The HQ

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:Hard Truths and Impetus for Change:Evolution of Clinical Models of Care:Operational Challenges and Solutions:Cultural Impact and Workforce Response:Advice for Future Leaders: 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: 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:

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...

To kick off Season 3 of The HQ podcast, we are honoured to welcome an internationally distinguished expert in mental health, Dr. Javeed Sukhera. As Chair of Psychiatry at the Institute of Living (IOL) and Chief of Psychiatry at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut, Dr. Sukhera brings invaluable insights to our discussion about structural stigma in the healthcare system, as it relates to those who live with mental health and/or substance use challenges. Structural stigma impacts our ability to provide high-quality, equitable care and service, across all parts of the health system. So, why does it persist – and why does it persist in our healthcare organizations and systems? What is getting in the way of equitable care and unbiased treatment for all? In this episode, Dr. Sukhera explores with us the nuances of structural stigma, identifies key structural barriers that exist within the health system, and discusses strategies that can help us dismantle these barriers at a systemic level to improve care for all. This episode is a must-listen for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and anyone who is passionate about transforming mental health care in Canada. Tune in to The HQ Podcast Season 3 for this eye-opening discussion and join us in creating a future where mental health care is free from stigma and bias. Don't miss out – listen, learn, and be part of the change! About Dr. Sukhera Dr. Javeed Sukhera is the Chair of Psychiatry at the Institute of Living (IOL) and Chief of Psychiatry at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. In his role as Chair/Chief, Dr. Sukhera is responsible for advancing the IOL's clinical, research, and educational missions including training programs in psychiatry, psychology, social work, and nursing, as well as several endowed research centers. Dr. Sukhera is an internationally recognized health professions education researcher and thought leader. His research program explores novel approaches to addressing stigma and bias among health professionals and he has also been involved in advocacy and cross-sectoral work in education, policing, and community services. He is on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Canadian Medical Association Journal and Deputy Editor of the journal Perspectives on Medical Education. Helpful Links Dr. Javeed Sukhera | LinkedIn: Click Here Dr. Javeed Sukhera| Twitter: Click Here Mental Health Commission of Canada | Website: Click Here FREE Mental Health Structural Stigma in Healthcare eLearning Course | CHA Learning: Click Here Additional Resources Champions and Changemakers: Real-World Examples | MHCC Website: Click Here Dismantling...

Welcome to Episode 43 of The HQ. In this heartening episode, we are joined by Zofia Dove, a seasoned expert in Geriatric and Palliative Care with over 30 years of international healthcare experience. Through her best-selling book "Unexpected Gifts" and numerous speaking engagements, Zofia emphasizes the importance of compassionate communication, especially in caring for those in the final stages of life. Throughout our heartfelt conversation, we explore the critical importance of finding and providing joy through compassionate care, especially for those facing life's most challenging moments. Zofia’s insights and deep understanding of the human condition, particularly as it relates to aging, death, and dying, offer a fresh perspective on the final stages of life and the privilege of caring for people in those stages. These insights underscore the significance of joy, laughter, and human connection in these profound moments. Tune in as we explore the power of compassion, the experience and provision of joy in palliative and end-of-life care, the role of humour in easing difficult situations, and the significance of spirituality in healthcare. About Zofia Dove Zofia Dove has over 30 years of international experience in Health Care Systems, specifically in Geriatric and Palliative Care. During this time, she has touched the lives of thousands of people in a profound way. She has brought joy and laughter to many patients at the most critical time of their lives. Zofia’s deep understanding of the human condition, as it is related to ageing, death and dying, makes her an unexpected gift to everyone she is in contact with. She is an inspiring, empowering and entertaining speaker, who brings more light, love and laughter to some serious topics. She shares her passion on the power of humour in communication. She brings this new perspective to institutional leadership, business and healthcare professionals, teams and caregivers through her talks and training programs. Zofia is the best selling author of “Unexpected Gifts”, a book inspired by interactions and experiences with her clients. Her passion is to teach more effective communication skills, especially for those caring for clients in transition. Helpful Links Zofia Dove | LinkedIn: Click Here Zofia Dove | Website: Click Here Unexpected Gifts | Book: Click Here People Centred Care Program | CHA Learning: 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 42 of The HQ podcast, we are joined by Kevin Hayes, Senior Advisor, Clinical Ethics at the University Integrated Health and Social Services Centre for West-Central Montreal. What happens when healthcare professionals step into someone else's home? During our conversation, we explore the concept of "home" and the ethical complexities of providing services in a place that is home to others and how to address issues of discrimination, racism or abuse when it happens in a “home” environment. Tune in as we engage with Kevin, an expert clinical ethicist, to explore the intricacies of providing healthcare in someone's home, in navigating the ethical dilemmas and challenges that come with it. Join us and learn what leaders can do to support staff wellness and safety in challenging situations like this. About Kevin Hayes Kevin is the Senior Advisor, Clinical Ethics at the University Integrated Health and Social Services Centre for West-Central Montreal (aka the CIUSSS) where he has worked since 2018. Kevin has a M.Sc in Experimental Medicine with a specialization in Bioethics from McGill University, graduating in 2013. He has been active in various frontline and senior management positions in the field of health & social services since 1985 including Coordinator of Professional services, ombudsperson and chair of the clinical ethics committee at CLSC Rene-Cassin (a “local community service centre”), Director of Multidisciplinary services at CSSS Cavendish (a “Health and Social Service Centre”), as well as Associate Director of Academic affairs at the CIUSSS West Central Montreal Health. Helpful Links Kevin Hayes | LinkedIn: Click Here CIUSSS | Website: Click Here Long-Term Care Executive Leadership Program | CHA Learning: Click Here People Centred Care Program | CHA Learning: 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!

For Episode 41 of The HQ Podcast, we have the privilege of welcoming Kathleen Ledoux, a distinguished nurse with extensive experience in clinical, leadership, and academic roles, to engage in a discussion on compassion in healthcare. Kathleen, who has published both research and commentary on compassion, explores with us what it is to be compassionate, where compassion comes from, and its integral connection to the delivery of high-quality healthcare and leadership. In the lead-up to and during the pandemic, healthcare professionals faced both physical and mental exhaustion, experiencing firsthand the profound effects and impact of burnout. How do these effects influence the capacity of our healthcare professionals to experience and express compassion, and in turn, how does this impact the quality of care provided? Tune in as Kathleen discusses these questions and offers actionable solutions for addressing this critical issue. About Kathleen Ledoux Kathleen Ledoux is a nurse who has had multiple and diverse experiences over the course of her career. She has been a clinical nurse, a nurse leader and most recently, a nurse academic. Among many accomplishments, Kathleen is most proud of attaining her Ph.D. at a time when she might have contemplated retirement. During the course of her PhD Kathleen became immersed in learning about compassion: its effects and benefits, how it can be learned, and how to implement it in both one’s professional and personal realms. To that end, she completed a year-long program at Stanford University’s Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research to learn how to teach others how to be compassionate. She has published both research and commentary on compassion. Kathleen is currently an Adjunct Research Professor and Research Coordinator at Western University, Canada. It is her intention to spend this next portion of her career helping others to learn how they might lead a more compassionate life, writing about, and researching compassion. Helpful Links Kathleen Ledoux | LinkedIn: Click Here The Compassion Institue: Click Here People-Centred Care | CHA Learning Online Program: 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!

