The HQ CHA Learning

Welcome to a special milestone episode of The HQ Podcast! And what better way to celebrate our 50th episode than with another inspiring and critically important conversation. Today, we dive into a topic that's rapidly reshaping all parts of our lives, including the future of healthcare: artificial intelligence (AI).
Dale’s conversation with Dr. Muhammad Mamdani, Vice President of Data Science and Advanced Analytics at Unity Health Toronto is a must listen for everyone.
To be clear, this isn’t just any discussion about AI – we’re bringing you an exclusive conversation with an organization, team, and leader that is leading the field in an area that promises to be at least part of the critical solution needed for not only healthcare’s sustainability, but its improvement and transformation. It also holds an exciting key to our health workforce challenges,
Dr. Mamdani's expertise and groundbreaking work at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine makes him the perfect guest to unpack the promises and challenges of AI in healthcare. As we ponder the potential of AI, we can't ignore the pressing Health Human Resource crisis facing healthcare systems worldwide. Does AI innovation hold the promise to alleviate this crisis, offering solutions to ensure better healthcare access and delivery for all?
Join us as we engage with Dr. Mamdani to explore this question and discuss AI’s significance in modern healthcare, its role in tackling patient data challenges, and how leaders can leverage AI ethically without compromising decision-making capabilities.
Don't miss out on this milestone episode – it's one for the books!
 
Key Discussions:
Defining AI in Healthcare: Dr. Mamdani elucidates what AI truly entails and its significance in modern healthcare.Addressing the Data Problem: We examine the role of AI in tackling the data challenges prevalent in healthcare systems.Impact on Clinicians and Health Services: Dr. Mamdani sheds light on how AI can empower clinicians and optimize healthcare services through data-driven insights.From Theory to Practice: Gain insights into the process of developing and implementing AI solutions in real-world healthcare scenarios.Translating AI into Practice: Explore practical applications of AI in healthcare, from managing emergency department volumes to optimizing patient flow and nurse staffing.Building AI Initiatives: Dr. Mamdani shares valuable insights on building successful AI initiatives, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure, teams, and organizational culture.Navigating Risks and Ethical Considerations: We discuss the ethical implications and risks associated with AI adoption in healthcare, including governance, privacy, bias, and security.
 
About Dr. Muhammad Mamdani, PharmD, MA, MPH
Vice President – Data Science and Advanced Analytics at Unity Health TorontoOdette Chair in Advanced AnalyticsFaculty Affiliate – The Vector InstituteDirector – University of Toronto Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education Medicine (T-CAIREM)Affiliate Scientist – IC/ESProfessor, University of Toronto
Dr. Mamdani is Vice President of Data Science and Advanced Analytics at Unity Health Toronto and Director of the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM). Dr. Mamdani’s team bridges advanced analytics including machine learning with clinical and management decision making to improve patient outcomes and hospital efficiency with over 50 AI solutions developed...

In episode 49 of The HQ Podcast, Dr. Allen Power, Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation at the Schlegel—University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging in Ontario and keynote speaker at the upcoming Walk With Me 2024 conference, joins us to explore the relationship between leadership, culture change, and organizational transformation all so very critical to changing our approach to long-term care and caring for our ageing population.
Dr. Power, an internationally recognized educator on transformational models of care for older adults, brings deep insight into the essence of culture change, the role of leadership in healthcare transformation, and the profound impact of these elements on long-term care and dementia care practices.
This episode of The HQ Podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in infusing more well-being into our systems of caring for those aging – because at some point, each and every one of us is going to need a system that intersects with our own values – and if we wouldn’t want to be served in our current system, how can we not be committed to changing it for our own futures, if not for those who need it today?
If you’re interested in learning more from Dr. Allen Power, be sure to connect with the upcoming Walk With Me 2024 conference taking place May 1st-3rd, 2024 in Ottawa.
 
Key Discussions:
The Essence of Culture Change: Dr. Power’s perspective on culture change and its significance in healthcare and personal passion.
Defining Transformation in Healthcare: Unpacking the buzzword 'transformation' and what it means for real-world healthcare practices.
Leadership Challenges in Healthcare and Long-Term Care: An exploration of the specific leadership challenges in these sectors and strategies for overcoming them.
Leadership’s Role in Transformation and Culture Change: How leadership can effectively drive change and the qualities leaders must embody to facilitate this process.
Approaching Aging and Dementia Care: Dr. Power's vision for long-term care and dementia care, including his call to action for stakeholders.
Employee Engagement and Wellness Post-Pandemic: Reflections on the pandemic's lessons for employee well-being and engagement in the context of cultural transformation.
 
