Tuesday
March 07, 2023
All times below are Eastern Time
08:15AM – 09:00AM
Online
Registration

09:00 AM
09:00AM – 09:15AM
Opening
Opening Remarks
09:15 AM
09:15AM – 10:15AM
Session 1
Keynote Presentation
Reimagining Healthcare: Innovative Solutions to Health Human Resources
Moderated by: Mary-Lou MacDonald, MSc, President, Inside Health & Business Consulting
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Dr. Karima Velji seeks to put aside status quo thinking to take bold actions and address long-standing challenges in healthcare and meet the needs of both patients and healthcare workers. Developed in collaboration with all healthcare partners, from frontline workers to executives, Dr. Velji brings forward innovative solutions to promote an equitable and accessible system that puts people back in control of their healthcare.
10:15 AM
10:15AM – 10:30AM
Break
Morning Break

10:30 AM
10:30AM – 11:15AM
Session 2
An Untapped Resource: Case Study on Leveraging Refugee and Displaced Talent for Health Care in Canada
Moderated by: Peter Faist, Founder, CEO, Staffy
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This panel presentation will highlight a significant opportunity to leverage the over 2M refugee and displaced people for equitable access to skilled employment in Canada. The panelists will discuss the opportunity, the challenge and a case study example for addressing the health human resource challenge in Ontario.
11:15 AM
11:15AM – 12:00PM
Session 3
Employee and Employer Rights: Answers to the Tough HR Questions You Always Wanted to Know
Moderated by: Myfanwy Marshall, Vice President, People and Experience, CAMH
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No matter how many internal company policies, ethics modules, or codes of conduct are created, certain HR issues endure. Employees should feel safe, respected, and valued in the workplace, despite the differing interests and perspectives between employees and employers.
This session will answer frequently asked questions from both employees and employers to ensure you have the tools and knowledge to positively impact company culture and provide a safe working environment.
Key Session Takeaways:
- Employee vs. employer rights in HR matters
- The various impacts policies and contracts have on company morale
- Addressing issues of discrimination and ways to build a diverse workplace
12:00 PM
12:00PM – 12:45PM
Break
Lunch

12:45 PM
12:45PM – 01:30PM
Session 4A
Research Insight: Predictors of Nurse Retention in Home and Community Care Settings
Moderated by: Carly Ellis, Director, Health Practice, Enterprise Health
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Retention of healthcare providers is a persistent area of concern for home and community managers. Nurses and personal support workers are fundamental to the delivery of services, and being aware of their job satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, can enable staffing managers to preemptively avoid losing vital staff.
Examining survey results collected from home care providers provides insight into predictors in retention, and an opportunity to learn from staff about strategies and suggestions to proactively address their concerns.
Key Session Takeaways:
- What were the major predictors in retention and how do they differ among types of care providers
- What keeps staff in homecare and what are their suggestions to increase retention
- How can staffing managers respond to retain key staff
12:45PM – 01:30PM
Session 4B
Supporting Internationally Educated Nurses in Licensing and Employment in Ontario: Lessons Learned
Moderated by: Sandra Ketchen, CEO, Spectrum Health
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This session will explore challenges that internationally educated nurses (IENs) face in pursuing registration and employment in Canada and outline several recent initiatives that aim to support IENs in joining the health care workforce in Ontario. Panelist John Paolo Varias will share his perspective on key issues and hurdles that IENs face in pursuing professional registration and employment, and panelist Ernesto Sequera will speak to the challenges and opportunities facing employers related to hiring, retention, and supporting the career progression of IENs.
01:30 PM
01:30PM – 02:15PM
Session 5
Mindshift: Why Culture is the Most Important Tool in Attracting and Retaining Health Care Workers
Moderated by: Mary-Lou MacDonald, MSc, President, Inside Health & Business Consulting
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“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” or so the saying goes. But what does this really mean in the context of recruitment and retention in healthcare?
Key Session Takeaways:
- How employment trends apply (and don’t) in the healthcare industry
- How employee experience starts well BEFORE hiring
- How to avoid “gate-keeping” and instead focus on connecting
- How orientation has the potential to create powerful cultural engagement that organizations often miss
- How to turn challengers into champions and gain leadership buy-in
02:15 PM
02:15PM – 02:30PM
Break
Afternoon Break

02:30 PM
02:30PM – 03:15PM
Session 6
Lessons Learned on Improving Mental Health in the Workplace
Moderated by: Camille Dunbar, Litigation Associate, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
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There has been progressively more attention placed on mental health in the workplace, but it has increased during Covid. And with higher awareness, there is an increasing demand for services and treatment.
Understanding the scope of the issue, and how best to respond, is a challenge being felt across industries, including healthcare.
Key Takeaways and Discussion Topics:
- Successful tips for creating a mentally healthy work environment
- Developing a blueprint for encouraging openness for seeking help
- Available solutions for supporting staff members experiencing mental health challenges
Dr. Joseph Pellizzari
Clinical Health Psychologist, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
Co-Developer, Coping and Resilience Support Team (CARS)
03:15 PM
03:15PM – 04:15PM
Session 7
Connecting the Dots between Professional Practice and Health Human Resources
Moderated by: Myfanwy Marshall, Vice President, People and Experience, CAMH
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Leadership of professional practice and its contribution to health human resource solutions is not always well understood and best leveraged. This presentation provides leadership insights across multiple health care organizations and settings that connect the dots to illustrate that professional practice leadership in designing, implementing and evaluating organizational model of care can result in both continuous improvement of excellent care delivery and workforce optimization.
Kaiyan Fu
RN CHE CHRP MHSc, Vice President, Senior’s Health & Chief Clinical Executive, SE Health, Canada
Angela Wignall
RN, BSN, BA, MA, Director, Professional Practice & Policy Implementation, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia