This interactive workshop explores AI adoption through a leadership, governance, and accountability lens, grounded in the LEADS in a Caring Environment framework. Designed for health leaders, the session focuses not on technical implementation, but on strategic oversight, risk management, ethical decision-making, and systems transformation.
Through keynote insights, expert panel dialogue, and a hands-on AI governance case lab, participants will examine real-world executive responsibilities across the LEADS domains: Lead Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalitions, and Systems Transformation. The workshop concludes with practical tools, a governance checklist, and a personal leadership commitment to advance responsible AI use within participants’ organizations.
Workshop Facilitators:
Dr. Mustafa Ornek - Assistant Professor, continuing Track, Department of Quantitative Studies, Graduate Faculty, University Canada West
Dr. Mustafa Ornek holds a PhD in Health Policy with a specialization in Health Economics from McMaster University, and BA and MA degrees in International Economics and Finance from Toronto Metropolitan University. He currently teaches Business Economics and Quantitative Reasoning at University Canada West. Dr. Ornek brings policy and analytical experience from Statistics Canada, Health Canada’s COVID-19 Task Force, and the OECD. His expertise includes Canadian microdata, applied econometrics, and policy analysis. Passionate about teaching, he integrates real-world applications into the classroom. His research focuses on health data analysis, immigration, poverty, and advanced quantitative methodologies.
Dr. Vidhi Thakkar - Associate Professor, Department of Quantitative Studies, Graduate Faculty, University Canada West
Dr. Vidhi Thakkar holds a PhD in Health Services and Policy Research form the University of Toronto, and MSc from McGill University, and an Honours BSHc from McMaster University. A certified Project Management Professional (Agile), she brings over seven years of healthcare leadership and policy experience, including roles with Fraser Health Authority and the BC and Ontario health ministries. An award-winning educator, she has taught at McMaster, University of Toronto, Pacific Coast University, and currently at University Canada West. Her research spans primary care decision-making, health systems evaluation, COVID-19 mental health interventions, and health systems design.
Keynote Speakers:
Andrea D’Addario, CHE, Organizational Development & Leadership Consultant, Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, and Chair, Ethics Council, Canadian College of Health Leaders Board of Directors
Andrea is a former Territorial Manager of Mental Health & Community Wellness turned Organizational Development & Leadership Consultant who has worked in the NWT for over 16 years. Andrea has had the honour and privilege of serving in frontline, supervisor, senior leadership roles across the North, working alongside diverse Indigenous agencies and groups to support quality improvement and system change.
Dr. Alice Kam, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician
Dr. Kam is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at University of Toronto. She provides clinical care for individuals with disabilities and has published more than 100 scholarly works in both clinical and educational domains-- demonstrating sustained commitment to advancing compassionate care education. As an Affiliate Scientist at the University Health Network (UHN)-KITE Research Institute and a Scholar at The Wilson Center, Dr. Kam's research focuses on integrated instructional design strategies to improve learning health systems. Her career goal is to support compassionate, equitable education and research practice. Her co-design approach strives her from learning with leaders, learners, educators, researchers and healthcare partners. She an executive member of the CCHL GTA Chapter.
We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Farnoosh Farzaneh, Dr. Sandra Song, Dr. Aigerim Shilibekova, Dr. Hamed Taheerdost and students: Fitri Astuti Antoni and Navdita Chopra, who are collaborating with Dr. Thakkar and Dr. Ornek in the planning, design, preparation and implementation and survey evaluation of this workshop.
Pre-registration is required to participate in this workshop. A limited number of seats are available. The cost to attend this workshop is $185 (plus tax). Registrations are non-refundable.
Attendance at this program entitles certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE / Fellow) to 3 Category I credits towards their maintenance of certification requirement for attending the conference.