About Dr. Allen Power
Dr. Allen Power is an internist, geriatrician, and Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation at the Schlegel—University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging in Ontario, Canada. He is also clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Rochester, NY, and an internationally recognized educator on transformational models of care for older adults, particularly those living with changing cognitive abilities.
Dr. Power’s book, Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care was named a 2010 Book of the Year by the American Journal of Nursing. His second book, Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being was released by Health Professions Press in 2014 and the second edition of Dementia Beyond Drugs was released in 2017. He has given workshops and seminars on this topic in 18 countries across 5 continents.
Dr. Power is also a trained musician and songwriter with four recordings. Peter, Paul and Mary performed his song of elder autonomy, “If You Don’t Mind”, and Walter Cronkite used his song, “I’ll Love You Forever” in a 1995 Discovery Channel profile of American families. He also recently co-wrote the songs for singer/songwriter Anne Hills’ 2021 album, Accidental August, and their song, “Witness” was composed for the 2022 Pioneer/Green House conference.
Dr. Power is currently working with Dr. Jennifer Carson and Pat Sprigg on a new book about creating...

In this thought-provoking episode of The HQ podcast, we dive into one of the critical topics surrounding the future of healthcare delivery and a key solution out of  the health human resource (HHR) crisis healthcare is facing today. With a special focus on the concepts of models of care and scope of practice, we explore the challenges and practical solutions to reshaping the healthcare landscape to meet current needs and address the burning question: are we utilizing our healthcare workforce in the most effective way possible?
Joining us for this conversation is Suzanne Madore, a remarkable health leader with 33 years of nursing experience, who has risen through the ranks to become the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Executive for The Ottawa Hospital (TOH). Suzanne brings with her to the conversation her unique leadership experience from a bedside nurse to a key figure tackling healthcare’s most significant challenges, such as surgical wait times, staff burnout, and hospital occupancy.
Join us for this insightful conversation as we explore the future of care delivery with one of healthcare’s most forward-thinking leaders.
Key Discussions:
Tackling the Health Workforce Crisis: An in-depth look at HHR challenges including demographics, turnover, recruitment, and how these issues contribute to the current state of crisis in healthcare.Hard Truths and Impetus for Change: Suzanne addresses the hard truths health system leaders need to face and what drives the need for innovative solutions in today’s healthcare crisis.Evolution of Clinical Models of Care: A journey through the history and evolution of clinical models of care, spotlighting the shift towards team-based models and its implications for healthcare delivery.Operational Challenges and Solutions: From an operational standpoint, we discuss the complexities of implementing new care models and how they affect various roles within the healthcare system.Cultural Impact and Workforce Response: An exploration of how these changes affect the hospital's culture and the overall response from the workforce.Advice for Future Leaders: Suzanne offers her wisdom to other leaders, particularly HR leaders, who aim to make a difference in the healthcare landscape.
 
About Suzanne Madore:
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Executive at The Ottawa Hospital
Suzanne Madore stands as a beacon of leadership and innovation within Canada’s largest academic health science centres. With a career spanning over three decades in nursing and executive roles, Suzanne’s approach to solving healthcare challenges through public-private partnerships, cross-hospital collaborations, and risk-taking has marked a significant impact on staff and patient outcomes. Her commitment to the profession and empathy for frontline staff continue to guide her work in developing new models of care and addressing healthcare’s most pressing issues.
 
Helpful Links: 
The Ottawa Hospital | Website: Click Here
The Ottawa Hospital | Social: Linkedin - Facebook - X (Formerly Twitter)
Suzanne Madore, COO & CNE at The Ottawa Hospital | LinkedIn: Click...

In episode 47 of The HQ podcast we discuss the fundamental role Canadian health research plays not only in uncovering game-changing new discoveries, but also in improving healthcare and health systems around the world.
From the discovery of insulin in 1921 to directing decades of scientific research that led to the development of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines to combat COVID-19, Canadian health research has always been a global leader. However, concerns are mounting that federal government investment in health research is no longer sufficient to develop and support Canada’s best and brightest minds as they work to uncover the discoveries that will address future challenges.
Learn as our expert panel goes “beyond the lab” to explain the importance of maintaining a strong Canadian health research ecosystem as the foundation for high-quality clinical care, a wealth generator with a tremendous return on investment, and our nation’s best defense against the next, inevitable pandemic.
About David Hill
Dr. David Hill is the integrated vice-president, Research, and scientific director of Lawson Health Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care and London Health Sciences Centre and a professor at Western University.
About Ellen Chesney
Ellen Chesney is the Chief Administrative Office – Research at the Provincial Health Services Authority in British Columbia, a $180 million research enterprise. She manages board governance and oversight of research across PHSA's eight agencies and four research institutes.
About Cindy Trytten
Cindy Trytten is Director of Research at Island Health Authority in BC where, at any one time, 30-40 clinical trials are taking place at Royal Jubilee, Victoria General and Nanaimo Hospitals. Cindy has particular expertise and interest in advancing research in Emerging Health Research Institutes in BC and Canada.
Helpful Links: 
Health research funding overview: CIHR Grants and Awards Expenditures - CIHR (cihr-irsc.gc.ca)
Background on the need for health research investment: HealthCareCAN | Federal health research funding needed - HealthCareCAN
What is health research? What is health research? - CIHR (cihr-irsc.gc.ca)
David Hill | LinkedIn: Click Here
Ellen Chesney | LinkedIn: Click Here
Cindy Trytten | LinkedIn: Click Here
 
Tell Us What You Think
We welcome your feedback about the HQ Podcast so we can continuously improve and create episodes that our listeners want to hear. Please take a few moments to fill out our short survey: Click Here
Don’t forget to subscribe to The HQ on your favourite podcast player and leave us a review!

In episode 46 of The HQ podcast, we're exploring a topic at the heart of our health and well-being: Nutrition. With March marking National Nutrition Month, we're taking a closer look at the complexities surrounding nutrition and its profound impact on our health, especially as we age.
Joining us once again is Professor Heather Keller, the Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition & Aging at the University of Waterloo. An internationally recognized expert in geriatric nutrition, Professor Keller's research spans nutrition risk, malnutrition identification and treatment, and enhancing the mealtime experience across care sectors. Her work aims to improve nutrition care processes and implement best practices, particularly among diverse groups in the community, including those living with dementia.
In this episode, we explore the essentials of nutrition and malnutrition, discussing not only the definitions but also the misconceptions surrounding these terms. The critical focus of our conversation is on the significant role nutritional health plays as we age – and what happens to seniors when it is assumed or goes unexamined by our healthcare system. Indeed, what is the impact of not diagnosing malnutrition in someone who is admitted for more than even 3 days?
Key discussion points include:
What exactly are nutrition and malnutrition, and how do they differ?The impact of hospital stays on nutrition and how they can challenge patients, particularly the elderly.The unique nutritional challenges faced by older adults with cognitive impairments.The prevalence of malnutrition among older adults and its importance.Strategies to support the nutrition of older adults post-hospitalization to promote recovery and prevent rehospitalization.
Tune in as we unpack the vital role of nutrition in our health and how we, alongside healthcare professionals, can better support the nutritional needs of older adults, ensuring a healthier, more nourishing future.
About Heather Keller
Heather is an internationally recognized expert in geriatric nutrition, assessment, and treatment. Research areas focus on nutrition risk and malnutrition identification and treatment across care sectors; improving nutrition care processes and implementing screening and other best practices; supporting food intake of diverse groups living in the community, including those living with dementia; and improving hospital and residential food and promoting food intake and the mealtime experience in these settings. Professor Keller has led several national research and knowledge translation projects, including the landmark Nutrition Care in Canadian Hospitals, More-2-Eat and Making the Most of Mealtimes in Long Term Care studies. Professor Keller has published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles and translates much of this evidence into practice with tools and resources. As a founding member and past chair/co-chair (2009-2018) of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force, she is involved in translating research into practice and advocating for improvements in nutrition care. She is currently the co-chair of the primary care working group for CMTF and involved in several national and international expert groups advancing the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition. 
 
Helpful Links
Heather Keller | LinkedIn: Click Here 
Heather Keller | Twitter: @HeatherHKeller | @nutriagelab 
Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Again (RIA) | LinkedIn: a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/schlegeluwria" rel="noopener...

In this thought-provoking episode of The HQ, we explore several different dimensions of aging and the innovations in seniors’ and long-term care and what it means to age well in Canada. For this conversation, we are joined by Zannat Reza, Director of the Future of Aging social impact team at SE Health, co-lead of the COURAGE: Action for Better Aging initiative, and host of SE Health's own podcast, The Future Age. Together, we discuss the pivotal role our healthcare leaders and organizations must play in fostering and facilitating new policies and a shift away from outdated models of care towards sustainable aging strategies, especially in light of our rapidly ageing population.
Join us as we learn from Zannat about the COURAGE: Action for Better Aging Initiative and the work being done to develop a better approach to aging and senior care across Canada. This is a fascinating conversation that is sure to get you talking as our society’s approach to aging is one that will impact us all, directly and/or through our families.
About Zannat Reza, MHSc
Zannat Reza is Director of the Future of Aging social impact team at SE Health, a not-for-profit home and community care organization, and a co-lead of the COURAGE: Action for Better Aging initiative.
Managing relationships and partners has been the cornerstone of Zannat’s career. She has worked in health communications for 25 years, including regular appearances on CBC News Network and being quoted frequently in the Toronto Star and the Canadian Press network. Before SE Health, Zannat ran a consulting company, worked at a social issues marketing agency, and managed a PR portfolio for an association. She has a Master of Health Sciences in Community Health, and her mission is to promote health and well-being to help people thrive at any age.
 
Helpful Links
Zannat Reza | LinkedIn: Click Here
Zannat Reza | Twitter: Click Here
SE Health | Website: Click Here
Future of Aging | Website: Click Here
COURAGE: Action for Better Aging | Website: Click Here
The Future Age Podcast | Website: Click Here
 
Additional Resources
Courage Action for Better Aging Roadmap for Action | Download: Click Here
Courage Action for Better Aging Discussion Paper | Download: Click here
Courage Action for Better Aging SYNERGY: Creating a New Vision for Living Report | Download : Click Here
 
Tell Us What You Think
We welcome your feedback about the HQ Podcast so we can continuously improve and create episodes that our listeners want to hear. Please take a few...