Event Details
Details
- Date: October 7
-
Time:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm ADT
Venue
- Delta Hotels Halifax Downtown
-
1990 Barrington Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1P2 Canada - View Venue Website
Organizer
- MEMBER PRICE / NON-MEMBER PRICE
- $305 / $390
Registration fees shown include 14% HST. Prices are in Canadian dollars.
Cancellations
Registration cancellations received before 5:00 PM ADT on September 7, 2026, will be eligible for a full refund. Registration cancellations received after 5:00 PM ADT on September 7, 2026, are non-refundable. An alternate attendee’s name may be substituted until October 7, 2026. Please request substitutions in writing to info@digitalhealthcanada.com. Any registration transferred from a member to a non-member will be adjusted to the non-member rate.
Sponsorship
To inquire about sponsoring this event, please contact Dino Falvo.
Professional Development
Earn 5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and 6 CCHIM CPEs for attending this event.
Digital Health Canada ATL26
Details
- Date: October 7
-
Time:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm ADT
Venue
- Delta Hotels Halifax Downtown
-
1990 Barrington Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1P2 Canada - View Venue Website
Organizer
- MEMBER PRICE / NON-MEMBER PRICE
- $305 / $390
Digital Health Canada’s Atlantic Region Conference takes place on October 7, 2026 at Delta Hotels Halifax Downtown. This annual one-day conference offers networking and learning for members and digital health professionals from across the Atlantic Region.
Register!- Member Regular: $305
- Non-Member Regular: $390
- Member Student: $105
Send your team and save with bundle pricing
- Member Bundle 5 Tickets: $1,360
- Member Bundle 10 Tickets: $2,720
- Member Bundle 25 Tickets: $6,420
- Member Bundle 50 Tickets: $12,085
Please note: Registration for the Halifax MeetUp is already included in your conference registration. A separate MeetUp registration is only required for those who are not attending the conference.
Schedule
| 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. |
Networking Breakfast + Registration Opens |
| 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. |
Opening RemarksThe day will begin with a welcome from Digital Health Canada CEO Shelagh Maloney and a blessing from our Knowledge Keeper, Charlotte Bernard. As part of the opening ceremony, Elder Bernard will conduct a smudging ceremony.
Please be aware that smudging involves the use of dried plants that produce smoke and scent. If you have any allergies, sensitivities, respiratory concerns, or other considerations related to smoke or scent, please plan accordingly and feel free to speak with a member of the event team in advance. |
| 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. |
Opening Keynote - Islands in the Stream: Nova Scotia’s Digital Health JourneyExecutive Deputy Minister of Health, Dana MacKenzie, will share the story of Nova Scotia’s recent digital health transformation.
|
| 10:25 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. |
Digital Health with Purpose: Innovation, Partnership and Better CareThis panel discussion features provincial health authority CEOs from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick sharing updates on the digital heath innovations improving patient outcomes in their region. CorCare, Newfoundland & Labrador’s new Clinical Information System, is not simply an IT implementation. It is the catalyst for a broader transformation of healthcare in Province. By establishing the digital foundation for modern healthcare, NL Health Services is now positioned to advance the next wave of innovation through administrative modernization and data-driven healthcare delivery, creating a stronger, more connected, and more sustainable health system for future generations. At Horizon Health Network, digital health is transforming the way care is delivered, creating new opportunities to improve patient outcomes, enhance access to services, and support a more sustainable health system. Connecting Care: Nova Scotia Health’s Digital Transformation – How can digital transformation improve patient access, clinical care, and health system coordination? This session explores Nova Scotia Health’s evolving digital landscape, including One Person One Record (OPOR), the province-wide implementation of a clinical information system; YourHealthNS, a digital front door for patients that includes access to a system wide patient summary; and the Care Coordination Centre (C3), a province-wide operations centre. Alongside the growing role of AI, the discussion will highlight opportunities, implementation challenges and lessons learned in connecting these initiatives to support patients, care teams and system performance.
