Digital health journalism plays a crucial role in shaping how the public understands and engages with health innovation. In this episode, we sit down with two journalists to explore the stories behind the stories – and untangle the complex relationship between health, media, and the public.

Guests:

Chris Hannay, Health Business Reporter, Globe and Mail

Nick Tsergas, Editor, Canada Healthwatch

Learn More:

"Your data is unwell," Chris Hannay, The Globe and Mail, April 4, 2025

"Doctors turn to social media to help patients where they’re at," Samantha Edwards, The Globe and Mail, April 4, 2025

Canada Healthwatch

Canadian Medical Association: Healthcare For Real

Summary:

00:00 Introduction to Digital Health Canada Podcast

01:00 Meet the Journalists: Chris Hannay's Journey

03:27 Nick Tsergas: From Nursing to Health Journalism

08:44 The Intersection of Health and Business

14:23 Challenges in Health System Literacy

19:06 Trust and Misinformation in Health Media

24:53 Under-Reported Stories and Their Impact

33:14 Public Awareness and Media Influence

36:11 Reflections and Future of Digital Health

Music: RetroFuture Clean and Breakdown, by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

Digital Health Canada's Setting the Winning Conditions for AI-powered Healthcare report summarizes actionable insights from interviews with eight leading healthcare organizations implementing AI. In this episode, we dive into those conditions and their implications—learning what sets winning AI implementations apart.

Guests:

• Muhammad Mamdani, Vice President of Data Science and Advanced Analytics, Unity Health Toronto
• Ted Scott, Vice President Innovation and Partnerships, Hamilton Health Sciences

Learn More:

Setting the Winning Conditions for AI-Powered Healthcare (report)

Unity Health Toronto

Hamilton Health Sciences 

Episode Summary

01:16 Meet the Experts: Career Journeys

03:00 Challenges in Health Care: From Theory to Practice

08:55 Data Challenges and Privacy Concerns

13:08 Building Trust and Equity in Healthcare

20:11 Defining Value in Healthcare

24:37 Evaluating and Scaling AI Solutions

27:42 Future of AI in Canadian Health Care

29:40 Advice for AI Adoption in Healthcare

35:14 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Music: RetroFuture Clean and Breakdown, by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

It's a special edition of Digital Health in Canada! Join us for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the 25th e-Health Conference and Tradeshow. Get all the conference buzz, insights, and highlights, and find out why this is the place to be if you're a digital health professional.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this episode's interviews! 

Learn More: e-Health Conference and Tradeshow

Episode Summary:

00:44 Behind the Scenes at eHealth 2025

01:10 On the Spot Interviews: First Impressions

05:27 Memories and Milestones: Past Presidents Speak

12:51 Patient Partners and Their Impact

13:29 Conversations at the Ask a Patient Partner Booth

17:11 Innovators Share Their Insights

27:59 Looking Forward to eHealth 2026 in Halifax

29:35 50th Anniversary Wishes and Closing Remarks

Music: RetroFuture Clean, Breakdown, How it Begins, Dreamer, and Equatorial Complex, all by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

Digital Health Canada turns 50 this year! This season on the podcast, we are exploring how far we’ve come and re-imagining where we can go next – as an association and a sector. To kick off the party, we welcome two Digital Health Canada presidents, from the association’s early and current days. 

Guests:

• Denis Protti, Professor Emeritus, Health Information Science, University of Victoria
• Chris Carvalho, CEO, Carveira Group Consulting Inc.

Learn More:

Health Information Science at the University of Victoria

Digital Health Canada's 50th Anniversary celebrations

Episode Summary:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:22 Celebrating 50 Years of Digital Health Canada

00:47 Meet the Presidents: Denis Protti and Chris Carvalho

07:44 Founding the Health Information Science Program

15:47 The Early Days of Digital Health Canada (COACH)

22:59 The Evolution of Digital Health Canada

28:03 Reflections on Leadership and Progress

36:29 Digital Health Canada's 50th Anniversary Celebrations

38:14 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Music: RetroFuture Clean and Breakdown, by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

Interoperable? Try international. Join this continent-crossing conversation as we explore international digital health strategies and what learning about other countries’ health systems can teach us about our own.

Guests:

• Derek Ritz, Principal Consultant, ecGroup Inc.
• Liz Keen, Head of Clinical Governance - Transformation and Innovation, Infosys Consulting

Learn More:

• Digital Health Canada: The Core Competencies of Health Informatics
• Changing the conversation on evaluating digital transformation in healthcare: Insights from an institutional analysis
• Fair Society, Healthy Lives (the Marmot Review)

Episode Summary:

00:00 Introduction to Digital Health in Canada

00:44 Guest Introductions: Derek Ritz and Liz Keen

01:45 Career Journeys in Digital Health

06:43 Global Perspectives on Healthcare Systems

11:09 Challenges and Innovations in Digital Health

18:10 Lessons from International Healthcare Systems

22:33 The Future of Digital Health

34:37 Advice for Aspiring Digital Health Professionals

38:59 Co-Host Reflections

Music: RetroFuture Clean and Breakdown, by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

 

Canada’s health policy landscape is dynamic, nuanced, and continuously evolving. What do health care leaders need to know about this space, and what key topics are lighting up dashboards – or slipping under the radar? 

