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...

Welcome back to The HQ podcast, where we continue our insightful series on Planetary Health. In our last episode, Dr. Husein Moloo introduced the concept of planetary health, providing valuable insights on how we can shift from eco-anxiety to eco-action. His discussion laid the foundation for understanding the broader impact of environmental sustainability within the healthcare sector.

Today, we dive deeper into this crucial topic by focusing on organizational change. Specifically, we explore how entire healthcare organizations can implement meaningful eco-actions and lead the way in environmental stewardship and sustainability. We are honoured to be joined by the three Co-Chairs of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre’s Green Task Force: Michael Lithgow, Dr. Susan Deering, and Genny Ng. These leaders share their extensive experiences and insights, demonstrating how Sunnybrook is driving sustainability initiatives and setting an example for others in the healthcare industry.

Tune in to gain valuable insights on leading organizational change for planetary health and learn how you can contribute to making a positive impact on both human health and the environment.

Key Discussions:

Introducing the Green Task Force: Our guests share their backgrounds and the spark that ignited their journeys into planetary health. They discuss the formation and evolution of Sunnybrook’s Green Task Force.

Overcoming Challenges: The panel discusses the obstacles they’ve faced in promoting sustainability within the healthcare setting and the strategies they used to overcome them.

Engaging the Organization: The secrets behind successfully engaging staff and building momentum for eco-action across the organization are revealed.

Quality Improvement and Sustainability: The background in quality improvement supports the Task Force’s goals, with collaborative efforts driving their success.

The Role of Design in Planetary Health: The importance of design in sustainable healthcare infrastructure and adapting existing structures to new environmental values is explored.

Impact on Patient Care: The direct impact of sustainability initiatives on patient care and why planetary health matters to patients and families is discussed.

Achieving and Scaling Success: The panel shares their proudest achievements and the key elements that have contributed to their success, providing actionable insights for other organizations.

Sustaining and Growing Initiatives: The resources required to sustain and grow their initiatives are discussed, emphasizing the role of leadership and strategic planning.

Future Directions: The episode concludes with a look at what’s next for the Green Task Force at Sunnybrook and final words of wisdom for others inspired to take eco-action.

About Our Guests:

Michael Lithgow: Manager of Energy & Climate Action in the Plant Operations and Maintenance Department at Sunnybrook. A Professional Engineer with over 30 years in energy efficiency and green buildings, Michael is dedicated to advancing sustainability initiatives at Sunnybrook.

Dr. Susan Deering: Division Lead for Long-Term Care in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Sunnybrook. Passionate about reducing healthcare’s environmental impact, Susan is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health with a focus on climate change and human health.

Genny Ng: Manager of Quality & Patient Safety at Sunnybrook. With a background in respiratory therapy and quality improvement, Genny is a driving force behind Sunnybrook’s sustainability efforts, including the introduction of beehives to the...

Did you know that healthcare is one of the largest contributors to pollution, waste, emissions, and overall environmental harm? As such, The HQ podcast is starting a series to examine and discuss this in more detail.

In this first episode, we explore the concept of planetary health, an area of growing importance around the world and within the healthcare sector. Joining us to unpack this complex and existential topic is Dr. Husein Moloo, a distinguished colorectal surgeon and visionary leader in the field of environmental sustainability within healthcare. Dr. Moloo, who serves as the inaugural Director for Planetary Health for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, brings to the conversation a wealth of knowledge and a passionate commitment to integrating quality improvement, patient safety, and environmental stewardship.

Together, we explore why healthcare's environmental impact is critical, how to encourage sustainable practices, and what it takes to move from eco-anxiety to eco-action. This episode delivers not only thought-provoking insights on planetary health but also practical strategies to engage healthcare professionals and leaders in making a tangible difference for our planet's health.

Tune in to gain valuable insights into the crucial connection between healthcare and planetary health, and learn how you can contribute to making a positive impact on both human health and the environment.

Key Discussions:

Understanding Planetary Health: Dr. Moloo provides a comprehensive explanation of what planetary health entails and why it is distinct from but related to climate change.

Healthcare's Environmental Impact: The conversation explores why the healthcare sector must focus on its environmental footprint. Dr. Moloo discusses the significant impact healthcare practices have on planetary health and the moral imperative for health professionals to address this issue.

Triple Bottom Line in Healthcare: Dr. Moloo explains the "Triple Bottom Line" concept and its application in healthcare. He discusses the importance of balancing environmental, social, and economic considerations to achieve sustainable health outcomes.

