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2025 National Conversation: Driving change: Insights, strategies, and engagement for unstoppable health system redesign

The CCHL National Conversation brings members together throughout the year to explore a priority topic in Canadian health care, fostering thought leadership and supporting effective health leadership. Through expert-informed dialogue, storytelling, and member participation, we identify key leadership skills and share insights via an Executive Summary distributed nationwide. Click here to find out more about the CCHL National Conversation.

Members, via polling, selected the following topic for the 2025 National Conversation:

Health System Redesign

The need for health system redesign in Canadian healthcare is critical to address the growing challenges of accessibility, equity, and sustainability. As the population ages and the demand for services increases, our current systems must evolve to ensure timely, equitable care for all Canadians. Redesigning the health system will help us adapt to these pressures, integrate innovative technologies, and create a more resilient and responsive healthcare environment that meets the needs of every community.

What strategies can health leaders employ to influence the redesign of health systems within their specific contexts?

This high-energy plenary session combines dynamic expert panelists with interactive audience participation to create a memorable and impactful experience. Attendees will actively contribute using live polls, Q&A platforms, and rapid-fire audience challenges. Knowledge Nuggets—concise, high-impact bursts of information—will be woven seamlessly throughout the session, delivering key insights and actionable takeaways in just a few minutes, ensuring maximum engagement and immediate applicability for the audience.

Attendees will leave energized, equipped with actionable insights, and inspired to apply new knowledge in their leadership roles.

This is not just a session to observe—it’s one to participate in, connect, and grow.

Please click here to register if the registration button below does not work with your account.

June 17, 2025 @ 08:45 AM - 09:45 AM MDT / HAR

Please login to your CCHL account to register for this event. If you are not a member, and haven't yet created a profile, please click Become a member to create one.
2025 National Conversation

Event Details:


Location: 9797 Jasper Ave, Edmonton Alberta Canada T5J 1N9

Speakers:

Dr. Santanna Hernandez
Rural Family Medicine Residency - Medicine Hat, University of Calgary

Dr. Santanna Hernandez is Dene, from the Liidlii Kue Nation and Cold Lake First Nation on her father’s side and Dutch on her maternal side. She was raised on the traditional territory of the Sto:lo Nation and spent many years as a guest on the unceded territory of the Sinixt (Lakes), Syilx (Okanagan), Ktunaxa and Secwepemc (Shuswap) nations, whom she honours for the many traditions and gifts they shared with her. Dr. Hernandez is a mother of four children, and she is working on her own healing journey from post-generational trauma and ongoing systemic racism.

She recently completed her medical education at the University of Calgary and will be continuing her training in southern Alberta in rural family medicine. She served as the first Indigenous president of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students and continues to support the federation in the position of past president. She serves as co-chair on the ii'taa'poh'to'p student advisory circle and is continually working on research and initiatives to support Indigenous students at the university.

Dr. Hernandez uses her leadership and governance experience to walk a parallel path with allies. Before attending medical school, she completed a bachelor of Indigenous social work degree at the University of Victoria with a focus on Indigenous health and health policy. Dr. Hernandez has served three terms as the Student Director for the Canadian Medical Associations Board of Directors.

Vickie Kaminski
Healthcare Executive

Vickie is a senior healthcare executive with more than 45 years of experience in the Canadian and international healthcare system. Her professional background is in nursing. Vickie has led health systems in Ontario, Newfoundland, Alberta and Manitoba. She also served as the Chief Executive (Deputy Minister) of South Australia Health. In these previous roles Vickie was responsible for leading health system transformation, major capital construction, and improving service integration across the health system. Vickie has worked extensively with Boards, Governments and senior healthcare providers. She is well versed in dealing with the complexities of decision making in bilateral and tripartite governance responsibilities.

Shiyen Shu
CCHL Faculty and LEADS Executive Coach

As an acclaimed Speaker, certified Executive Coach, and trusted advisor, Shiyen Shu is committed to helping great people become extraordinary healthcare leaders. Recognized as one of the Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership by leadersHum, alongside luminaries such as Simon Sinek, Adam Grant, and Marshall Goldsmith, Shiyen’s thought leadership has made a global impact. She has also been celebrated as a Top 75 Canadian Immigrant and awarded the prestigious Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for her contributions.

With a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from McMaster University, Shiyen began her career as a frontline clinician before shifting her focus to Organizational Development. Through her work across the healthcare system, she saw firsthand the leadership challenges that impacted teams and organizational outcomes. Her passion for developing leaders led her to establish Dream Dare Lead Inc., a firm dedicated to supporting individuals and organizations achieve greater levels of success and excellence in healthcare and beyond.

Shiyen extends her impact as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto and Board Chair for a not-for-profit organization. Born in Mumbai, and now based in Mississauga, she finds joy as a devoted mother of three, blending family life with her mission to transform the future of leadership.

Janet M. Davidson
Healthcare Consultant

Janet Davidson works in healthcare consulting with a focus on strategy, organization management and design, and governance. Formerly, she served as Deputy Minister of Health for Alberta. Janet has over 40 years of experience in healthcare in the government, voluntary and hospital/community sectors in a number of Canadian jurisdictions and internationally. Janet currently holds the position of Administrator of the Nova Scotia Health Authority. She is a Board member of Bayshore Healthcare, the Hospital for Sick Children and Health Workforce Canada. She is immediate past chair of the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada. She is the inaugural Johnson Fellow with the CD Howe Institute and co-chairs their health policy council.

Facilitator:

Brenda Lammi – Senior Vice-President, Professional and Leadership Development

Since 2013, Brenda and the Professional and Leadership Development team have been instrumental at the Canadian College of Health Leaders, expanding programs and partnerships nationwide to integrate LEADS along with leadership development and integration initiatives across all provinces. Under her leadership, the Certified Health Executive (CHE) credential and Fellowship designation programs were refreshed, resulting in record uptake and surpassing registration expectations. Brenda also spearheaded the creation of the CCHL Circle, an exclusive networking and leadership development platform for members. She and the Professional and Leadership team have fostered numerous academic and employer alliances, building collaborative relationships that promote health leadership and lifelong learning.