|
| 11:10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. |
Networking Break |
| 11:40 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. |
Unlocking the Potential of Canada's Health Data – Modernizing Data for Infrastructure, Research and Innovation (Presented by CIHI)Canada’s health system is rich in data, but unlocking its full value requires that data to be timely, connected and trusted. Alongside health jurisdictions and partners, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is working to accelerate the growth of Canada’s health data ecosystem to drive innovation and evidence-informed decisions. The goal: to realize the highest quality of care and the best health outcomes for Canadians. This session will explore how national efforts to modernize health data are translating into action. CIHI will highlight work to advance common data content standards and architecture that enable connected care, interoperability and emerging uses such as AI. Through its Hospital Data Transformation (HDT) initiative, CIHI is also reimagining how hospital data is collected, standardized and used—advancing more timely and connected data flows, modernizing hospital data standards, and accelerating the use of AI-assisted coding. Together, this work is creating stronger foundations for high-quality, interoperable data that can support health system planning, research and innovation. Nova Scotia will bring an implementation perspective to the conversation, demonstrating how international FHIR standards and modern, secure data infrastructure are being used to connect information from across the health system and create a more comprehensive view of the patient journey. This work illustrates how Nova Scotia is advancing interoperability and creating the conditions to support emerging opportunities in health data, research and AI. Together, these national and jurisdictional perspectives will demonstrate how common foundations, modern infrastructure and real-world implementation can accelerate a more connected, trusted and innovative health data ecosystem for Canada.
|
| 12:25 p.m. -1:25 p.m. |
Networking Lunch |
| 1:25 p.m.-2:10 p.m. |
From Insight to Impact: Transforming Health Workforce Planning with Data and AIHow can health systems use data and AI to better anticipate workforce needs and connect people with the right opportunities? Join Dr. Annette Elliott Rose and Steven Carrigan for a discussion bringing together nursing leadership, workforce expertise, system performance and analytics. Drawing on Nova Scotia Health’s experience, including its nurse matching tool, this session will explore how these approaches can inform resource planning, support workforce decisions and align staffing with patient and service needs. Discover how AI and analytics are helping shape a more responsive, sustainable and high-performing health system.
|
| 2:20 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. |
Patient Empowerment, YourHealthNS and Nova Scotia JourneyNova Scotia is empowering patients with information and access to their health records through a single digital front door, YourHealthNS. This presentation will outline the work in progress with supporting patient stories and experiences.
|
| 3:05 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. |
Networking Break |
| 3:35 p.m. – 4:35 p.m. |
Closing Keynote - Creating Sustainable Change in Canada’s Health SystemThe accelerated pace of change in the health system is unprecedented. In the face of mounting fiscal pressures, workforce capacity issues and the need to adopt emerging technologies like AI, Canada’s health system needs clear strategies to ensure sustainability and quality of care. In this closing keynote, Karen Oldfield, CEO, Accelerate NS, will explore these challenges, describe opportunities and suggest how we might move forward.
|
| 4:35 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. |
Closing Remarks
|
| 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
Halifax MeetupBluenose Room |
Speakers
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Samina Abidi
Professor, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University / Board Member, Digital Health Canada
Read MoreDr. Samina Raza Abidi is Professor of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University, Halifax. She holds a PhD in Health Informatics, Masters in Information Technology, and is a physician holding a MD. S he has been involved with digital health academics, innovation, advocacy and mentorship for over 15 years. She is the co-director of the NICHE (kNowledge Intensive Computing for Healthcare Enterprises) research group, and her research program is titled “Digital Lifetime Healthcare” that involves investigations in health knowledge management using AI methods for clinical decision support, patient empowerment and health information systems. She is the recipient of the Women Leadership award by Digital Health Canada, Best paper awards, Steven Huesing Award by COACH, Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral Award and is the Member of the College of Reviewers (CIHR). She has successfully blended her medical training with digital health to lead the design and development of multiple innovative point-of-care and point-of-need digital health solutions for clinical decision support targeting chronic disease management, virtual care by remote patient monitoring, patient empowerment through digital therapeutics and behaviour modification plans, public health by addressing psychosocial determinants of health and risk factors for chronic diseases. As an researcher and innovator, her digital health works have been presented both within Canada and globally. She is experienced in digital transformation activities in the healthcare space, and is globally involved in digital health adoption activities at the academic, technical, advocacy and policy making levels. She is an experienced digital health academic, innovator and practitioner.
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Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia
CEO, Amplify Care / Board Member, Digital Health Canada
Read MoreDr. Mohamed Alarakhia is the founder of and visionary force behind Amplify Care, where his extensive experience in primary care as a practicing family doctor and deep expertise in informatics have shaped the organization’s bold approach to digital health. As a leading force in the field, Dr. Alarakhia is dedicated to transforming the healthcare system by driving ground-breaking, patient-centered solutions that reduce administrative burden for clinicians and improve patient outcomes. His passion for using evidence and championing co-design with clinicians and patients have made him a transformative player, continually pushing boundaries to ensure Amplify remains at the forefront of the digital health innovation.
