Digital Health Founders is a Santis Health series featuring one-on-one conversations with leaders from across Canada’s digital health ecosystem. From transformative startups to public sector changemakers, these episodes explore how innovators are shaping the future of care through collaboration, technology and bold thinking. In this episode, we sit down with Mike Checkley, President and Co-Founder of Accuro, one of Canada’s “Big 3” Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems used by more than a quar...
Jul 22, 2025•29 min•Ep. 42
Canada is making important strides in modernizing its health data infrastructure, but progress remains uneven and insufficient. While digital health investments continue at both the federal and provincial levels, health data across the system remains fragmented. Many provinces still lack transparent, public-facing health data strategies, and existing ones often exclude key health system partners. As a result, health data is underutilized, which has dire implications for patient care and health s...
Jul 08, 2025•36 min•Ep. 41
This podcast was created with support from GE HealthCare Canada. Theranostics is a patient-centric approach in medicine that combines diagnostic and therapeutic technologies to precisely visualize and treat cancer without harming healthy tissue. This innovative treatment method is an incredible showcase of technology in the health care system. Featuring Mike Hamilton, CEO of GE HealthCare Canada, and Dr. Narinder Paul, Chief of Medical Imaging at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, this podcast exp...
May 26, 2025•32 min•Ep. 40
To build a stronger, more resilient health system in Ontario, we must fully recognize and support Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs). RPNs deliver more than one-third of nursing care in Ontario, yet many remain underrecognized, underutilized, and misunderstood across the health care system. As patient needs grow and system pressures mount, RPNs are increasingly called upon to play critical roles on the front lines—often while facing high workloads, burnout, and barriers to practicing to their fu...
May 12, 2025•33 min•Ep. 39
On March 23, Prime Minister Mark Carney asked Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election, officially kicking off what’s known as the Writ Period. During this time, the federal government and its 370,000 public servants must follow the Caretaker Convention—a set of rules ensuring government operations continue while avoiding major new decisions until election day. But what happens in times of crisis? How does the government function when leadership is in flux? ...
Mar 24, 2025•30 min•Ep. 38
Episode 37 | Tackling Physician Burnout - Building a Resilient Health Care System for Physicians To foster patient-first care, Canada needs healthy physicians. In Canada, the issue of burnout is reaching critical levels, with nearly three-quarters of health care providers reporting symptoms of burnout. This has a profound impact not only on physicians but also on patient care and the sustainability of our health system. Dr.Bill, a key venture of RBCx, in partnership with the Ontario Medical Foun...
Feb 10, 2025•35 min•Ep. 37
Mental health and addictions care is a critical issue affecting countless individuals and families across Ontario. As the demand for services continues to grow, the challenges within the system have become increasingly apparent, from long wait times to inadequate access to community supports. In this episode, Avis Favaro is joined by Dr. Nadiya Sunderji, President and CEO, and Dr. Kevin Young, Vice-President of Medical Affairs and Chief of Staff at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care to explo...
Dec 10, 2024•36 min•Ep. 36
Caregivers exist in all areas of our communities, whether it’s a family member providing physical support to their loved one or a friend providing emotional support to their neighbour. Caregiving has recently taken center stage with government decision makers considering policies like the National Caregiving Strategy, compensation for caregivers, and implications for the caregiving community with the introduction of the Safe Long-Term Care Act . Joined by Amy Coupal, Chief Executive Officer of t...
Nov 18, 2024•21 min•Ep. 35
This podcast was created with support from Boehringer Ingelheim Canada. Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that affects millions worldwide. Though psychosis is the hallmark symptom of this serious mental illness, cognitive impairment is another core feature that significantly impacts patients' daily functioning and quality of life. In this podcast episode, we delve into the critical intersection of schizophrenia and cognitive impairment, exploring its far-reaching effects and the challen...
Oct 07, 2024•30 min•Ep. 34
Since the 2004 Paul Martin deal to fix health care for a generation, which guaranteed federal health transfers would increase by 6% annually, the Government of Canada has sought to constrain the growth of the Canada Health Transfer (CHT). First, the Harper Government lowered the annual CHT growth rate to align with economic growth. Upon forming government in 2015, the Trudeau Liberals successfully provided time-limited funding outside of the CHT - an approach that has been used on several occasi...
Aug 19, 2024•34 min•Ep. 33
Supported by Gilead Sciences Canada. Canada is experiencing an HIV crisis and we’re moving in the wrong direction. By the end of 2020, there were 62,790 Canadians living with HIV. The following year, there were 1,472 additional diagnoses in Canada — a 11.3% increase from the previous year. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a once-a-day pill that reduces the risk of transmission by 99% if taken consistently. This breakthrough medication has offered protection for those at risk of contracting HIV...
Jun 17, 2024•41 min•Ep. 32
Primary care is the foundation of Canada’s health care system; however, the sector is facing a multitude of pressing challenges. Currently, more than 6.5 million Canadians do not have regular access to primary care and the one third of Canadians who have a family doctor find it difficult to get an appointment. Physicians themselves are facing intense burnout coupled with a health human resources (HHR) crisis. In a May 2023 survey by the Ontario College of Family Physicians, 65% of respondents ci...
May 27, 2024•38 min•Ep. 31
Delivering world-class care and research, Ontario’s hospitals play a pivotal role in diagnosing, treating and coordinating care for a growing population. But Ontario’s health system is under incredible pressure. Hospitals are faced with a series of unique challenges including capacity restraints, staffing shortages, rising infrastructure costs and the evolving needs of patients. Tackling these challenges is top of mind for hospital leaders with the ultimate goal to deliver efficient, accessible ...
Apr 03, 2024•36 min•Ep. 30
The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated capacity and health human resource (HHR) challenges across health systems in Canada, and around the world. The extent of these challenges has necessitated governments, providers and organizations to think differently about their respective roles and commit to real change. One of the key challenges in addressing the HHR crisis is identifying how to retain health workers in their roles amidst long-standing and systemic pressures on the workforce – including a high...
Mar 20, 2024•19 min•Ep. 29
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its report “Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future.” The report detailed how colonization historically undermined the health of Indigenous Peoples and how past policies continue to contribute towards the persistent health gap between Indigenous communities and the general population. At the same time, the Commission released 94 calls to action for reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and Canadians. Among them was a call to a...
Nov 09, 2023•29 min•Ep. 28
Pharmacists’ scope of practice has expanded and evolved in recent years, and Canada's pharmacists are doing more for their patients than ever before. Pharmacists in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario have seen their prescribing powers expand significantly this year — with Ontario further expanding the list of common ailments pharmacists can treat just a few weeks ago. There is increasing evidence that better health outcomes are achieved when patients are able to access pharmacist-deliver...
Oct 16, 2023•31 min•Ep. 27
In February 2023, the Government of Canada announced it will increase health funding to the provinces and territories by $196.1 billion over the next 10 years. Included in this funding, in an effort to address Canada’s overdose crisis, is targeted support for mental health and substance use to ensure Canadians have equal access to “timely, equitable, and quality mental health, substance use, and addictions services.” With rates of addiction rising across the country, community organizations like...
Aug 29, 2023•18 min•Ep. 26
Artificial intelligence has made remarkable advancements in recent years, with the potential to revolutionize the health care industry. From aiding in disease diagnosis and treatment planning to optimizing patient care and streamlining administrative tasks, AI systems can enhance medical outcomes and improve the overall efficiency of health care delivery. However, along with these promising advancements, we must also critically examine the ethical dilemmas and regulatory hurdles accompanying AI ...
Aug 23, 2023•37 min•Ep. 25
Artificial intelligence has made remarkable advancements in recent years, with the potential to revolutionize the health care industry. From aiding in disease diagnosis and treatment planning to optimizing patient care and streamlining administrative tasks, AI systems can enhance medical outcomes and improve the overall efficiency of health care delivery. However, along with these promising advancements, we must also critically examine the ethical dilemmas and regulatory hurdles accompanying AI ...
Aug 15, 2023•32 min•Ep. 24
Canadians take pride in the health care system. However, access to health care services across Canada remains an ongoing challenge. The pressures within our system – an aging population, chronic illness, hallway medicine and increased demand, among others – have only been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadians, be they patients, health care workers, or otherwise, expect more from their health care system. On February 7, 2023, and subsequently in Budget 2023, the Government of Canada outl...
