From the Burgundy Chairs

Trust in traditional public health systems is eroding. At the same time, health misinformation - and disinformation - is spreading faster than ever, reshaping how Canadians view and interpret  science and health care. The 2025 Health and Media Annual Tracking Survey, commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), found that 43% of Canadians are highly susceptible to health misinformation. The impact of this is significant with 37% having acted on online medical advice because they couldn’t access a family doctor, and nearly one in four experiencing negative health outcomes as a result. The damage isn’t limited to physical health. Misinformation is also driving stress and fear — with 43% of Canadians reporting anxiety or mental distress linked to the spread of false or misleading health information. The first of a series on the topic, in this episode of Santis Health’s podcast, Santis senior advisor Avis Favaro sits down with Dr. Brendan Carr, Senior Vice President, Management Consulting, and Dr. Joss Reimer, physician and former president of the CMA. Together, they unpack what’s driving the decline in trust in institutions and traditional sources of health information, the role of misinformation, disinformation and what can be done to rebuild confidence in science and care delivery. This episode is for everyone, decision-makers who see trust not as lost, but as something we can rebuild — paving the way for stronger relationships and healthier communities. -- Avis Favaro, Senior Advisor, Santis Health Avis Favaro is an acclaimed medical journalist with decades of experience. As a Senior Advisor at Santis Health, Avis leverages her extensive background in uncovering and reporting on stories that matter to Canadians. Avis leads Santis' media and executive presence training programming.  Dr. Brendan Carr, Senior Vice President, National Practice Lead, Management Consulting, Santis Health Dr. Brendan Carr is a distinguished health system leader who served as the President & CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority, William Osler Health System, and Island Health in British Columbia. He brings an array of expertise in strategic health system leadership and governance with a focus on improving outcomes and rethinking the delivery of care. Dr. Carr’s vast experience in enacting positive improvements and large scale initiatives make him uniquely-suited to providing guidance to Santis clients in the areas of stakeholder engagement, transformation, and strategic implementation. Dr. Joss Reimer, Past President, Canadian Medical Association & Chief Medical Officer, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Dr. Joss Reimer is past president of the Canadian Medical Association and chief medical officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. She is an expert in public health, health communications, health equity and immunizations. She was also the medical lead and spokesperson for Manitoba’s COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce and spent nine years as director of population health at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Reimer practices maternity care and has received awards such as Humanitarian of the Year by Doctors Manitoba and holds the King Charles III Coronation and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals.   She completed her medical training at the University of Manitoba and McMaster University and holds a master’s in public health focused on health communication.

As Canada prepares for the fall return of Parliament, a major policy question is emerging across industries: what is the country’s economic strategy for the next decade, and what role should health play in it? After attending the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s B7 summit in May, BD-Canada posed the question: what happens when we shift our view of health as a strategic investment instead of a spending item? This episode of From the Burgundy Chairs reframes medical technologies not as cost centres, but as strategic investments -vital tools to strengthen Canada’s economic resilience, create high-value jobs, and fuel innovation. In our latest podcast, we explore how a stronger, more integrated MedTech ecosystem can support national priorities from workforce productivity to global competitiveness, and why now is the moment to embed health innovation into Canada’s economic planning. -- Robyn Saccon, Vice President of Public Affairs, BD-Canada Robyn Saccon is Vice President of Public Affairs at BD-Canada, a global medical technology company that advances health care by improving discovery, diagnostics and delivery of care. Robyn has led BD’s efforts to strengthen system partnerships and shape health policy through evidence-based advocacy. Rob Pankhurst, Vice President (West), Medtech Canada Rob Pankhurst is the Vice President (West) of Medtech Canada, the national association representing the medical technology industry. Rob brings deep public and private sector experience, and is a vocal advocate for aligning government priorities with industry innovation.

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 quarter of physicians across Canada and by millions of patients.  Mike shares how he and his co-founders built Accuro EMR from a school project into one of Canada’s leading digital health platforms. He reflects on the strategies that fueled the company’s growth, lessons learned along the way, and offers insights into Accuro’s current work and the future of digital health.

