Shy Amlani is an occupational therapist by background and has an MBA in Health Services Management. She is particularly interested in increasing the quality of patient care by bridging clinical care, research and quality improvement. She has held lecturer and facilitator positions in the Occupational Therapy programs at McMaster University and the University of Toronto. Shy has held numerous leadership positions with various charitable organizations, as well as professional teams. She led the Toronto Rehab Spinal Cord Program through accreditation and facilitated interprofessional processes to significantly change the Program’s financial status and positioning with patients and caregivers. As the Program Manager for the Stroke Program in the Edmonton Zone, Shy led the planning and implementing of an integrated Stroke Program in various locations across the continuum of care. Shy led 9 programs, as well as the coordinating program, through the process of achieving Stroke Distinction (Accreditation Canada). She also was the Program Lead for Canada’s First Stroke Ambulance. Currently, Shy is the Provincial Director of the Virtual Health Program within AHS. The Virtual Health program aims to connect patients to care providers using virtual technologies, supporting access to high quality care that is effective and efficient.
How long have you been a member of Digital Health Canada?
4 years
Why do you want to join the Digital Health Canada Board of Directors at this point in your career?
I led the development of a virtual health strategy collaboratively with numerous partners across AHS and have been involved in procuring innovations and technologies for the organization. In addition, I have had an opportunity to participate in national RFPQs for virtual innovations. In engaging with my colleagues, nationally, I have learned many opportunities and issues we face are similar. I would love to be part of a Board that facilitates connections to identify collective opportunities and actions, advocating for how we might move digital care forward nationally. In addition, facilitating issues management such as discussions on evaluating innovation and determining if it moved the dial on care delivery is something I would really like to make a valuable contribution to. Finally, I think my clinical background, leadership experience, and knowledge of virtual care delivery can bring together the integration of clinical practice and digital care and make a difference to patient care, as well as the industry.
How does your experience align with the Digital Health Canada strategic plan and mandate?
The work I do in my current role as Provincial Director of Virtual Health at AHS closely aligns with many of the plans and mandates of Digital Health Canada. Engaging and partnering with a wide-range of clinical and support areas, recognizing their expertise and their interests, assist me in collaboratively achieving common goals. This skill is key to achieving the mandate of connecting individuals, facilitating identifying and achieving common goals to move digital care forward. In addition, advocating for virtual care integration at AHS will assist me in doing the same for Digital Health Canada, including being involved with planning, implementation and evaluation activities. Finally, my experience with communities of practice, bringing partners together to share best practices will assist with knowledge sharing and continued learning.
What unique skills, perspectives and contributions would you bring to the Digital Health Canada Board?
I have extensive health care leadership experience in managing clinical programs, zone and provincial strategic work in specialized areas (including implementation of best practices consistently over large geographies) and leading virtual care. I also have experience in quality improvement, change management and evaluation methodologies. Finally, I am committed to equity and listening to patient and family voices. Providing equitable access and minimizing the digital divide are particularly important to me. Looking at opportunities to make technology accessible across wide geographies and groups of people, identifying those conditions in which these patients need access to be supported by policy, and determining alternatives to expensive technologies are of particular interest to me.
Do you or have or have you ever had any direct patient care experience (clinical)?
My background is occupational therapy. I worked with patients from across the continuum of care including paediatrics, adults, geriatrics. I also practiced in a variety of areas including medicine, surgery, and orthodics. I also have leadership experience in managing clinical programs in the areas of rehabilitation, spinal cord injury and stroke care.
What segments within the Digital Health Canada community do you feel you will best represent? Select all that apply.
- Executives
- Emerging leaders
- Clinicians
- Leaders
- Academic and research
- Health care institutions
- IM/IT
With which Digital Health Canada committees, task groups or activities have you volunteered in past five years? Describe your most significant contributions to Digital Health Canada’s mission.
While I have not volunteered on many committees, I have presented a few webinar Wednesdays, conferences, and regularly attend Western Canada events. In addition, I have done national work with other organizations such as Canada Health Infoway. I am keen to make a valuable contribution to Digital Health Canada.
What other board appointments or relevant leadership experiences have you had in the past five years?
Board Member Aga Khan Education Board, Edmonton, AB July 2020 to present • Lead the delivery of an early childhood development program that helps families and communities facilitate cognitive, motor, speech, and social development of young children ages 0-4 years • Develop annual operational plans, goals, and reports on program outcomes • Manage volunteer and financial resources Board Member Windsor Park Elementary School, Edmonton, AB September 2020 to present • Develop plans, organize and evaluate school events that support the educational and social development of students including school-wide sports, science, reading, and entertainment events
Please tell us why you feel Digital Health Canada members should vote for you.
A combination of clinical, leadership, and virtual care knowledge would be an asset to Digital Health Canada. I understand the perspective of diverse patient populations, clinician experiences with technology, the importance of value for money and being able to make improvements at a system level using digital care. I love bringing people together, using a strength-based approach to solve common issues, identify priorities, and work towards common goals. In addition, I am committed to, and enthusiastic about virtual care adoption across the country.
Do you currently hold the Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems – Canada (CPHIMS-CA) credential?
No
What is your educational background? Please list all degrees and designations.
Master of Business Administration (Co-op), Health Services Management, with Distinction McMaster University December 2003 Bachelor of Health Sciences in Occupational Therapy, with Distinction McMaster University September 1999 Bachelor of Applied Science in Gerontology, with Honours University of Guelph April 1999
