Presented by:

Ashton Thornton, RN BScN, Director of Clinical Services at KixCare

With over 14 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, Ashton has dedicated her career to advancing pediatric care in a variety of clinical settings, including the renowned SickKids Hospital Emergency Department and the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. As a mother of two, she brings a unique perspective to her role, understanding firsthand the challenges families face when navigating healthcare systems.

As the Director of Clinical Services at KixCare, Ashton is committed to optimizing children’s health and wellness through compassionate, evidence-based care. Her leadership is grounded in a deep passion for empowering parents and caregivers by ensuring they have the resources and support needed to make informed decisions about their children's health.

Earn One Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for attending this webinar. Content from the webinar aligns with Core Health Informatics Topics: The Canadian Healthcare System, Information Technology, Analysis and Evaluation

Webinar Wednesday attendance is one of the benefits of Digital Health Canada Membership. Not a member yet? Join Digital Health Canada to enjoy Webinar Wednesdays and other benefits of membership. 

When it launched in 2014, GetCheckedOnline was the first publicly funded digital testing service of its kind in Canada. Operated by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and the BC Public Health Laboratory (BCPHL), GetCheckedOnline started in Vancouver and is now available in nine communities across the province, serving over 22,000 people per year.  In its decade of operation, the GetCheckedOnline program has been recognized as a Leading Practice by Accreditation Canada, a runner-up in the BC Health Quality Awards and a Top Elite Winner by UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence.

GetCheckedOnline’s objectives were to increase testing for sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI), diagnose infections earlier, reach populations with higher rates of infections facing barriers to getting tested, and improve the health system’s ability to provide STBBI testing in BC. Over the past 10 years, GetCheckedOnline has had a significant impact on STBBI testing in the province and has successfully met its original objectives.  In the current context, driven by the ongoing digital transformation of healthcare, the program must now explore how to remain sustainable while better meeting the needs of equity-deserving populations. 

In this presentation, we’ll discuss how GetCheckedOnline works and what we have learned about the population, public health and health system impacts of this digital health service.  We’ll share lessons learned from developing a digital sexual health program, what we think is the key to GetCheckedOnline’s success, and why flexibility and adaptability are essential to the future of this program. 

Presented by:

Mark Gilbert, Public Health Physician, Researcher, BCCDC

Mark Gilbert is a public health physician in Clinical Prevention Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control, and an Associate Professor (Partner) in the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia. At the BCCDC, Mark leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, programs and interventions related to testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI), including BC’s digital testing program GetCheckedOnline. Dr. Gilbert holds an Applied Public Health Chair with a program of research focused on equitable and sustainable implementation and scale-up of STBBI testing interventions, 2SLGBTQIA+ health and digital public health. He leads multi-disciplinary research teams and works alongside community members and public health decision-makers through the Digital Sexual Health Initiative (DiSHI) and other endeavours.

Devon Haag, Manager, Digital Public Health Program, BCCDC

Devon Haag is a public health program manager in the Clinical Prevention Services department at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). With more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of public and digital health, Devon leads a digital health program at the BCCDC and has played a key role in developing several significant digital health initiatives, including the internationally award-winning GetCheckedOnline program. While focused on the implementation and operation of digital and virtual health projects, Devon also works closely with researchers at BCCDC and the University of British Columbia on various digital public health and digital sexual health research studies.  Devon received a Women Leaders in Digital Health Award from Digital Health Canada in 2023 and is engaged in many activities around antiracism, anti Indigenous-specific racism and reconciliation within public health. 

Earn One Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for attending this webinar. Content from the webinar aligns with Core Health Informatics Topics: The Canadian Healthcare System, Information Technology, Analysis and Evaluation

Webinar Wednesday attendance is one of the benefits of Digital Health Canada Membership. Not a member yet? Join Digital Health Canada to enjoy Webinar Wednesdays and other benefits of membership. 

Join us for a thought-provoking webinar examining the role of AI-powered Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) in primary care. While AI has the potential to influence diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical workflows, its integration into patient care raises important questions about reliability, safety, and clinical accountability.

This session will provide clinicians, healthcare leaders, and policymakers with a critical overview of AI-CDSS, including their functions, limitations, and the current gaps in regulation. While some AI-CDSS tools are approved by Health Canada as medical devices, many are not, leaving questions about their safety, effectiveness, and accountability. By examining some examples of practical applications of AI-CDSS, participants will explore key considerations when evaluating these tools, including issues of bias, transparency, and decision-making autonomy.

By the end of the session, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how AI-CDSS function, the risks they may introduce, and the factors to consider when determining their role in clinical practice. This webinar is designed to support clinicians in making informed decisions about AI in primary care.

Presented by:

Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia, CEO, eHealth Centre of Excellence

Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia is:

Dr. Alarakhia and the eHealth Centre of Excellence won the Innovation Award in 2022 from the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. The eHealth Centre of Excellence received a Canadian Medical Association Joule Innovation Grant and an AFHTO Team Award in 2020, as well as a Patient Care Innovation Team Award at the 2019 Canadian Health Informatics Awards and a 2019 Ingenious Award from Information Technology Association of Canada.

Jeremy Howcroft, Program Manager, eHealth Centre of Excellence

Jeremy Howcroft is a Program Manager and has worked at the eHealth Centre of Excellence for over 8 years as a trusted leader in digital health for primary and integrated patient care. In this time, Jeremy was also Digital Health Lead for the Cambridge North Dumfries OHT for almost 3 years. Jeremy is a graduate of the University of Guelph where he received his Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering Systems and Computing and is a Certified Project Management Professional. He is passionate about enhancing care delivery through innovation and digital technology and is excited to share in the development of new ideas and solutions to transform healthcare in Ontario.