From Eco-Anxiety to Eco-Action: Addressing the prevalent issue of eco-anxiety, Dr. Moloo emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals and organizations to take meaningful actions towards sustainability.

Engaging Leadership and Workforce: Practical insights are provided on how to engage healthcare leadership and the workforce in driving environmental initiatives and fostering a culture of sustainability.

About Dr. Husein Moloo:

Dr. Husein Moloo is a colorectal surgeon with a deep commitment to quality improvement and patient safety. His interest in planetary health emerged from this intersection, leading to his current role as the inaugural Director for Planetary Health at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. He also advises the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada on planetary health and co-chairs the AFMC’s national planetary health committee. Dr. Moloo's leadership in this field is instrumental in advancing the conversation and actions needed to address the urgent environmental challenges facing the healthcare sector.

Helpful Links:

Dr. Husein Moloo | LinkedIn: Click Here

Planetary Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa | Website: Click Here

Planetary Health Report Card | Website:

Burnout is a widespread system issue that significantly impacts healthcare professionals today. The consequences are far-reaching, contributing to a healthcare system in crisis as professionals leave their jobs or struggle to continue in increasingly overwhelming conditions.

How can we address this pervasive issue? What is getting in our way? Is it a matter of knowing what to do, a lack of resources, or an issue of values and culture? How can we move beyond simple, often ineffective get-well fixes?

In this episode, we engage with Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley, a Registered Clinical Psychologist and an internationally recognised expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to explore burnout and learn what healthcare leaders and organisations can do to facilitate meaningful changes that can reduce burnout and improve the well-being of all those involved in the care process.

Tune in to this enlightening episode for practical advice, scientific insights, and a compassionate look at one of the most pressing issues in healthcare today.

Key Discussions:

- Background and Journey: Dr. Lee-Baggley shares her personal journey from a healthcare provider to a leading expert in burnout and professional resiliency.

- Supporting Depleted Professionals: Strategies for helping healthcare professionals who are exhausted while facilitating necessary systemic changes, to create healthier work environments.

- Factors Contributing to Burnout: Beyond workload, what are the other factors contributing to burnout, and how can we address them?

- Effective Stress Management Tools: Why simple solutions like hydration, mindfulness, and yoga aren't enough for the healthcare workforce.

- Science-Based Solutions: Insights from research on how to address burnout effectively.

- Health, Wellness, and JEDI: Exploring the relationship between health and wellness initiatives and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) efforts, and the importance of behaviour change in these contexts.

About Dayna Lee-Baggley

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley is a Registered Clinical Psychology with training and expertise in clinical psychology, health psychology, and organizational psychology. She worked as a health psychologist for almost 15 years in multidisciplinary teams on medical, surgical and cancer care hospital units with patients with chronic and life-threatening health conditions. She is an internationally recognized expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She also conducts research at Dalhousie University and at Saint Mary’s University. She has an active research program on behavior change, obesity, chronic

Helpful Links:

Dr. Lee-Baggley & Associates | Website: Click Here

ImpACTme app | Website: Click Here

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley | LinkedIn: Click Here

The Burnout Burger | Article: Click Here

How to Identify Burnout in Our Employees and Colleagues| Article: Click Here

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Welcome to a special milestone episode of The HQ Podcast! And what better way to celebrate our 50th episode than with another inspiring and critically important conversation. Today, we dive into a topic that's rapidly reshaping all parts of our lives, including the future of healthcare: artificial intelligence (AI).

Dale’s conversation with Dr. Muhammad Mamdani, Vice President of Data Science and Advanced Analytics at Unity Health Toronto is a must listen for everyone.

To be clear, this isn’t just any discussion about AI – we’re bringing you an exclusive conversation with an organization, team, and leader that is leading the field in an area that promises to be at least part of the critical solution needed for not only healthcare’s sustainability, but its improvement and transformation. It also holds an exciting key to our health workforce challenges,

Dr. Mamdani's expertise and groundbreaking work at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine makes him the perfect guest to unpack the promises and challenges of AI in healthcare. As we ponder the potential of AI, we can't ignore the pressing Health Human Resource crisis facing healthcare systems worldwide. Does AI innovation hold the promise to alleviate this crisis, offering solutions to ensure better healthcare access and delivery for all?

Join us as we engage with Dr. Mamdani to explore this question and discuss AI’s significance in modern healthcare, its role in tackling patient data challenges, and how leaders can leverage AI ethically without compromising decision-making capabilities.

