As primary care systems across Canada face mounting pressure, new technologies are offering a pathway to relief and renewal. This session spotlights the AI Scribe Investment Program, a pan-Canadian initiative that is equipping primary care providers with ambient AI tools to reduce clinical documentation burdens and reconnect clinicians with the heart of care: their patients. Join health system leaders and front-line clinicians as they share progress from Quebec and Nova Scotia. Panelists will reflect on implementation successes, challenges, and early outcomes. The discussion will explore how public-private collaboration is enabling responsible innovation at scale, and what’s needed to continue accelerating connected care across Canada.

Moderator:

Rita Jervis, VP of Regional and Vendor Engagement, Canada Health Infoway

Panelists:

• Rashaad Bhyat, Senior Clinical Leader, Canada Health Infoway
• Elizabeth Toller, Director General, Health Care Strategies, Health Canada
• Marc-Nicholas Kobrynsky, Deputy Assistant Minister, Directorate General of Strategic Planning and Performance at the Government of Quebec
• Ryan MacNeil, Project Executive & Director, Digital Strategy & Governance, Department of Health and Wellness Nova Scotia, and National Chair, Artificial Intelligence for Health (AI4H), Health Canada

Canada’s path toward interoperability rightly emphasizes access and secure data exchange, but its success also hinges on whether frontline clinicians can use these systems efficiently. For community-based providers, the promise of Connected Care must be met with tools and workflows that reduce burden, not add to it. So how do we make participation possible? This session will explore the policy, technology, leadership, and AI innovations that are making it easier for clinicians to connect and collaborate. It will spotlight real-world solutions that are helping shrink administrative workloads, streamline data sharing, and bring the benefits of interoperability to everyday practice. With insights from across the country, panelists will draw on their experience to answer focused questions through brief presentations on key enablers of clinician participation, followed by dynamic discussion and audience Q&A (time permitting).

Moderator:

Dr. Ed Brown, Advisor to Canada Health Infoway

Panelists:

Mohammed Alarakhia, Family Physician and CEO of Amplify Care

Dawn Lake, VP of Digital Health & Privacy Officer, Doctors of BC

Amir Javidan, CEO at WELLSTAR Technologies and COO at WELL Health

As Canada accelerates its push toward interoperable, patient-centred health systems, real-world testing and validation are essential. This Pro-Talk spotlights the evolution and impact of Pan-Canadian Projectathons, implementation events designed to test and scale national standards across systems and care settings. Attendees will gain insight into how these focused, hands-on events are driving adoption of key standards like PS-CA (Patient Summary), CA:FeX (FHIR Exchange), and CA:eReC (eReferral/eConsult), while fostering collaboration across the digital health ecosystem. Learn how Projectathons bridge the gap between specification and implementation, reduce integration friction, and support Canada's broader interoperability goals. The session will also preview what lies ahead for the upcoming Pan-Canadian Projectathon in February 2026.

Canada’s health systems generate vast amounts of patient data, yet much of it remains siloed and difficult to share across systems and between patients and their care teams. This keynote introduces the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework, a foundational blueprint designed to support more connected and equitable care by improving data portability, building confidence in digital exchange, and enabling collaboration across the health ecosystem. Rather than replacing existing infrastructure, the Trust Framework provides a shared structure to help align policy, legal agreements, governance, and technical standards. It aims to make health information more portable, privacy-respecting, and usable across the care continuum, while supporting better experiences for patients and providers alike. Through practical examples and a strong call to action, the session will explore how the Trust Framework will help existing systems and new innovations facilitate continuity of care through data portability while reducing technology duplication and complexity. Attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of how a coordinated, trust-based approach to interoperability can support the next phase of digital health transformation in Canada, one that balances progress with pragmatism and puts people at the centre.

Presenter:

Abhi Kalra, EVP Connected Care, Canada Health Infoway

Canada’s health system is evolving, and the path forward demands bold collaboration, responsible innovation, and smart policy decisions. Through collaboration and partnership, organizations like Canada Health Infoway and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) are helping lead the way. This panel will bring together expert voices from government relations, health policy, and clinical leadership to discuss how Canada’s health priorities are being shaped by a new federal government, budget decisions, and clinician feedback. In this session, panelists will explore how effective public policy, and responsible innovation are advancing connected care, interoperability, and the adoption of digital health tools that ease clinical burdens and improve patient care for all Canadians. Panelists will share practical insights on navigating the political landscape, enabling responsible innovation, and how collaboration can continue to strengthen patient care and support a more sustainable health system. Whether you're from government, a healthcare leader, or an industry partner, this session offers valuable takeaways for shaping the future of health care in Canada.

Moderator:

Angela Jonsson, Chief of Staff & EVP, Public Affairs, Corporate Strategy & Communications, Canada Health Infoway

Panelists:

Tyler Meredith, Public Policy Entrepreneur and Senior Advisor, and Former Head of Economic and Fiscal Policy for Justin Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland and Bill Morneau

Andrew Brander, Partner at Crestview Strategy, Former Chief of Staff to Deputy Leader of Canada's Conservatives and Former Sr. Advisor Government of Ontario

Dr. Joss Reimer, Past-President of the Canadian Medical Association and Public Health and Maternity doctor

Around the world, health systems are advancing their interoperability agendas to enable more connected, efficient, and patient-centred care. In this global panel, senior digital health leaders from across the world will share insights from their national strategies, including what’s working, what’s evolving, and what remains a challenge. Panelists will discuss practical lessons learned from building data exchange frameworks, enabling patient access to records, supporting clinical workflows, and scaling national standards. This session will explore how these international experiences can inform Canada’s path forward, including opportunities for alignment, collaboration, and shared progress. Attendees will gain a global perspective on interoperability and walk away with ideas that can help shape national policy, local engagement, and system design in the Canadian context.

