Bonus

    Special Edition: Every Leader Has a Voice — Michael Rossi | CNC 2026

    In this special bonus edition of In Conversation With, host Sue Owen sits down with Michael Rossi, executive coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Voce Leadership, ahead of his appearance at the Canadian College of Health Leaders National Conference in Montreal this June. Michael spent 25 years in the corporate world, including 18 years with Adidas where he served as President of Adidas Canada, before making the bold leap to start his own business in 2021. In this conversation, he shares what that transition taught him about betting on yourself, finding meaning beyond a title, and leading through uncertainty. Michael also gives our listeners a taste of what to expect from his session at CNC 2026 — a powerful blend of lived experience, practical tools, and real inspiration that goes beyond the motivational moment and into something far more sustainable. About Michael Rossi: Michael Rossi is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and leadership workshop facilitator. He is the founder of Voce Leadership and serves as Chair of the Board of the Terry Fox Foundation. Register for the CNC 2026 here : CCHL National Conference 2026

    Special Edition: Every Leader Has a Voice — Michael Rossi | CNC 2026

  10. May 18 ·  Bonus

    Special Edition: The Stories That Shape Us — Mike Downie | CNC 2026

    In this special edition, host Sue Owen sits down with Mike Downie — award-winning documentary filmmaker, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund ahead of his keynote at the CCHL National Conference in June 2026. Mike has spent over three decades asking one fundamental question: how do we tell Canada's story? From directing The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal to co-creating Secret Path — the groundbreaking project that brought Chanie Wenjack's story to the world — his work explores what makes a story resonate and why it matters. In this conversation, Mike and Sue explore storytelling as a tool for connection, reconciliation and change, and why Canada's greatest stories always end the same way — with the collective. About Mike Downie: Award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. His film The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal won the People's Choice Award at TIFF 2024 and seven Canadian Screen Awards. Register for the CNC 2026 here : CCHL National Conference 2026

    Special Edition: The Stories That Shape Us — Mike Downie | CNC 2026

  11. May 5

    Why Great Leaders Put Their People First — John King

    In our very first episode, Sue Owen sits down with John King — former Board Chair of CCHL and recipient of both the College's Mentorship Award and Distinguished Leadership Award — for a conversation that is as honest as it is inspiring. John takes us through a 45-year career that spanned hospitals, association management, health authorities, and government — from Saskatchewan to Alberta to the halls of Ontario's Ministry of Health, and finally to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. But what makes his story remarkable isn't the titles. It's what he did with the unexpected turns. In this episode, John and Sue explore what it really means to stay open to opportunity, why every leader has a responsibility to mentor, and why — after everything he has seen — John believes the single most important investment a leader can make today is in their people. About John King: John King has over 45 years of experience in the healthcare field. After leading several hospitals in Western Canada including Foothills Medical Centre and the Calgary Regional Health Authority. John relocated to Ontario in 1999 to serve as Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. He later joined St. Michael's Hospital as EVP and Chief Administrative Officer before retiring in 2012. John is a past Chair of the CCHL Board and has received numerous honours, including the Distinguished Service Award from CCHL and The Order of the Polar Star on behalf of the King of Sweden.

    Why Great Leaders Put Their People First — John King

  12. Apr 7

    Welcome

    Welcome to the Canadian College of Health Leaders Podcast. Each month, host Sue Owen sits down with the people shaping Canada's health system exploring the experiences, decisions, and leadership lessons that define great leadership in Canadian healthcare. Through two series — In Conversation With and Real Stories — we bring you the voices and frameworks driving leadership excellence across the country. MOC Credit: Engaging and listening to the podcast entitles certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE / Fellow) to 0.5 MOC Category I credits toward their maintenance of certification requirement. New episodes drop monthly. Hit follow so you never miss one. Learn more about the Canadian College of Health Leaders at cchl-ccls.ca. Say hello on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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    11 Episodes

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About

Canada's health system runs on leadership. The CCHL Podcast exists to celebrate it, examine it, and strengthen it. Hosted by Sue Owen, CEO of the Canadian College of Health Leaders, the show brings two series to life. In Conversation With features senior health leaders from across the country reflecting on the moments and decisions that defined their careers. Real Stories puts the LEADS framework into practice told through the voices of leaders living it every day in their organizations. This is the community that makes belonging to the College so great. And now, it has a voice. MOC Credit: Engaging and listening to the podcast entitles certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE / Fellow) to 0.5 MOC Category I credits toward their maintenance of certification requirement. New episodes drop monthly. Hit follow and be part of the conversation and stay connected with us on: Official Website: https://cchl-ccls.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canadian-college-of-health-leaders/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCHL.National/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/cchl_ccls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cchl_ccls/

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