Don't miss out on this milestone episode – it's one for the books!

Key Discussions:

• Defining AI in Healthcare: Dr. Mamdani elucidates what AI truly entails and its significance in modern healthcare.
• Addressing the Data Problem: We examine the role of AI in tackling the data challenges prevalent in healthcare systems.
• Impact on Clinicians and Health Services: Dr. Mamdani sheds light on how AI can empower clinicians and optimize healthcare services through data-driven insights.
• From Theory to Practice: Gain insights into the process of developing and implementing AI solutions in real-world healthcare scenarios.
• Translating AI into Practice: Explore practical applications of AI in healthcare, from managing emergency department volumes to optimizing patient flow and nurse staffing.
• Building AI Initiatives: Dr. Mamdani shares valuable insights on building successful AI initiatives, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure, teams, and organizational culture.
• Navigating Risks and Ethical Considerations: We discuss the ethical implications and risks associated with AI adoption in healthcare, including governance, privacy, bias, and security.

About Dr. Muhammad Mamdani, PharmD, MA, MPH

• Vice President – Data Science and Advanced Analytics at Unity Health Toronto
• Odette Chair in Advanced Analytics
• Faculty Affiliate – The Vector Institute
• Director – University of Toronto Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education Medicine (T-CAIREM)
• Affiliate Scientist – IC/ES
• Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Mamdani is Vice President of Data Science and Advanced Analytics at Unity Health Toronto and Director of the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM). Dr. Mamdani’s team bridges advanced analytics including machine learning with clinical and management decision making to improve patient outcomes and hospital efficiency with over 50 AI solutions developed...

In episode 49 of The HQ Podcast, Dr. Allen Power, Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation at the Schlegel—University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging in Ontario and keynote speaker at the upcoming Walk With Me 2024 conference, joins us to explore the relationship between leadership, culture change, and organizational transformation all so very critical to changing our approach to long-term care and caring for our ageing population.

Dr. Power, an internationally recognized educator on transformational models of care for older adults, brings deep insight into the essence of culture change, the role of leadership in healthcare transformation, and the profound impact of these elements on long-term care and dementia care practices.

This episode of The HQ Podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in infusing more well-being into our systems of caring for those aging – because at some point, each and every one of us is going to need a system that intersects with our own values – and if we wouldn’t want to be served in our current system, how can we not be committed to changing it for our own futures, if not for those who need it today?

If you’re interested in learning more from Dr. Allen Power, be sure to connect with the upcoming Walk With Me 2024 conference taking place May 1st-3rd, 2024 in Ottawa.

Key Discussions:

The Essence of Culture Change: Dr. Power’s perspective on culture change and its significance in healthcare and personal passion.

Defining Transformation in Healthcare: Unpacking the buzzword 'transformation' and what it means for real-world healthcare practices.

Leadership Challenges in Healthcare and Long-Term Care: An exploration of the specific leadership challenges in these sectors and strategies for overcoming them.

Leadership’s Role in Transformation and Culture Change: How leadership can effectively drive change and the qualities leaders must embody to facilitate this process.

Approaching Aging and Dementia Care: Dr. Power's vision for long-term care and dementia care, including his call to action for stakeholders.

Employee Engagement and Wellness Post-Pandemic: Reflections on the pandemic's lessons for employee well-being and engagement in the context of cultural transformation.

About Dr. Allen Power

Dr. Allen Power is an internist, geriatrician, and Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation at the Schlegel—University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging in Ontario, Canada. He is also clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Rochester, NY, and an internationally recognized educator on transformational models of care for older adults, particularly those living with changing cognitive abilities.

Dr. Power’s book, Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care was named a 2010 Book of the Year by the American Journal of Nursing. His second book, Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being was released by Health Professions Press in 2014 and the second edition of Dementia Beyond Drugs was released in 2017. He has given workshops and seminars on this topic in 18 countries across 5 continents.

Dr. Power is also a trained musician and songwriter with four recordings. Peter, Paul and Mary performed his song of elder autonomy, “If You Don’t Mind”, and Walter Cronkite used his song, “I’ll Love You Forever” in a 1995 Discovery Channel profile of American families. He also recently co-wrote the songs for singer/songwriter Anne Hills’ 2021 album, Accidental August, and their song, “Witness” was composed for the 2022 Pioneer/Green House conference.

Dr. Power is currently working with Dr. Jennifer Carson and Pat Sprigg on a new book about creating...