By Christine Grimm. Senior Vice President, Strategy, Performance, and Digital Health, Healthtech Consultants

On Thursday October 2nd, 2025, CHIEF Executive Forum members gathered for a full day of immersive learning and peer exchange at two of Toronto’s leading hospitals—Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The visits offered a close-up look at how innovation, collaboration, and digital transformation are shaping the future of healthcare in Canada.

Morning at Michael Garron Hospital

We kicked off the day with a warm welcome from Amelia Hoyt, CIO, and Linia Shaji, Director of Enterprise Data and Clinical Information Management. MGH is a hospital deeply committed to digital transformation, population health, and equity in East Toronto. MGH serves over 400,000 residents, is part of the Toronto East Health Partners OHT, and recently earned the highest standing from Accreditation Canada. With over 5,000 staff, a high-volume emergency department, and a new clinical tower opened in 2023, the hospital is clearly investing in its future. The tour of the Thomson Patient Care Centre gave us a firsthand look at modernized patient registration, inpatient and ambulatory areas, and the thoughtfully designed Mental Health Terrace. We also visited the Rands Family Simulation Lab, which is helping build clinical confidence and competence through high-fidelity training. MGH is accelerating its digital transformation with a clear focus on modernization and innovation. The organization is advancing its cloud strategy through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, exploring data infrastructure options to streamline and centralize data, and piloting AI scribe tools to enhance clinical workflows. Strategic investments in data governance and cybersecurity—including a joint CISO model with Sinai Health—are helping build a more connected, secure, and resilient digital health ecosystem.

Afternoon at SickKids

After a short transition, we arrived at SickKids and were welcomed by Dr. Karim Jessa, CMIO, and Dr. Sarah Muttitt, VP & CIO. The afternoon was packed with powerful presentations that showcased how SickKids is advancing clinical innovation, technology-enabled care and data driven decision making to improve care, sustainability, and research:

• Implementation of Care Companion for Remote Care Management
  A collaborative initiative between Clinical Informatics and Emergency Medicine, co-designed with patients and clinicians. This model leverages Epic and the Remote Care Management (RCM) Framework to deliver virtual care anchored in defined care pathways. It supports both synchronous and asynchronous interactions, integrates connected devices, and applies standardized operating procedures to enhance remote monitoring, communication, and care coordination.
  Presented by: Heather Laird (Clinical Informatics Specialist), Alyssa Ramdeo (Epic Application Specialist), Dr. Daniel Rosenfield (Physician, Paediatric Emergency Medicine)
• Harnessing Epic Data to Reduce Pediatric Anesthesia Emissions
  A compelling example of how clinical data can drive environmental stewardship in practice. This initiative uses Epic data to identify and reduce emissions associated with pediatric anesthesia.
  Presented by: Dr. Mandy Lam (Anesthesiologist, MD, FRCPC)
• SickKids Enterprise-wide Data in Azure Repository (SEDAR)
  A visionary initiative led by Dr. Lillian Sung, Chief Clinical Data Scientist. SEDAR is a scalable, high-quality data platform built on the OMOP common data model. It supports research, machine learning, and informed decision-making through a “curate once, reuse often” approach—positioning it as a model for other Epic sites to emulate.

We wrapped up with a tour of the SimKids Simulation Centre, a cutting-edge 11,500 sq ft facility that supports interprofessional training in a safe, realistic environment. It was a powerful reminder of how simulation can elevate both individual and team performance.

Key Takeaways for Digital Health Leaders:

• Clinical + Data Strategy Integration is essential for sustainable transformation.
• Simulation and Training environments are critical enablers of safe innovation.
• Environmental Impact is emerging as a key consideration in digital health design.
• Cross-functional Collaboration between clinicians, informaticians, and data scientists is driving meaningful change.

These site visits were a great reminder of the value of learning through experience and peer exchange. Let’s keep building a digitally enabled, patient-centered, and sustainable health system—together. Special thanks to Michael Garron Hospital and SickKids for hosting the CHIEF Executive forum!

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