Welcome to episode 40 of The HQ Podcast! In this episode, we continue our special series exploring the critical and compelling issues equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in healthcare. Our conversation moves beyond the need for these principles; it focuses on the actionable steps organizations can take to enable genuine culture change. As previous guests of The HQ have pointed out, creating inclusive workspaces is not only a socially just thing to do, it is also good for business. So, how do we transform EDI from being a mere buzzword into a lived experience shared by all? How can organizations not only attract a diverse workforce but also foster an environment where everyone feels they belong? What does it take to get everyone on board? These are important questions because while so many conversations right now are about “recruitment,” belonging is ultimately about retention. To answer these questions and more, we are joined by two distinguished guests: Beverly Kravitz and Christine Morin. These leaders from the University Integrated Health and Social Services Centre for West-Central Montreal (CIUSSS) share their journey, the challenges they've encountered, and the strategies they've implemented as part of their initiative to foster a work culture centred on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the firsthand experiences of professionals making substantial contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare. About Beverly Kravitz Beverly Kravitz, reporting directly to the CEO, is the Director of Human Resources, Communications, Legal Affairs and Global Security for the University Integrated Health and Social Services Centre for West-Central Montreal (CIUSSS). She has held this position since the 'CIUSSS’ creation in 2015. Our institution is comprised of 9 healthcare institutions and 34 member facilities, among them an internationally renowned acute-care hospital (Jewish General Hospital), frontline clinics, rehabilitation and long-term care sites, as well as university-affiliated research institutions. Our over 13,000 employees provide a seamless continuum of care to the patients, residents and users in their territory, a population of nearly 400,000 in one of Canada’s most diverse catchments. Ms. Kravitz began her legal career in 1988, after having completed her civil and common law studies at McGill University. She joined the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) Foundation in 2002 after 15 years of legal experience in the private sector. She was Director of Planned Giving, Strategic Planning and General Counsel with the JGH Foundation until 2007, at which time she was appointed as the hospital’s Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs, a position she held until the creation of the CIUSSS in 2015. Ms. Kravitz completed the Authentic Leadership Development Program and Leading High Performance Health Care Organizations, two professional development courses with the HarvardBusinessSchool. In 2022, she completed the NIHI McMaster Connected Health and IoT course and is currently completing a course on Solving Business Problems Using People Analytics. Ms. Kravitz is known for her strong leadership and strategic skills, has an effective management style and a solid approach to conflict resolution, mediation and negotiation. She places great importance on providing a safe, healthy, stimulating and fulfilling work environment that fosters teamwork and mutual support among colleagues. She takes great pride in having led the JGH to be recognized as one of Montreal’s Top Employers every year since 2013. About Christine Morin Christine Morin has been trained in Social Work and has taught psychosocial intervention for approximately 18 years in Quebec, where she conducted several institutional projects linked to inclusion of diversity in higher education. In the past 10 years,...

In Episode 39 of The HQ podcast, we dive into a vital discussion on “Just Culture” with David Marx, the celebrated thought leader who is considered by many to be the “father of just culture” in contemporary healthcare. Together, we unravel the intricacies of Just Culture—what it is, why it is critical in high-consequence industries such as healthcare, and how it can be fostered. David guides us through strategies for developing a culture that emphasizes not just safety but justice, managing risks, and enhancing accountability. Throughout the conversation, David provides his insights on how healthcare leaders and organizations can develop high-reliability systems that prioritize a Just Culture with the aim of better outcomes for all involved. Key to the conversation is also a very interesting discussion of the relationship between Just Culture and psychological safety – how they are importantly different, yet how they can complement one another. This episode isn't just for healthcare professionals and leaders but for anyone invested in cultivating a fair, empathetic, and safe culture in any type of organization. Tune in to be enlightened, challenged, and inspired by an expert who has devoted his career to improving safety and reducing risks, all in the pursuit of a more just and compassionate healthcare landscape. About David Marx David Marx is CEO of The Just Culture Company, a U.S.-based risk management firm. David has a BS in Mechanical Systems Engineering (1985) and Juris Doctor in Law (1997). David’s firm currently spends the majority of its effort on helping high-consequence organizations develop values-supportive practices and culture. In the healthcare sector, David has been working to help healthcare institutions and regulatory agencies reduce the risk of iatrogenic patient harm. He was on the Board of Advisors for the National Patient Safety Foundation and won the Institute of Safe Medication Practices’ Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on medication safety. In the area of healthcare safety culture, David authored the document, “Patient Safety and the ‘Just Culture’: A Primer for Healthcare Executives,” for the National Institutes of Health, and is considered the “father of just culture” in contemporary healthcare. Helpful Links David Marx | LinkedIn: Click Here The Just Culture Company | Website: Click Here The Just Culture Company | LinkedIn: Click Here Article: Reckless Homicide at Vanderbilt, a Just Culture Analysis | Click Here Article: Nine Behavioral Benchmarks Tied to Successful Implementation of a Just Culture within a Healthcare Organization | 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!

