By Khyati Eda, Student Researcher, Reach Alliance at the University of Toronto | LinkedIn
Reflecting on your early days in the digital health field, you might remember feeling overwhelmed by the sheer pace of innovation. In this rapidly evolving landscape, keeping up with the latest knowledge can feel like a challenge. Now, imagine how I felt as a student researcher at the ON25 conference—stepping into a space filled with experts, practitioners, and innovators, all speaking a language of experience I was just beginning to learn.
Despite this initial intimidation, I had one clear goal: gathering insights for my team’s research with the Reach Alliance at the University of Toronto. Our work focuses on overcoming barriers to digital PTSD treatment for refugees in Canada, and this conference was a valuable opportunity to engage with key stakeholders.
What stood out about ON25 was how it made the complexities of digital health accessible, transforming what could have been an overwhelming experience into an opportunity for discovery. Thought-provoking panels and keynotes such as “Transforming Integrated Care: The Role of Digital Health in Ontario Health Teams” encouraged meaningful dialogue between professionals and emerging researchers alike. This particular session was especially insightful in addressing how digital health can become more accessible and integrated within the current ecosystem, which was a key area I hoped to explore.
“Our approach to what must be prioritized for a given population should be shaped by that population,” said Amber Alpaugh-Bishop, the Executive Lead of the Middlesex London Ontario Health Team.
This quote stood out to me as it highlighted the necessity of co-creation in this field, which is often underemphasized. This theme was echoed by Dr. Ibukun Abejirinde, whom I later spoke with after her panel on “Bridging the Gap – Ensuring Equitable Access in Digital Healthcare”. In this sense, ON25 provided ample opportunities to network with professionals who are committed to transforming healthcare and providing the resources for beginners such as myself to do so, too.
As a whole, this experience made it clear that while the digital health field moves fast, spaces like ON25 are designed to foster learning, bridge knowledge gaps, and create collaborative solutions. I left feeling grateful for the opportunities Digital Health Canada presents and empowered to inform the next wave of change with my own work.