In this thought-provoking episode of The HQ, we continue our exploration into the interconnectedness of healthcare and planetary health. Building on previous discussions about climate change, environmental sustainability, and the broader social impact of our consumptive healthcare practices, we now take a deeper dive into alternative approaches that challenge the prevailing systems.

Our guest, Dr. Nicole Redvers, brings a unique perspective to the conversation. As a member of the Deninu K’ue First Nation in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Dr. Redvers has dedicated her career to working with Indigenous patients, scholars, and communities worldwide. She is an Associate Professor, Western Research Chair, and Director of Indigenous Planetary Health at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University and serves as the Vice President Research at the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC). Dr. Redvers has been a leading advocate for incorporating Indigenous perspectives into human and planetary health research, and she authored The Science of the Sacred: Bridging Global Indigenous Medicine Systems and Modern Scientific Principles.

In this conversation, we examine the core values and beliefs that have shaped our current systems and explore the lessons we can learn from Indigenous knowledge and health models. Dr. Redvers offers profound insights into how shifting our mindset and embracing alternative, holistic approaches could create more meaningful and sustainable change in healthcare and beyond.

Tune in to discover how Indigenous perspectives can inform and reshape our approach to healthcare and planetary health, offering pathways to a more integrated and sustainable system.

Key Discussions:

• Dr. Redvers’ Journey: Dr. Redvers shares her story and path into advocating for planet-centric healthcare and education, highlighting the experiences that shaped her dedication to this work.
• Connecting Healthcare and Planetary Health: We discuss the foundational concept of planetary health and how our understanding of health must encompass the well-being of our planet.
• Prioritizing the Right Issues: Dr. Redvers addresses whether our current focus on reducing emissions and pollution in healthcare is enough or if we should shift the conversation to more fundamental concerns.
• Unspoken Burden of Healthcare: Why has the environmental impact of healthcare been a neglected topic, and what’s driving the growing awareness today?
• Learning from Indigenous Models: We explore the potential of Indigenous health models and traditional medicine systems to transform Western healthcare, understanding the interplay between these approaches.
• Eco-Anxiety and Action: Addressing eco-anxiety, Dr. Redvers shares strategies for turning fear into actionable solutions, drawing from her experiences and the impacts of environmental disasters on her community.
• Systemic Competition and Change: A critical examination of the tensions between different systems, how they operate in isolation or in connection, and what it takes to enact systemic change without exacerbating flaws or disruptions.
• Healing the System: Can we use a flawed system to repair itself, or must we look for alternatives? Dr. Redvers provides her perspective on navigating this complex challenge.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Nicole Redvers, ND, MPH, DPhilc, is a member of the Deninu K’ue First Nation (Northwest Territories, Canada) and has worked with Indigenous patients, scholars, and communities around the globe her entire career. She is an Associate Professor, Western Research Chair, and Director of Indigenous Planetary Health at the Schulich School of Medicine &

In this episode of The HQ, we explore a crucial yet little discussed issue in healthcare: the environmental – and social – harms caused by our medical supply chains. These challenges became particularly evident during the pandemic, when global supply chains were pushed to the brink, highlighting our dependence on foreign production for critical medical items like masks and gloves. Yet the issue of supply chains is surprisingly much more encompassing of many supplies that are manufactured under sub-standard conditions in other countries, and which ultimately will be “thrown away” after a single use. As healthcare continues to grapple with its environmental footprint and ethical responsibilities, our guest, Dr. Mahmood Bhutta, has been at the forefront of bringing awareness to the issues and opportunities which are driving much needed change in this space.

Dr. Bhutta, the inaugural Chair in ENT Surgery and Professor of Sustainable Healthcare at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK, and Clinical Green Lead for University Hospitals Sussex, brings decades of experience and a deep commitment to addressing both the environmental and human rights impacts of healthcare. His unique perspective offers valuable insights into how we can rethink our approach to healthcare supply chains for a more sustainable and ethical future.

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Bhutta discusses how our "throwaway culture" in healthcare has contributed to significant waste and exploitation, and why it’s vital for healthcare leaders to start addressing these issues at both the policy and operational levels. He also shares practical solutions that can lead to a more sustainable and ethical healthcare system, without compromising patient care.

Tune in to learn more about the impact of supply chains on planetary health and what steps healthcare leaders can take to make a change.