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Charlotte Bernard
Elder/Knowledge Keeper
Read MoreI am a Mi'kmaq Woman who comes from Sipekne'katik, NS now living in Kjipuktuk, NS. A nurse by trade, I have worked with the Urban Indigenous Community. Today I am a Cultural Advisor sharing the Mi'kmaw Culture. My greatest achievement is my children and grandchildren. I enjoy beading, darts, drumming and I am an avid hugger.
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Dr. Nicole Boutilier
President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health
Read MoreNicole Boutilier is a graduate of Dalhousie Medical School and completed her Family Medicine residency in Calgary. She has held progressive leadership positions and is currently the President and CEO of Nova Scotia Health. Nicole lead Nova Scotia Health's Operational Excellence transformation which aligns quality, performance, data, and continuous improvement towards building a more efficient, sustainable health system. A sought-after speaker, educator and thought leader on physician leadership, health system transformation, innovation, and healthcare improvement, she regularly contributes to national and international conversations on the future of healthcare. A certified executive coach who brings a coaching mindset to every aspect of leadership, she is passionate about developing people, strengthening teams, and transforming systems to improve care for all. Widely recognized by her peers, she was the 2026 recipient of the Chris Carruthers Excellence in Medical Leadership Award from the Canadian Society of Physician Leaders.
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Steven Carrigan
Senior Director, Data & Analytics, Nova Social Health
Read MoreSteven has a Master of Public Administration and Master of Science (Epidemiology). Steven joined Nova Scotia Health in 2017 and leads the Strategy, Performance and Analytics portfolio. Prior to joining Nova Scotia Health, he worked in analytics at the NS Department of Health and Wellness and supporting health data research at Dalhousie University. Steven is an experienced leader in the realm of healthcare analytics, with a focus in biostatistics, advanced analytics and public administration. Steven is committed to promoting a culture of evidence and data-based decision-making, across the organization. As the Senior Director, Data & Analytics Steven has accountability for the provision of strategic and analytics leadership, advice and guidance to leaders across the organization by using the tools and techniques best suited for solving the challenging problems associated with the optimal delivery of healthcare, through a province-wide, multi-disciplinary and cross-functional team.
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Daniel Cheng
Chief Digital Officer, Process Fusion
Read MoreDaniel Cheng is Chief Digital Officer at Process Fusion and a recognized leader in digital health innovation. He partners with healthcare organizations across Canada to harness the power of AI, automation, and agentic technologies to transform care delivery, optimize operations, and improve outcomes. Passionate about the responsible adoption of AI, Daniel advocates for solutions built on trust, governance, and measurable value. Known for his ability to make complex technologies accessible to executive and clinical audiences, he helps organizations navigate the intersection of technology, strategy, and healthcare transformation. Daniel serves on the TECHNATION Health Advocacy Committee and is an active member of several leading health informatics and digital health organizations including the Canadian Health Informatics Executive Forum (CHIEF).
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Dr. Matthew Clarke
Associate CMIO NS Health/IWK Health
Read MoreDr. Matthew Clarke is an Emergency Physician with a mixed academic and community practice, and the Associate Chief Medical Information Officer for Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health. With over a decade of clinical experience, he grounds his leadership in the frontline realities of healthcare delivery and the patient experience. He has provided clinical leadership for key digital health transformations, including the YourHealthNS app and the NOVA AI citizen search tool. His work focuses on data standardization, interoperability, and patient empowerment.
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Ron Johnson
CEO, NL Health Services
Read MoreRon Johnson is the chief executive officer (interim) of NL Health Services. He has approximately 30 years of progressive career experience in health care from front-line delivery to executive management.
Ron has had executive accountability for a number of health-care and corporate portfolios. Most recently, he held the position of vice president, digital health, innovation & research and chief information officer leading the implementation of the new CorCare health information system. Previously, he held the positions of chief operating officer for the Eastern Zones, both urban and rural.
Prior to the transition to NL Health Services, Ron was a member of the executive team at the Eastern Regional Health Authority where he held a number of positions. He was the vice president, innovation, and rural health, as well as chief technology officer. In this position, he had senior accountability for information management and technology, privacy, performance, biomedical engineering, and health information management.