Guests:

• Helen Angus, Chief Executive Officer, AMS Healthcare
• Rosalie Wyonch, Associate Director of Research, C.D. Howe Institute 

Learn More:

• AMS Healthcare
• C.D. Howe Institute
• Data Disarray: The root of health data dysfunction in Canada (Alberta Virtual Care Coordinating Body)

Music: RetroFuture Clean and Breakdown, by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

Episode Summary:

00:00 Welcome to Digital Health in Canada

00:50 Introducing Our Guests: Helen and Rosalie

01:19 Rosalie's Journey: From Economist to Health Policy Leader

03:37 Helen's Path: From Urban Planning to Healthcare Leadership

05:07 The Role of Policy in Digital Health

06:53 Lessons from the Pandemic: Rapid Digital Health Transformation

08:40 Challenges and Opportunities in Policy Implementation

22:55 Leadership in Healthcare: Skills and Inspiration

26:16 Accountability and Incentives in Healthcare

29:33 Breaking Down Silos: A System-Wide Approach

38:20 Final Thoughts and Advice for Healthcare Leaders

 

Data drives our health system – and digital health research is a formidable engine for innovation! In today’s episode, we explore how research turns into impact, knowledge spurs action, and what leaders need to know to support the next generation of digital health professionals. 

Guests:

• Dr. Kimberlyn McGrail, Professor, UBC School of Population and Public Health; CEO and Scientific Director, Health Data Research Network Canada
• Dr. Tracie Risling, Associate Dean of Innovation, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary; president-elect, Canadian Nurses Association

Learn more:

• Canadian Medical Association 2025 Health and media annual tracking survey
• World Economic Forum: Global Risks Report 2025

Music: RetroFuture Clean and Breakdown, by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

Summary:

00:00 Introduction to Digital Health in Canada

01:43 Guest Journeys: From Journalism to Nursing and Beyond

03:55 Mentorship and Inspiration in Academia

07:45 Learning from Students: Fail Space and Connectivity

14:02 Impact of Research on Policy and Practice

16:30 Knowledge Mobilization and Applied Health Research

27:52 Equity and Access in Digital Health

35:30 Key Messages for Health Research Enthusiasts

38:42 Conclusion and Reflections

When it comes to health system transformation, the frontlines are at the forefront. Explore how clinical expertise and leadership drive innovation as two physician leaders share their journeys – and what past lessons we need to carry into our future health systems

Guests: 

• Dr. Chandi Chandrasena, Chief Medical Officer, OntarioMD
• Dr. Lisa Bryski, former emergency department physician

Learn more:

• OntarioMD
• Physician Burnout: Potential Causes & Solutions

Music: RetroFuture Clean and Breakdown, by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

Summary:

00:00 Meet the Hosts and Guests 02:08 Challenges and Mentorship in Medicine 06:01 Digital Health Technologies in Practice 07:22 Adoption and Evolution of EMRs 11:45 The Role of Change Management 23:59 Leadership and Public Health During COVID-19 28:07 Lessons from the Pandemic 35:51 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

Technology has long been used to provide access to mental health care: from telephone and texting lines, to emerging solutions integrating AI. But as more people in Canada need mental health support—and encounter barriers to access—how are digital health solutions evolving to meet these challenges? Two leaders share their organizations' missions and their career journeys through the e-mental health space.

Guests:

• Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie, President and CEO, Strongest Families Institute
• Maggie Inrig, Senior Director, Population Mental Health Innovation, Stepped Care Solutions

Learn More:

Strongest Families Institute

Stepped Care Solutions 

A Generation at Risk: The State of Youth Mental Health in Canada - Mental Health Research Canada report

The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 - Canadian Mental Health Association report

Music:  RetroFuture Clean and Breakdown, by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

Summary:   00:00 Introduction to Digital Health in Canada 00:55 Introducing the Guests: Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie and Maggie Inrig 04:13 The Evolution of Digital Health Solutions 08:44 Leveraging AI and Technology for Mental Health 11:33 Capacity Building and Team Development 14:53 Balancing Flexibility and Evidence-Based Practices 18:42 The Importance of Co-Design 22:07 Optimism and Challenges in Mental Health 31:18 Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook

When entrepreneurship and patient care meet, startups are driving innovation, spreading new models of care, and offering creative solutions to shared challenges. Join us to hone your entrepreneurial skills, learn from two leading innovaors - and spark your next great idea.

Guests:

• Chenny Xia, CEO, Gotcare
• Rick Menassa, CEO, iCare Home Health and Health Espresso

Learn More:

Gotcare

iCare Home Health

Health Espresso

Music:  RetroFuture Clean and Breakdown, by Kevin MacLeod. Used under Creative Commons.

Summary:

00:52 Meet the Innovators: Chenny Xia and Rick Menassa 01:32 Journey to Entrepreneurship in Healthcare 03:01 Innovative Approaches in Home Care 08:00 Defining and Evolving Startups 14:36 Building Trust and Relationships 25:10 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 29:42 Reflections and Takeaways