Anne Dabrowski, Director of Information Services, Centre for Effective Practice

Anne is a strategic leader in evidence-based healthcare innovation and digital transformation. As the Director of Information Services at CEP, Anne spearheads the organization’s evidence synthesis and AI initiatives, ensuring that healthcare professionals have access to rigorously appraised, high-quality guidance. Anne is the chief architect of CEP’s AI Learning Centre, designed to improve AI literacy and critical assessment skills among clinicians, helping them navigate the risks and benefits of AI-driven healthcare solutions. Anne is dedicated to advancing the use of technology and evidence-based methodologies to close the gap between research and practice. She is also a sought-after speaker and educator, having delivered high-impact presentations on AI literacy and knowledge mobilization to a range of audiences, including clinicians, policymakers, and knowledge translation professionals. Holding a Master of Information (University of Toronto), Anne is passionate about leveraging innovation to enhance healthcare accessibility, quality, and clinician efficiency.

** This session is part of the Webinar Wednesday Healthcare Innovation Rounds series and has has been certified for Mainpro+® credit. **

Webinar Wednesday attendance is one of the benefits of Digital Health Canada Membership. Not a member yet? Join Digital Health Canada to enjoy Webinar Wednesdays and other benefits of membership. 

Presented by:

Vithu Kugathasan, MHI

Vithu Kugathasan is a Manager of Digital Health Projects at North York General Hospital and the Program Manager for Evidence2Practice Ontario, leading acute care implementations focused on digitizing quality standards to support clinicians in providing quality care at the point of care. He also is currently an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto under the Institute for Health Policy, Management, & Evaluation (IHPME)– teaching courses in the Master of Health Informatics (MHI) program such as Systems Analysis and Process Innovation and Fundamentals in Health Informatics. Vithu holds a Master of Health Informatics degree from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree from Western University. He has a passion for advancing digital health across the system, aiming to collaborate and innovate to improve the experience of patients and clinicians. 

Tanya Louca, MSc, BScN, RN

As a Digital Health Project Manager at North York General Hospital (NYGH), Tanya Louca, spearheads the implementation of innovative healthcare solutions. She currently supports the acute care Evidence2Practice (E2P) Ontario program, a pioneering provincial initiative that integrates clinical health quality standards into hospital information systems throughout the region. Drawing from her foundational experience as a critical care nurse, Tanya has developed extensive expertise in leveraging digital health strategies to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality. Her academic credentials, combined with hands-on clinical experience, provide a unique perspective in bridging the gap between technical solutions and practical healthcare delivery. Tanya's interests include change management and the application of implementation science frameworks. Her commitment to building sustainable health projects has contributed to advancing digital health initiatives at NYGH and across Ontario's healthcare landscape.

Earn One Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for attending this webinar. Content from the webinar aligns with Core Health Informatics Topics: The Canadian Healthcare System, Information Technology, Analysis and Evaluation

Webinar Wednesday attendance is one of the benefits of Digital Health Canada Membership. Not a member yet? Join Digital Health Canada to enjoy Webinar Wednesdays and other benefits of membership. 

Join us in Toronto from June 1 – 3 for e-Health25!

e-Health is the premier event for Canadian digital health professionals working to make a difference in health and healthcare delivery.

Since its inception in 2000, the e-Health Conference and Tradeshow has served as a vital epicentre of Canadian digital health discussion and debate, attracting over 1,000 health professionals annually. e-Health is the optimal spot for networking and knowledge sharing with peers nationally and around the globe.

With in-demand speakers, expert panellists and presenters, and leading-edge exhibitors, e-Health always delivers memorable education and networking opportunities.

Join us as we celebrate 25 years of e-Health!

Visit the e-Health website to learn more.

Join us lakeside at IRENE to celebrate the conclusion of the e-Health Conference and the commencement of the CHIEF Executive Forum Spring Symposium.

Volunteers will be waiting to guide you to the venue after the e-Health closing keynote.

All CHIEF Executive Forum members are invited to attend the CHIEF Executive Forum Spring25 Reception in Toronto on June 3, 2025. Reserve your spot by registering today or send an email confirming your attendance to chief@digitalhealthcanada.com.

Your CHIEF Membership includes registration at both the Spring and Fall Symposia and Receptions, however, to reserve your place and ensure everyone will be comfortably accommodated, separate confirmation is required for each of the events.

Join us for this knowledge-sharing, learning, and networking event with public and private sector digital health leaders from across Canada. Reserve your seat at the table where important digital health conversations happen.

All CHIEF Executive Forum members are invited to attend the CHIEF Executive Forum Spring25 Symposium, taking place in Toronto on June 4. The Symposium experience will kick off on June 3 with a CHIEF Executive Forum networking reception after the close of the e-Health25 Conference and Tradeshow.

All Digital Health Canada Members are encouraged to register and attend the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, June 18 from 12 - 1 PM ET. 

The following matters will constitute the Agenda of the Digital Health Canada Annual General Meeting 2025 (Virtual):

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held June 19, 2024
3. President's Report
4. CEO Report
5. Treasurer's Report and Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Period ending March 31, 2025
6. Appointment of the Auditor for 2025-2026
7. Board Development Committee Report on Nominations and Elections
8. Introduction of Incoming Board of Directors
9. Other Business
10. Adjournment