Ron holds a Bachelor of Technology and a Master of Employment Relations from Memorial University along with a Diploma of Technology from the College of the North Atlantic. He has also completed diplomas in Health Service Management and Modern Management from the Canadian Healthcare Association. Ron is certified in change management and has the professional designations of Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) and Certified Health Executive (CHE). He is currently inaugural chair of National Health Innovation Council facilitated by Health Pro, a national group purchasing organization for health-care supplies and solutions. As a sessional instructor at the Marine Institute of Memorial University, he teaches courses in the Bachelor of Technology and the Master of Technology Management programs.
Ron and his wife, Heather, are proud parents to one daughter, Mya. As a family, they enjoy most of the outdoor activities Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer.
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Janine Kaye
Manager for Interoperability Engagement, CIHI
Read MoreJanine has worked in digital health for over two decades. She has expertise in the areas of business intelligence, data warehousing, data governance and master data management. In her current role, she has turned her attention to the challenges of Canadian healthcare interoperability. In all her work she considers information quality, privacy, risk and patient safety. Janine graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BASc in Systems Design Engineering and holds the CPHIMS-CA designation.
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Tanya Khan
Manager of Hospital Data Transformation, Enablement & Adoption, CIHI
Read MoreTanya Khan is the Manager of Hospital Data Transformation, Enablement & Adoption at the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). With more than 15 years of experience working across CIHI’s data assets, she is an experienced leader in advancing innovation and transformation in the use of health data to support better decision-making across Canada’s health systems.
In her current role, Tanya leads CIHI’s Hospital Data Transformation initiative, focused on modernizing hospital data and reimagining how it is collected, analyzed and used to better meet the evolving needs of health systems. She brings a collaborative and strategic approach to strengthening relationships, navigating complex data challenges and translating health system needs into opportunities for innovation and meaningful change.
www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-khan396
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Dana MacKenzie
Executive Deputy Minister, Province of Nova Scotia
Read MoreDana was appointed to the role of Deputy Minister of The Department of Health and Wellness on January 22, 2024. Dana has previously served as the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs with responsibility for Trade, the Associate Deputy Minister of Justice, and the Associate Deputy Minister of the Office of Citizen Centered Approaches. She was Nova Scotia’s Secretary to the Executive Council from 2018 to 2021. She previously worked as a senior solicitor at Nova Scotia’s Department of Justice, at the private bar, and at Bell Aliant.
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Shelagh Maloney
CEO, Digital Health Canada
Read MoreShelagh Maloney’s career has been defined by a passion for digital health and its transformative ability to improve the patient and provider experience. Prior to assuming the role of CEO, Digital Health Canada, Shelagh held national executive leadership roles in both the public and private sectors where she earned widespread recognition for her business development, relationship management, consensus-building, and communication skills.
A dedicated advocate for innovation and equity through digital health, Shelagh has shaped policy and practice through influential volunteer roles. She is currently Vice -Chair, Vision Loss Rehab Canada and has served as Vice Chair of SNOMED International, Board Chair of Digital Health Canada, and Board Director, Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). Shelagh holds a B.Sc . in Applied Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo and is a Certified Professional in Health Information & Management Systems (CPHIMS-CA).
In recognition of her contributions to the industry, Shelagh was an inaugural recipient of the Women Leaders in Digital Health in 2017 and was named a Digital Health Canada Fellow in 2023.
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Jamey Martell
Senior Director, One Person One Record, Nova Scotia Health
Read MoreJamey is a passionate and accomplished IT executive with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector. As a transformational leader, she excels in developing high-performing, accountable teams and fostering a culture of innovation. Known for her effective communication and strategic thinking, Jamey has a proven ability to translate complex business needs into
technology solutions that enhance patient care. Currently serving as the Senior Director for the One Person One Record initiative at Nova Scotia Health, Jamey leads the implementation of a province-wide to support the One Person One Record provincial vision. Previously, Jamey held various leadership positions within across both public and private sector. Jamey holds a Master’s degree in Health Informatics from Dalhousie University and is certified in Project Management (PMP), Clinical Informatics (CPHIMS-CA) and holds the Certified Healthcare CIO designation from CHIME. Outside of her professional commitments, Jamey is dedicated to continuous learning and is actively involved in mentoring emerging leaders in healthcare IT. She is passionate about
advocating for technology that supports equitable access to healthcare for all.Read Less -
Margaret Melanson
President and CEO, Horizon Health Network
Read MoreMargaret Melanson is President and CEO of Horizon Health Network. Since assuming the role in 2022, she has led significant organizational transformation, with a strong focus on expanding access to care and improving patient flow through collaboration, innovation, and system wide solutions. She brings extensive senior leadership experience in health care and was named one of Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada in 2025 and 2026 for her leadership of the more than 15-thousand strong team at Horizon. A speech-language pathologist by profession, she holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Dalhousie University, as well as an Executive Master of Business Administration.
