I really enjoyed supporting the Winter Lecture Series this year. We had great dialog and got to share real-world experiences with digital and virtual care implementations. I got to hear perspectives from digital health professionals from across the country and from different sectors. I was able to connect with front-line clinicians and hear their direct experience of the impacts and benefits that new technology can bring to clinical care processes.
Volunteering as a Digital Health Canada Faculty member and a speaker at the Winter Lecture Series provided me with opportunities to connect with other health informatics and digital health professionals across Canada. Being able to contribute to this community is an absolute privilege. Through volunteering, I’ve worked with colleagues with diverse backgrounds, and we learn from each other while donating our time/energy/knowledge for a greater cause. This is a very rewarding experience, and I will continue to do that.
The experience of collaborating at the e-Health conference was truly inspiring, and it has motivated us to apply for our new roles as volunteer content reviewers. We are excited about this new journey and look forward to contributing our best to Digital Health Canada.
I enjoyed being a part of the Lecture Series, as it allowed me to go back to my roots and revisit some concepts that I haven't looked at in such depth since undergrad, but also reflect on how my career has taken shape and gave me pause to see how impactful our sector is on Canadians. It was a very fulfilling experience starting from the beginning when I was reviewing the content, to presenting to the engaging group of participants. I've also made some great connections and expanded my network with the participants after my session.
Volunteering with Digital Health Canada allows me to expand my network and connect with others who are trying to have an impact to improve how health data is used in Canada. I also teach part-time in Health Informatics and have learned that it is important to share my stories with others so we can learn on how to leverage digital technologies more effectively.
I believe volunteering is an important service to support our professional field(s). By volunteering, I am grateful for new learning opportunities and meeting new colleagues. The connections made as a result of volunteering are valuable and diverse from public to private sectors.
When you volunteer and get involved in groups, it provides an opportunity to stay engaged; it almost forces you to! You attend sessions that you might not have made the time for otherwise. You also get to know people volunteering on committees with you, and you can form some very key relationships—to connect about related projects, ask questions, or seek advice. Within my internal work environment, I have sought out feedback on what people want to see as conference topics, speakers, etc., which helps you stay current with trends. I have made connections with folks from other provinces in similar roles as myself but also with external parties, such as researchers and developers.
Volunteering for Digital Health Canada has been so rewarding. I get to meet new colleagues from across the digital health space, and every hour I spend with these colleagues brings me new learnings—from shining a light on what's happening in other areas of the country, to learning something new about this field through our conversations and volunteer work.
I consider it an honour and a professional obligation to help ready the next generation of Informatics leaders in Canada. Realizing a population that is healthy and well requires a sustainable health care system and this can only be achieved through the effective and efficient use of evidence and technology. Achieving this is an ongoing challenge for today’s and tomorrow’s Informatics leaders. I volunteer with Digital Health Canada to help ensure future generations benefit from today’s Informatics professionals’ efforts.
Digital Health Canada helps to create a really dynamic informatics community in Canada through diverse educational and community of practice opportunities, networking events, and our national informatics conference in Canada. As a volunteer, the rewards are quite meaningful – you have the satisfaction of contributing, meeting new people, learning from your experiences with others, earning credits towards maintaining your CPHIMS-CA certification, and having fun. I would encourage everyone to consider a volunteer role at Digital Health Canada.
Volunteering with Digital Health Canada has allowed me to engage with digital health leaders from across the country who are at the forefront of digital health innovation in health systems. Through leading the Virtual Care Community of Action and volunteering on the eHealth 2019 plenary committee, I’ve expanded my network, gained insights into cutting edge digital health projects, and been provided with many opportunities to showcase my own work.
