2021 Women Leaders in Digital Health: Alexis Villa

Alexis Villa, Senior Program Director, Connected Care, University Health Network

Alexis’ dedication and passion for driving transformational initiatives in digital health make her a champion for change and innovation in healthcare.

Over the last 12 months, Alexis has been an instrumental and critical leader, not only supporting the pandemic response but taking on new responsibilities within University Health Network. Through the pandemic, Alexis was tasked by the province to lead the implementation of virtual care across Ontario’s Long Term Care homes. This critical initiative supported the residents and staff who were hardest hit by the pandemic. As well, Alexis led the Joint Operations Table for TeamVaccine to support the vaccination efforts across the City of Toronto. By bringing together clinical and community members, and leveraging new digital technologies, Alexis and her team were able to vaccinate employees, residents and essential care partners, which profoundly reduced the burden of COVID 19 in our most vulnerable populations. She then led the mobile vaccination efforts to improving access to vaccine for marginalized communities. In this last year, Alexis was also tasked with taking on the challenge of developing a digital health strategy for large clinical outpatient program that spans across Southwestern Ontario. Her deep expertise in digital health is helping to transform a $65 million dollar clinical operation in support of the UHN’s mission in delivering care closer to home and in the home.

Alexis contributes to the healthcare and academic communities through her role on the Board of Directors of Unison Community Health Center and as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Through both of these roles, Alexis deep experience of the health system and the partnerships she has created, has helped her to share more broadly with emerging leaders, and partners across the continuum of care her digital health expertise.

 

Learn more about the Women Leaders in Digital Health Award here.