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Andrew Nemirovsky
Consultant, Grafton Healthcare IT Consulting / Board Member, Digital Health Canada
Read MoreAndrew is a registered nurse and healthcare IT executive whose career spans clinical practice, provincial CIO leadership at Nova Scotia Health, national roles with Oracle Health and Interlace Health, and active CIS implementation — currently the Technical Project Director for a provincial CIS rollout in New Brunswick with Symbio. A holder of Digital Health Canada's CPHIMS-CA certification and a CFHI EXTRA Fellow, Andrew brings deep implementation experience, executive governance credentials, and a clinical lens that is rare at the board level. He serves on the HIMSS Eastern Canada Chapter Board and is Principal of Grafton Healthcare IT Consulting Inc. Recognized with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Award for pandemic-era digital transformation, Andrew is a committed advocate for Atlantic Canadian representation in national digital health leadership.
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Natalie Oake
IM/IT Director for Enterprise Architecture and Digital Strategy, Nova Scotia Health
Read MoreNatalie Oake is an accomplished leader in digital health strategy and transformation. With an extensive background in epidemiology and health analytics, she has dedicated her career to advancing data-driven decision-making in healthcare systems.
Natalie holds a Master of Health Management from McMaster University, and a Master of Science in Epidemiology and Community Medicine from the University of Ottawa. Additionally, she is a Certified Professional in Health Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS-CA) and a Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP).
Currently, Natalie serves as the IM/IT Director for Enterprise Architecture and Digital Strategy at Nova Scotia Health. In this role, she leads a team of architects, developers, and data engineers in the implementation of Nova Scotia’s FHIR Electronic Health Record system. She has been instrumental in establishing health data standards and modern data integration patterns to support the province’s digital transformation efforts.
Passionate about integrating digital solutions and healthcare, Natalie continues to shape the future of digital health and informatics, ensuring that data-driven solutions enhance the citizen, provider, and administrator experience.
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Karen Oldfield
CEO, Accelerate Nova Scotia
Read MoreKaren Oldfield is CEO of Accelerate Nova Scotia, a special operating agency of the Government of Nova Scotia focused on advancing opportunities at the intersection of healthcare, innovation and economic development.
From September 2021 to June 2026, Karen served as Interim President and CEO of Nova Scotia Health, where her tenure was marked by significant transformation and measurable progress. Under her leadership, Nova Scotia Health introduced innovative new models of care, including the West Bedford Transitional Health Centre; made nationally recognized improvements in surgical wait times; and significantly expanded access to primary care, connecting more Nova Scotians with a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Prior to Nova Scotia Health, Karen served for 18 years as President and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority, where she led record-level growth in trade, infrastructure investment and economic impact. Throughout her career, Karen has taken a data-driven approach to leadership, with a focus on innovation, efficiency, futureproofing and sustainability. In recognition of her leadership and contributions to business and public service, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Commerce
from Saint Mary’s University in May 2022.Karen credits her accomplishments to a strong sense of purpose and the unwavering support of her daughter, Laura, who reminds her every day of why it matters to “get things done.”
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Dr. Annette Elliott Rose
Chief Nurse Executive and Vice President Clinical Performance & Professional Practice, Nova Scotia Health Authority
Read MoreDr. Elliott Rose (Annette) is the Chief Nurse Executive and Vice President, Clinical Performance & Professional Practice at Nova Scotia Health, providing strategic leadership to advance health system transformation, operational and clinical excellence, and innovation across Nova Scotia. A recognized executive leader, researcher, and health system strategist, she brings more than two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, education, health workforce planning, equity, and executive leadership. As an Executive Sponsor for One Person One Record (OPOR), Nova Scotia’s province-wide digital health transformation, Dr. Elliott Rose is championing the integration of people, processes, and technology to create a more connected and person-centered health system. She is actively involved in work to help drive the adoption of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and advanced data capabilities to support workforce planning, clinical service delivery, and system performance. Her focus is leveraging digital innovation to anticipate future health care needs, optimize resources and strengthen services for Nova Scotians.
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