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 system functioning. In this episode of From the Burgundy Chairs, created in partnership with Roche Canada, we explore the opportunity for inclusive collaboration in building a connected health data system. Hosted by Avis Favaro,  guests Carlene Todd, Vice President, Access, Roche Pharma Canada and Sudha Kutty, Executive Vice-President, Evidence, Products and Services, Canada’s Drug Agency, examine how together public and private sectors can accelerate innovation, enable better, faster patient and disease insights, and improve health outcomes through the responsible, accountable use of health data.  In this episode, we explore how connected health data can support evidence-informed decisions across the health system, driving sustainable, high-quality care for all Canadians. We also discuss the importance of strong governance frameworks that protect privacy, build trust, and enable improved access decision-making.  -- Avis Favaro Senior Advisor, Santis Health Avis Favaro is an acclaimed medical journalist with decades of experience. She was Canada’s longest-serving television Medical Correspondent and currently contributes to CTV News as a freelance contributor. At Santis, she supports media training, backed by her extensive background in health storytelling.  Carlene Todd, Vice President, Access, Roche Pharma Canada Carlene Todd is Vice President, Access at Roche Pharma Canada. She leads Market Access & Pricing, Policy and Health Ecosystems and Patient Services teams at Roche Pharma Canada. With nearly 25 years at Roche, she brings deep expertise in global reimbursement systems and health policy. She is also a member of the Resilient Healthcare Coalition, committed to driving health system transformation and ensuring timely access to innovation for patients. Sudha Kutty, Executive Vice-President, Evidence, Products, and Services, Canada’s Drug Agency Sudha Kutty is the Executive Vice-President, Evidence, Products, and Services at Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC). She is responsible for overseeing a large portfolio of work including pharmaceutical reviews, post market drug evaluation, appropriate use as well as medical devices and clinical interventions.Recognized as a seasoned health care executive, she has more than 25 years of strategic, health care leadership experience. Sudha is passionate about health care and she brings a wealth of experience in promoting health system improvements by actively supporting the adoption of evidence into practice. Prior to joining CDA-AMC in January 2023, Sudha was the Vice President of Strategy and External Relations at Humber River Health. Before that, she was the Interim Vice President of Quality Improvement at Health Quality Ontario (Ontario Health). Sudha holds an Honours BSc in Human Biology and International Relations from the University of Toronto, a degree in law from the University of Western Ontario, and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. She is also a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

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 explores the key aspects of theranostics, how it functions, the challenges of implementation in Canada, current applications, and a successful example of theranostics adoption in Ontario. In this episode, we will learn about the real-world impact of theranostics and its potential to revolutionize patient care across Canada. -- Mike Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer, GE HealthCare Canada Mike Hamilton is a senior executive and board member with over 30 years’ experience in health care and medical technology, gained through progressively senior commercial and executive roles in Canada and internationally. Since September 2022, he has served as the President and CEO of GE HealthCare Canada, where he is responsible for shaping the vision for the Canadian division and implementing the commercial strategy across the entire range of Imaging, Ultrasound, Patient Care Solutions, and Digital Solutions. Additionally, Mike is involved with the C.D. Howe Institute’s Health Policy Council and serves on the Corporate Advisory Council of the Canadian College of Health Leaders. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Western University and holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business. Dr. Narinder Paul, Chief of Medical Imaging at St. Joseph’s Health Care London Dr. Paul obtained his medical degree in 1987 and has held significant academic and administrative roles at the University Health Network and the University of Toronto, eventually becoming a full Professor in 2015. He currently serves as Site Chief and Director at Toronto General Hospital, with his research primarily focused on radiation dose reduction and image optimization in cardiothoracic imaging, driven by patient needs and clinical translation. Dr. Paul also holds graduate appointments and has actively participated in numerous provincial, national, and international professional organizations, receiving multiple awards for his contributions to radiology.