About This Episode In Episode 38 of The HQ podcast, we have the honour of engaging with Stephanie Nixon, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Director of the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen's University. Throughout our conversation, Stephanie expertly guides us through the complexities of privilege and allyship shedding light on their significance and their relevance to healthcare before inviting us to consider why this may not be the right desired outcome. Instead – spoiler alert – she introduces the concept of “co-liberatorship” and why this may be a better way through systemic power dynamics. One of the highlights of our discussion is the introduction of the Coin Model of Privilege (see link in show notes). This powerful model helps us understand how social structures can simultaneously produce unearned advantages and disadvantages. Stephanie's illustration of the Coin Model provides invaluable insight into the dynamics of privilege, and how it can be used to guide the actions of people in positions of privilege for resisting the unjust structures that create health inequities. Join us for this eye-opening episode as we explore privilege and how we can become better allies and co-liberators in creating a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system for all. About Stephanie Nixon Stephanie Nixon, PhD is Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Director of the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Prior to taking on this role in July 2022, she was a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto for 15 years. Stephanie has been a physiotherapist and activist scholar for 25 years. She completed her PhD in Public Health and Bioethics in 2006 at the University of Toronto, and a post-doc at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa in 2008. Stephanie is a straight, white, middle class, able-bodied, cisgender, settler woman who tries to understand the pervasive effects of privilege. In particular, she explores how systems of oppression shape health and community care, research and education, and the role of people in positions of unearned advantage in disrupting these harmful patterns. Stephanie developed the Coin Model of Privilege and Critical Allyship as a way to translate core ideas about anti-oppression and anti-racism to people in positions of unearned advantage. Helpful Links Stephanie Nixon | LinkedIn: Click Here Stephanie Nixon | Twitter: Click Here Stephanie Nixon | Queen's University Faculty Page: Click Here Coin Model of Privilege & Critical Allyship | Article: Click Here Coin Model Resources | Google Doc: 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:

In this thought-provoking episode of The HQ podcast, we examine the crucial relationship between healthcare and the environment. Canada’s healthcare system stands as one of the largest energy consumers, purchasers of goods, and employers, giving it a significant role in both the environmental challenges we face and influencing the potential solutions we can embrace. In episode 37, we are joined by a panel of experts from HealthPro Canada and Health Proc Europe who are leading the way in helping healthcare organizations implement practical strategies and innovative approaches to integrate sustainability into their practices. Tune in to gain valuable insights as our panellists discuss solutions for reducing the healthcare system's impact on our environment and discover how we can all contribute to building a greener and healthier future. About Kendra Frey Kendra Frey is Vice President, Materials Management at HealthPRO Canada. As Vice President of Materials Management, Kendra is responsible for the strategic oversight of several business units under HealthPRO’s Materials Management portfolio, including Clinical, Support Services, Nutrition and Food Services, Capital Equipment and Signature Services. In this capacity, she drives new strategies to deliver the best value to members. Kendra is a certified Supply Chain Management Professional and holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Management Economics from the University of Guelph. About Alam Hallan Alam Hallan is the Clinical Director at HealthPRO Canada and is a driving force in the realm of sustainability with a rich blend of experience in pharmacy, biotechnology, and business. With almost a decade in the pharmacy and clinical research space, Alam broadened his horizons with an MBA from Oxford University. This global educational journey ignited his passion for sustainability, prompting him to integrate these principles into his professional endeavours. Alam is a seasoned veteran in leading successful digital transformations within the pharmacy sector. He's keen on leveraging his tech skills to nurture environmentally responsible initiatives and bridge the gap between healthcare and sustainability. About Elisa Frenz Elisa Frenz is the Chief Executive Officer of Health Proc Europe. Elisa’s mission is to humanize patient care by creating valuable, collaborative and transparent health ecosystems. Elisa advises organizations in the healthcare sector from corporate to start up level on an international scale, and, with her entrepreneurial mindset, she brings bold ideas to life, leveraging multi-stakeholder connections across industries, with the aim to accelerate digital transformation. Helpful Links Kenrda Frey | LinkedIn: Click Here Alam Hallan | LinkedIn: Click Here Elisa Frenz | LinkedIn: Click Here HealthPro Canada | Website: Click Here Health Proc Europe | Website: 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:

About this Episode In episode 36 of The HQ podcast, Jeffrey Moat, CEO of Pallium Canada, joins us for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about palliative care. Throughout our conversation, we discuss palliative care's "brand problem", how palliative care and those who provide it have been affected by the pandemic, and how the palliative care approach, one of the best examples of team-based care, can be applied at every stage of treatment and diagnosis, and how it can help with our current health workforce challenges. Tune in as we dive into this often skirted-around and poorly understood topic to uncover the critical role palliative care plays in the health continuum and its significance in the broader conversations surrounding leadership and our health workforce. About Jeffrey Moat Jeff joined Pallium Canada as Chief Executive Officer in 2017 where he brings 30 years of experience in creating organizational excellence, compelling social change programs and increasing consumer engagement within the not-for-profit, private sector and NGO industries. Previous to this, Jeff joined the Mental Health Commission of Canada where he established Partners for Mental Health, the country’s first non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating a social movement to transform the way people think about mental health, and act towards people living with a mental health problem or illness. Jeff also enjoyed an eight-year tenure as National Director of Marketing for Canadian Blood Services. He spent the first half of his career in the financial services as Assistant Vice President for Citibank Canada and Bank One International and later Vice President of Marketing for Alterna Bank. Jeff is a graduate of McGill University where he received his Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Management Policy. Jeff also holds a certificate in Finance and Accounting from McGill University and has earned professional certificates in Direct Marketing and Database Marketing from York University. Jeff also has his Chartered Marketer professional designation. Helpful Links Jeffrey Moat | LinkedIn: Click Here Pallium Canada | LinkedIn: Click Here Pallium Canada | Website: Click Here The ECHO Project | Website: 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 35 of The HQ Podcast, we delve into the crucial relationship between health research and citizens (e.g. patients and families) who partner in this critical work. We explore the invaluable insights and contributions that “patient partners” bring to the table and how their involvement shapes the health research and many other healthcare decisions we all depend upon. Our guests, three exceptional leaders who are patient partners from different regions of Canada, share their experiences and perspectives, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of this collaborative process including what effective patient partnership needs to look like, how we can achieve this through approaches like relational-equity, and what value it brings to us all. Tune in as we explore what it is to be a patient partner, the enablers and barriers of becoming a patient partner, and examine the transformative effects of patient-oriented research on clinical care. This is a conversation you won't want to miss! About Beth Ciavaglia Beth is a physiotherapist who works in Quality and Risk in long-term care. Prior to that, she worked in acute care for 18 years. She is the Chair of the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, a Patient Ambassador with the Canadian Institute of Health Research and sits as a Director for Arnprior Regional Health. A four-year breast cancer survivor, she is excited for the ongoing cancer discoveries that will not only extend life but most importantly, support quality of life. About Bev Pomeroy Bev Pomeroy is a Patient Public Engagement Specialist and an uninvited settler-person on the shared, traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw territory known as its colonial name Gabriola Island, BC. Bev has a particular interest in Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and has co-developed a Trauma & Resiliency Informed Practice program for Research and Evaluation; a strengths-based approach to Patient-Oriented Research. Bev landed in patient-oriented research after her daughter, Sophia, passed away in 2017 from a rare, complex chronic condition at the age of 16. They sit on the board of BC Patient Safety Quality Council Oversight & Advisory, Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Evidence Alliance, and the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research. About Brenda Andreas With aging comes the need for primary care to manage chronic conditions. When you live in a small rural isolated community, access to primary care has many challenges and this how Brenda became interested in patient engagement and in patient-oriented research in primary care. Currently as the co-chair of the CPCRN Patient Council, Brenda has help positions which include co-principal applicant on the CIHR funded grant for the CPCRN, and member of both the Executive and Steering committees. Brenda has been involved as a co-applicant, knowledge user, and co-investigator on funded patient-oriented research since 2017. She has participated in reviewing grant submissions, developing training curriculum, measurement tools, and knowledge translation activities where she has collaborated on the design, delivery, and evaluation of these projects. Brenda is also an active patient partner within the Saskatchewan Health Authority as she is a member of the SHA Board Quality & Safely Committee, the Patient Family Leadership Council, the Accreditation Oversight Committee and the Patient Centered Measurement working group. Other health system partner organizations that Brenda partners with include Accreditation Canada (Patient Surveyor), USASK Behavioral Ethics Board (community member), Health Care Excellence Canada (Faculty member of the Virtual Care Collaborative) and with University of Manitoba College of Nursing (supporting...