Opening Presentation: Bianca Rouwenhorst, CIO, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, Netherlands

Moderator:

Abhi Kalra, EVP Connected Care, Canada Health Infoway

Panelists:

Herko Coomans, Digital Health Policy Coordinator, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, Netherlands

Peter O’Halloran, Chief Digital Officer, Australian Digital Health Agency

Cátia Pinto, Medical Doctor and Head of Global Digital Health and International Affairs, SPMS,EPE - Shared Services in Ministry of Health Portugal

Canada Health Infoway’s Joint AI Table brought together clinicians, policymakers, researchers, industry, and jurisdictional leaders to build a pan-Canadian vision for responsible, scalable AI in health care. The result: a Connected Care AI Strategy and Adoption Plan that outlines how AI can improve interoperability, reduce administrative burden, and enable better outcomes for patients and providers alike. This session will provide an overview of the strategy’s key pillars, insights from the Joint AI Table engagement process, and a look ahead at how the strategy aims to guide Connected Care across Canada’s health system. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and explore how this work aligns with broader priorities in data infrastructure, clinical innovation, and health system modernization. Whether you're a policymaker, clinician, vendor, or health leader, join in to see how this strategy is setting the stage for safer, smarter, and more connected care powered by responsible AI.

Speaker(s):

Attila Farkas, Digital Health AI Strategy Expert, Canada Health Infoway

Discover how Infoway’s Vendor Innovation Program (VIP) is accelerating Canada’s journey toward Connected Care by advancing industry-driven innovation. This session will provide an insider’s look at the program’s vision, execution, and progress to date, showcasing how partnerships with vendors are driving practical, standards-based solutions that improve care for Canadians.  Attendees will also see a dynamic video montage showcasing the selected projects and their potential to advance connected care for Canadians. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A with the program team to explore how industry collaboration is shaping the future of digital health. 

Speakers: 

Rashaad Bhyat, Senior Clinical Leader, Canada Health Infoway

Udipta Saptashi, Senior Analyst Partner Management, Canada Health Infoway 

Denmark is internationally recognized as a leader in digital health, with a long-standing commitment to using data and digital tools to strengthen its health system. This session will provide an overview of Denmark’s journey towards establishing a national digital ehealth portal covering every citizen, every healthcare professional and every healthcare organization in Denmark. It will highlight elements of Denmark’s national digital health strategies and its user-centered health ecosystem, showcasing how it creates value and coherence for professionals, empowers citizens, and embraces emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The discussion will also address how health data is being applied across sectors to improve care, support system transformation, and enable new opportunities for collaboration. This presentation offers valuable lessons for Canadian stakeholders by illustrating how a federated health system can align around a common vision, leverage shared platforms, and use data responsibly to deliver more connected, sustainable, and patient-centered care.

Speakers:

Morten Elbæk Petersen, Director, sundhed.dk/the Danish eHealth Portal

Interoperability is the foundation of a connected health system, and Canada is making significant progress in building that foundation. This session will provide an update on how CIHI and Infoway are working together to advance interoperability through key national initiatives, including the Pan-Canadian Health Data Content Framework, the Canadian Core Data for Interoperability (CACDI), the Pan-Canadian Product Specifications, and the CA Core+ FHIR Profile Set. By following a patient’s journey, attendees will see how these standards translate into real-world impact, helping data move seamlessly between care settings and ensuring patients, providers, and systems all benefit. The discussion will highlight the tangible value this work brings to jurisdictions, vendors, care teams, and most importantly, patients, by enabling better coordination, access, and outcomes. Participants will also be invited to consider how they can contribute to strengthening and expanding this shared foundation, and how we can collectively champion the future of connected care in Canada. Speakers:

Paul Burtnick, Director, Data Standards and Services, Infoway

Shannon O’Conner, Manager, Data Standards, CIHI

Moderator:

Ann Chapman, Director of Spending and Primary Care

Behind every advancement in Connected Care are the patients whose lives are touched by it. In this session, you will hear directly from patients as they share their personal journeys with the healthcare system. This interactive panel will provide authentic perspectives on what is most needed to ensure digital health solutions are meaningful, accessible, and equitable. Gain fresh insights from these patient voices on how to keep people at the heart of digital health.

Speakers:

Paula Orecklin

Moderator:

Chris Adeneye, Manager, Canada Health Infoway

The First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) will introduce the First Nations Data Governance Strategy (FNDGS) as a viable pathway to achieving First Nations’ data sovereignty while advancing self-determination and self-government. The network of First Nations-led Regional Information Governance Centres (RIGCs) being built as part of the Strategy will be a core component of Canada’s modernized health information systems infrastructure catalyzing deeper cross-jurisdictional collaborations, breaking down silos, fostering coordinated innovation, and advancing Canada’s commitments to reconciliation.

Speakers:

Erin Corston, Director and Executive Lead, National Data Champion Team

Gonzague Guéranger, Implementation Lead, National Data Champion Team

Donna Lyons, Data Capacity Development Manager, National Data Champion Team

Protocol (HALO) is transforming interoperability in Canada’s healthcare system. This session will feature insights from a provincial leader spearheading HALO implementation, including a demonstration of a clinical application, and a physician sharing the clinician’s perspective on how improved data exchange can enhance patient care. Together, they will explore HALO’s real-world impact by breaking down silos, enabling secure and seamless health information sharing, and advancing a more connected and patient-centered healthcare future.

Speakers:

Dr. Ed Brown, Advisor to Canada Health Infoway