Jul 18, 2023•30 min•Ep. 23
There is a strong belief in Canada that our health system is inherently “universal” and “public”, despite longstanding and long-term collaborations between partners from across sectors. Recent debates about the pros and cons of opening health care to “other organizations” have ramped up on the heels of Ontario’s February 2023 announcement to expand the role of private clinics in the province’s delivery of health care. Not up for debate; however, are the pressures within the system – an aging pop...
May 25, 2023•37 min•Ep. 22
First Nations communities experience inequitable access to health care, as well as a disproportionate burden of harm related to substance use. It is now widely recognized that this reality reflects the impact of policies implemented to assimilate Indigenous peoples, as well as the effects of grief and chronic trauma on First Nations communities. These policies have had devastating intergenerational impacts and unfavourably shaped First Nations health outcomes. In this episode of From the Burgund...
Jan 11, 2023•34 min•Ep. 21
With April being Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and April 11 being World Parkinson’s Day, Parkinson Canada is sharing the story of the “Why”; w hy Parkinson’s continues to be so prominent in Canada. Parkinson Canada is also sharing the “ How ”, exploring the four pillars of support Parkinson Canada provides, including funding critical research, providing support programs and resources, advocating alongside people living with Parkinson’s, and building awareness for the disease. In this episode, Car...
Apr 13, 2022•32 min•Ep. 20
Canadians rightfully ask why it takes so long to access new, innovative medicines. Government’s ability to review, approve and regulate the marketing of drugs is a robust, complex process. This is particularly true in Canada for people who need treatments for rare diseases, where access can vary based on where they are located in the country. While the federal government has spent the last two years focused on the COVID-19 response, one of Health Canada’s key policy objectives is to create a Nat...
Feb 04, 2022•25 min•Ep. 19
Across Canada, access to health care remains an ongoing challenge and the pressures within our system – aging population, chronic illness, hallway medicine and increased demand – have only been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. As health care continues to be debated in legislatures, virtual forums and at dinner tables across the country, we must ask hard questions and find ways to reimagine the way Canadians access health care services, programs and information. In this episode, Ross Wallace ...
Dec 08, 2021•35 min•Ep. 18
Moving beyond COVID-19 will require a multi-faceted solution that involves government, the health care sector and the will of the Canadian population. Pre-existing issues that have been amplified throughout the pandemic, including the health human resource crisis. Advocates have called on all levels of government to address the shortage of staff across the continuum of care. With time running out to train, recruit and retain staff to support the ageing population in Canada, solutions need to be ...
Nov 01, 2021•34 min•Ep. 17
Earlier this year, the Government of Canada began a public consultation on their 2019 commitment for a national strategy to address high-cost rare drugs. Now, almost seven months after the start of the public consultation and years after their initial commitment, there are few details on the strategy itself or how the government intends to invest $500 million per year set to begin in 2022. In this episode, Peter Cleary, a Principal at Santis Health, spoke to President and CEO of the Canadian Org...
Aug 12, 2021•23 min•Ep. 16
Vaccination numbers are rising and Canada is now emerging from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This episode spotlights the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (CADTH) and how the organization is incorporating key lessons learned as it prepares to refresh its own strategy later this year. CADTH’s previous strategic plan covered the period of 2018-2021, but due to the all-consuming obligations of COVID-19, the Agency decided to postpone the creation and launch of a new plan by 1...
Jun 15, 2021•39 min•Ep. 15
Ontario has been in and out of lockdowns over the past year. Experts have alluded to a fourth wave that could be more disastrous than the first three due to the mental health and addiction crises that have been pushed aside due to COVID-19. With more Ontarians facing addictions and mental health challenges now than ever before, we are checking the temperature of mental health and addictions in Ontario. In this episode, Adrienne Spafford, CEO of Addictions and Mental Health Ontario, Camille Quenn...
Jun 07, 2021•30 min•Ep. 14
The past 12 months have been a historic period of challenge and change for Canadian health care charities. The pandemic has impacted how they fundraise, conduct research programs, engage donors and volunteers, and ultimately deliver support to Canadians living with disease. Despite this, health charities have adapted and found new ways to operate virtually, help to slow the spread of COVID-19 and support Canadians in need. In this episode, the Health Charities Coalition of Canada, ALS Canada and...
Apr 08, 2021•33 min•Ep. 13