Join us for episode 34 of The HQ podcast, as we welcome two esteemed health leaders, Vesna Kos, Senior Advisor, and Stevie Colvin, Manager of Organizational Development, from Alberta Health Services' Talent Management Strategies department. Together, we delve into the crucial role that coaching plays in the organizational development of AHS, exploring the relationship between leading and coaching, and the significance of developing a coaching culture. Tune in to discover why coaching is the panacea for all things related to people and culture and why it is a vital tool for driving growth and success within any organization. About Stevie Colvin MA, CEC, CTDP Born in Saskatchewan and raised in Alberta Stevie now calls Edmonton home. Stevie describes herself as a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and passionate leadership and organizational development specialist. Currently, she is the Manager of Organizational Development at AHS. In this role, her primary focus is culture change. She claims her raison d’etre is giving rise to confident people and healthy organizations. A certified coach and adult educator, and she holds a master’s degree in leadership with a focus on resilience through profound change. Stevie is a member of the International Coaching Federation and the Institute for Performance and Learning. Prior to working in Talent Management Strategies, Stevie worked at the university Hospital in Edmonton and held a variety of roles, the most challenging being the leadership of the staffing office. She claims that it was that role that ignited her passion for leadership development. While work keeps her engaged, Stevie’s family and personal pursuits keep her happy. She volunteers at Royal Roads University, coaching students and spends as much time as possible with her grandchildren. Her favourite activities include back-country hiking and camping; cross country skiing and sitting in the sunshine with a good book. About Special Guest Vesna Kos, MBA, CDC, ACC Vesna Kos is a lifelong learner who firmly believes in having a growth mindset. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a graduate certificate in Management from the Australian Institute of Business, as well as a leadership certificate from the University of Alberta. Along with her educational background, Vesna is also certified in various tools that she uses with teams and during coaching. She holds certifications in Personality Dimensions, Crucial Conversations, Resilience @ Work, Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator Step I and Step II, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, EQi-2.0 and EQ 360, as well as Trust at Work and Triscendence Trust Assessment for Leaders and Teams. Specializing in leadership and team development, Vesna has a particular passion for coaching and consulting in the areas of leadership and team effectiveness, courageous leadership, organizational culture and employee engagement, emotional intelligence, and leadership presence. With over fifteen years of experience working in a variety of industries, including government, finance, higher education, retail, consulting, and healthcare, Vesna currently works as a Senior Advisor in Alberta Health Services' Organizational Development team. Our CHA Learning Coaching Story We're excited to share an insightful article written by Dale Schierbeck, Vice President of Learning & Development at CHA Learning and host of The HQ podcast. In the article, Dale highlights the power of coaching for healthcare professionals and teams, and shares his own experience of how coaching made an impact on our very own team. If you’re looking for new ways to invest in your team and unlock their full potential, Dale’s...

In recognition of Mental Health Week 2023, we are excited to re-release one of our most popular episodes, where we dive into the pressing healthcare human resource crisis in Canada and its impact on the well-being of healthcare professionals. In this episode, we are joined by two experts who contributed to a report published by the Mental Health Commission of Canada late in 2022. The report analyzes the barriers and facilitators that healthcare workers, teams, and organizations face when trying to support psychological self-care and protect workers from moral distress. In this engaging discussion, we explore the findings of this important report and learn from a first-hand account of the dire reality healthcare professionals in Canada are facing today. We also examine the steps that need to be taken to address this crisis and support the mental and emotional well-being of those who dedicate their lives to caring for others. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing healthcare professionals and learn how we can support their mental health and well-being. The Mental Health Structural Stigma in Healthcare Micro-eLearning Course The Mental Health Structural Stigma in Healthcare Micro eLearning Course, developed in partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, is now available for FREE to those working in the Canadian health system. This course is intended for health system leaders and influencers, as well as any healthcare professional, who wants to better understand and identify structural stigma in their organization and how it contributes to inequity and poorer experiences and health outcomes for those experiencing mental health and substance use concerns. Learners can complete this online course in approximately one hour. To learn more about this course and register for free, Click Here. About Special Guest Madi Sutton Madi Sutton is a nurse who has worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She graduated from Dalhousie nursing school in 2019 and went onto work at camp hill Veterans Memorial, a long-term care facility for veterans. She then went on to work at 4.1 Halifax Infirmary Vascular and General surgery, working directly with patients undergoing surgery. Madi now works at the medial day unit in the Victoria General. This facility provides treatments such as blood product transfusions, IV antibiotics, iron infusions, and various types of chemotherapy. Although Madi has not worked on a unit designated for COVID-19 patients exclusively, every unit she has worked on has experienced the impacts of working directly with COVID-19 positive patients, navigating COVID policy changes, and struggling through staffing shortages. About Special Guest Colleen Grady Dr. Grady is a researcher focused on physician leadership development, psychological health and safety in the workplace, and functional healthcare organizations. She holds master and doctoral degrees in business administration and her current work supports the post-graduate program in the Department of Family Medicine (DFM), the evaluation of Ontario Health Teams, Indigenous health, and collaboration among family physicians to inform system integration. Helpful Links Colleen Grady | Twitter: Click Here Madi Sutton | LinkedIn:

On Episode 32 of The HQ Podcast, we're pleased to be joined by Dr. Christopher McCabe, Professor of Health Economics at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and renowned health economics leader. During our conversation, we discuss the notion of "value" as it relates to healthcare (what it is, why it's important, how we measure it) and the crucial questions that need to be asked when it comes to designing or re-building a healthcare system that not only produces the best outcomes for taxpayers but also considers the critical health professionals who ultimately will deliver the healthcare priorities that Canadians need to agree upon. Tune in for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation that will leave you with a deeper understanding of healthcare economics, value and the questions we need to ask to rebuild a better healthcare system. About Chris McCabe Dr. Christopher McCabe is Professor of Health Economics at Queens University Belfast, jointly appointed to the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences and Queens Management School. He was previously the CEO and Executive Director of the Institute of Health Economics, a not-for-profit research institute in Alberta Canada. Dr. McCabe has 30 years’ experience as a university based health economist. He trained and worked for 20 years in the UK before emigrating to Canada. His PhD was concerned with the methods for valuing paediatric health. During his time in the UK, he held Full Professorships at the Universities of Sheffield, Warwick and Leeds. In the United Kingdom he was the founding Director of both the NICE Decision Support Unit, and the Academic Unit of Health Economics at the University of Leeds. He was more recently a Professor of Health Economics at the University of Alberta, where he was appointed to the Capital Health Endowed Research Chair. Dr. McCabe has contributed to a number of standard setting documents related to the evaluation of innovative health technologies including the second edition of the NICE Guide to the Methods of Health Technology Appraisal, the fourth edition of the CADTH Guidelines for the Economic Evaluation of Health Technologies, and third edition of the ISSC Guidelines for the translation of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. He was lead author of the 2018 CADTH Guideline on the economic evaluation of co-dependent therapies. He has contributed key papers to the literature the reimbursement of treatments for rare diseases. More recently Dr. McCabe advised the Patented Medicines Price Review Board on the technical issues related to the revision of their regulations for setting the price of patented drugs in Canada. He is currently Chair of the Royal Society of Canada COVID Task Force Working Group on the Economy, and a member of the same task force’s Working Group on Health Care post-COVID. Helpful Links Chris McCabe | 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!

Welcome to Episode 31 of The HQ Podcast! We're excited to have Heather Keller, Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition & Aging at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute of Aging, and professor at the University of Waterloo, join us for a special #NutritionMonth discussion about food and the importance of thinking beyond nutrition when it comes to mealtimes in long-term care homes. Heather shares with us her ground-breaking research and work around CHOICE+ – a set of six guiding principles designed to enhance the mealtime experience for long-term care residents. With several provinces planning to make massive capital investments in long-term care facilities, this research couldn't come at a better time. Heather explains how her findings can be applied to both existing homes and new builds and renovations all with the goal of ensuring that all residents, including those suffering with dementia, can have truly fulfilling and enjoyable dining experiences and improved health outcomes. Tune in to learn more about the innovative ways Heather is improving the lives of long-term care residents and how we can all think beyond nutrition when it comes to mealtime. About Heather Keller RD PhD FDC FCAHS 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: Click Here Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Again (RIA) | Twitter: Click Here Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Again (RIA) | Facebook: Click Here Additional Resources: CHOICE+ | Website: Click Here Food Service & Nutrition Management in Healthcare | CHA Learning Program | Website: Click Here Long-Term Care Executive Leadership | CHA Learning...