Key Discussions:

Throwaway Culture in Healthcare: Dr. Bhutta explains the concept of throwaway culture and how it manifests in healthcare, from the over-reliance on disposable items to the environmental and labour rights consequences.

Labour Rights and Medical Supply Chains: We delve into the troubling conditions under which many healthcare products are manufactured, including child labour in some regions. Dr. Bhutta shares his personal connection to these issues and why they demand urgent attention.

Systemic Misconceptions: Dr. Bhutta challenges several misconceptions in healthcare, including the role of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the assumption that disposability is inherently safer or more cost-effective.

Sustainability in Healthcare: The conversation moves towards solutions, as Dr. Bhutta outlines what sustainable healthcare could look like—focusing on reusable products, improved purchasing models, and a shift in mindset across the system.

Impact on Global Healthcare Systems: Dr. Bhutta addresses the larger threat that unsustainable practices pose to healthcare systems globally and offers insight into what a policy agenda for sustainable healthcare might include.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Mahmood Bhutta is a pioneer in sustainable healthcare. As a leading voice on the environmental and human rights impacts of healthcare supply chains, Dr. Bhutta works to make healthcare systems more sustainable and equitable. He serves as Chair in ENT Surgery and Professor of Sustainable Healthcare at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK and is the Clinical Green Lead for University Hospitals Sussex. His extensive research and activism have led to real-world changes in healthcare practices, helping reduce waste and improve labour conditions across the medical supply chain.

Helpful Links:

Brighton and...

In this episode of The HQ, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Leigh Chapman, Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer. With the ongoing challenges facing our healthcare workforce, as highlighted by the Snapshot of Canada’s Healthcare Workforce, a benchmarking survey of HealthCareCAN member institutions, this conversation could not be more timely or important.

The survey reveals that notwithstanding record investments in adding more resources, vacancies, turnover, sick. time, and overtime all remain very high. All of this makes it clear that we can’t recruit our way to more a resilient and sustainable health system – we need to look at the system itself, focus on retention, and what can be done to build a more resilient and compassionate system that serves all Canadians, including our health workforce.

As we navigate these complexities, Dr. Chapman offers in plain and clear language her expert insights on the state of our health system, the pressing need for transformation, and the critical steps required to retain and support our current workforce, including nurses, the largest group of healthcare professionals.

Tune in to this insightful episode to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within Canada’s healthcare workforce and learn from one of the leading voices in healthcare today.

Key Discussions:

Crisis or Opportunity?

Dr. Chapman shares her perspective on whether the healthcare workforce is in crisis or if we should be reframing the conversation toward solutions, and how this shift in framing can influence our approach to tackling the issues.

The Core Challenges:

We explore the root issues plaguing the healthcare workforce, including high vacancies, turnover, and internal churn within organizations. Dr. Chapman discusses the broader implications of these challenges and what needs to be done to address them.

The Call for Transformation:

While innovation and transformation are often cited as necessary for the future of healthcare, Dr. Chapman offers a balanced view of how these efforts impact the health workforce and what realistic steps can be taken to ensure they contribute to a sustainable system.

Expectations from All Sides:

Drawing from her extensive interactions with health organizations, frontline workers, government officials, and Canadians coast to coast, Dr. Chapman provides an overview of what each of these stakeholders expects from the healthcare system and how these expectations align with current realities.

Building a Resilient Health System:

What does resilience look like in healthcare, and what barriers are preventing us from achieving it? Dr. Chapman shares her thoughts on the key factors that would make Canada’s health system more resilient.

Leadership in Healthcare:

Leadership is often highlighted as a critical component of healthcare reform. Dr. Chapman weighs in on whether we have a leadership issue in the health system and the importance of leadership in driving meaningful change.

Talent Pipeline and Retention:

The conversation turns to the talent pipeline—how do we attract and retain healthcare professionals in an increasingly challenging environment?

Looking Forward:

As the episode concludes, Dr. Chapman shares what’s next for the Office of Canada’s Chief Nursing Officer, offering listeners a glimpse into the future initiatives aimed at supporting Canada’s health workforce.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Leigh Chapman is committed to advancing the nursing profession in Canada to ensure equitable access to quality care. As CNO for Canada, she provides strategic advice to Health Canada, plays a convening role on key nursing issues, and represents the Federal Government at...