In Episode 30 of The HQ Podcast, Dr. Tim Willett, President & CEO of Simulation Canada, joins us to discuss the role of simulation in addressing critical healthcare human resource challenges. Throughout our conversation, Dr. Willett shares how simulation can improve the supply of healthcare professionals, prepare new hires for their roles, and support the health and wellness of our current health workforce. Tune in as we explore the numerous opportunities that the emerging and rapidly evolving field of simulation-based education has to offer, including its ability to reduce training costs, improve quality, safety, and health outcomes, and prepare healthcare professionals for future global health threats. About Dr. Timothy Willett, MD, MMEd President & CEO | Simulation Canada Dr. Timothy Willett is Simulation Canada’s President & CEO (from 2016) and was previously the inaugural Director of Research & Development. Tim has been working at the intersection of healthcare education, technology and leadership since 2005. He is passionate about the transformational (and overdue) value simulation is bringing to the healthcare education and delivery sectors. As President & CEO, Tim is responsible for the leadership and day-to-day operations. He is honoured to be part of this small but mighty team and the network’s passionate nation-wide community. Tim received his MD from the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Medical Education from the University of Dundee, Scotland. He has served as a curriculum developer and educational researcher for the University of Ottawa, CRI Critical Care Education Network, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He has served on the Executive Committee and as Co-Chair of the Competency Working Group of the MedBiquitous Consortium. Tim is privileged to live on the land of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, in the territory covered by the Rideau Purchase (Treaties 27 and 27-1/4), where he endeavours to teach his 3 children about stewardship of the land. Helpful Links Tim | LinkedIn: Click Here Tim | Email: Click Here Simulation Canada | LinkedIn: Click Here Simulation Canada | Twitter: Click Here Simulation Canada | Website: Click Here Additional Resources: Tips - Simulation Canada | Website: 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 this special two-part episode of The HQ podcast, we examine the state of our health human resource (HHR) data and information and explore how our HHR data is being collected and used by our healthcare and system leaders across Canada to make decisions about our health workforce and our future needs. To discuss this, we're thrilled to welcome back Steve Ashton, Vice-President of People & Organization Development at the IWK Health Centre, and joining him is Tony Bennett, Executive Director for HR Analytics & Planning with Alberta Health Services. Both Steve and Tony are senior HR executives and bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to human resource analytics and workforce planning in healthcare. Tune in as they discuss their perspectives and share their insights on the importance of data-driven decision-making as it relates to our health workforce, and how they see the current state of health human resource information. Don't miss out on this informative and thought-provoking discussion as we all get curious about our health workforce data and where it can lead us! About Steve Ashton Steve Ashton is the Vice-President of People & Organization Development at the IWK Health Centre. IWK serves women, children, and youth in Atlantic Canada. Prior to the IWK, Steve held senior HR leadership roles with Bell Aliant, where he helped develop a multi-year Learning Strategy, as well as Leadership Development & Succession programs. He was previously a Partner with Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette working in executive search and career transition. Steve has a wealth of education that includes a bachelor’s in psychology, an MBA, and is a graduate of Harvard’s program on Leading Change and Organizational Renewal. Steve Ashton joined us for Episode 9 of The HQ podcast to discuss Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Listen here! About Tony Bennett Tony is the Executive Director for HR Analytics & Planning with Alberta Health Services as well as being a CPHR and UVic graduate with a Master’s in Public Administration. HR Analytics & Planning leads and supports evidence-based people decision-making, planning and action within AHS and its leadership through workforce data management, deeper analytics, workforce planning and organization design. Tony has worked in HR for over 30 years covering compensation, labour relations, organization design, HRIS, human capital metrics, strategy/policy development and general human resources operations and administration. He strongly believes Human Resources provides important value added, innovative services to an organization through the development and management of strategy-based services while providing practical value to their clients. Helpful Links Steve Ashton | LinkedIn: Click Here Tony Bennet | LinkedIn: Click Here IWK Health Centre | Website: Click Here IWK Health Centre | Twitter: Click Here Alberta Health Services | Website: Click Here Alberta Health Services | Twitter: Click Here Additional Resources:...