TOPHC 2026 Virtual Speaker Spotlight
Plenary Panel: Modern Tools, Healthier Communities: AI Insights Shaping Public Health Transformation
Explore the transformative role of AI in shaping the future of public health and beyond.
DR. KYLE WILSON, Ph.D., M.Sc., MBA
Vice President, Information Systems & Digital Innovation, CIO & CPO, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
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Dr. Kyle J. Wilson, PhD, MSc, MBA, is a senior public health leader at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH), specializing in digital transformation, data governance, and responsible AI adoption. He brings over 15 years of experience advancing health informatics, privacy, and innovation across Ontario’s public health system. Dr. Wilson is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Guelph, a Lecturer at the University of Waterloo, and an Associate Member at Toronto Metropolitan University. His work is centered on leveraging technology to reimagine processes for maximum efficiency, ensuring public resources are used effectively and deliver great value.
DR. DAMIAN JANKOWICZ, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, Chief Information and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Unity Health Toronto
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Dr. Damian Jankowicz is the Executive Vice President, Chief Information and Artificial Intelligence Officer at Unity Health Toronto, where he oversees all aspects of Information Technology, AI, Decision Support, Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Medicine. Damian leads Unity’s digital transformation efforts aimed at revolutionizing patient care across one of Canada’s largest healthcare networks. Damian joined Unity Health from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), where he served as Vice President, Information Management, Chief Information Officer and Chief Privacy Officer. At CAMH, Damian established Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, which uses big data, AI and brain modelling to fundamentally change our understanding of mental illness and brain health. Damian holds a PhD from McMaster University, specializing in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computational modeling, and has a deep commitment to advancing AI’s role in healthcare. As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, he teaches health informatics, contributing to the education of the next generation of healthcare professionals. In 2021, he was honored with the international HIMSS Changemaker in Health Award for his efforts in leveraging information and technology to transform care and research.
DR. RAWAN ABULIBDEH, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University Health Network
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Rawan Abulibdeh, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University Health Network (Transform HF) and a recent PhD graduate from the University of Toronto. At UHN, she leads work examining the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence in healthcare and supports the development of practical guidance for responsible implementation. Her research bridges technical AI development with questions of equity and oversight, exploring why AI systems can fail different communities and how health systems can detect and address those risks in practice. She collaborates across Canada, the United States, and internationally on research and education initiatives advancing trustworthy and sustainable healthcare AI.
MODERATOR
DR. JESSICA HOPKINS, MD, MHSc, CCFP, FRCPC, FCFP
Vice President and Chief, Communicable Disease Control, Public Health Ontario
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Dr. Jessica Hopkins is Vice President and Chief, Communicable Disease Control at Public Health Ontario, overseeing infectious disease and outbreak response, surveillance, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship, PHO’s Indigenous Strategy, and capacity building. She has more than 15 years of public health experience, including serving as Medical Officer of Health for Peel Region, and holds academic appointments at McMaster University and the University of Toronto. Dr. Hopkins earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Health Science in Community Health and Epidemiology from the University of Toronto.
Presentation: Are We Prepared? Implementing a Public Health Emergency Preparedness Framework
Explore an evidence-based framework and key indicators for emergency preparedness, with a focus on how these tools can inform preparedness measurement, action, and quality improvement across public health systems.
DR. YASMIN KHAN, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Emergency Preparedness Physician, Population Health, Public Health Ontario
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Dr. Yasmin Khan, MD, MPH, FRCPC (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a Physician at Public Health Ontario. Dr. Khan provides medical and scientific expertise in the area of emergency preparedness and health system emergency management. Her research program focuses on health system emergency management, public health system resilience for emergencies, and encompasses projects on performance measurement and quality improvement for public health emergency preparedness.
JESSICA DEMING, M.Sc., MSW
Advisor,
Public Health Intelligence, Peel Public Health
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Jessica is a public health professional with over 16 years’ experience in the field. She holds an MSc in Epidemiology and was an epidemiologist for 12 years at Region of Waterloo Public Health. She then moved to the Public Health Agency of Canada, where she helped lead the launch of the inaugural “Health of People in Canada” dashboard. Jessica joined Peel Public Health in 2023 in her current role where she leads the public health emergency management program. She also holds a social work degree and is passionate about equity, social justice and well-being as integral elements of public health practice.
DR. MADELYN LAW
Director, Quality, Patient Safety and Risk, Niagara Health
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Dr. Madelyn Law is an implementation scientist, health care leader, and educational innovator focused on improving system performance. She holds a PhD in Health System Management from the University of Toronto, where she studied patient safety culture, and a master’s in sport psychology examining expertise development. Madelyn spent 22 years in Brock University’s Department of Health Sciences and served as Associate Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning. She founded the IEQUIP initiative, partnering with health organizations on quality improvement projects. With extensive publications and CIHR-funded research, she now serves as Director of Quality, Patient Safety, and Risk at Niagara Health, advancing learning health systems.
DR. MARK LYSYSHYN, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health - Public Health
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Dr. Mark Lysyshyn works for Vancouver Coastal Health as Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer and Medical Health Officer for Vancouver. He is a specialist in Public Health and Preventive Medicine and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health.
Panel: Mis/Disinformation in Public Health
Move beyond definitions to explore practical, real world strategies for responding to false and misleading information, understanding its impact on communities, and strengthening public trust.
DR. JENNIFER McWHIRTER, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph & Director, Health by Design Lab
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Jennifer McWhirter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph and the Director of the Health by Design Lab. Her lab’s research focuses on the design and assessment of information and places and the systems that shape them to promote health and prevent disease at the population level.
DR. BLAIR BIGHAM, MD, M.Sc.
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health
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Dr. Blair Bigham is an award-winning journalist, scientist and physician who trained in emergency and critical care medicine at McMaster and Stanford Universities. He was a Global Journalism Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Associate Scientist at St Michael’s Hospital. His work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, newscasts, podcasts and medical journals. He is now an assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health, where he studies public trust and science communications.
Senior Fellow & Associate Professor University of Toronto
Prof. NEIL SEEMAN, JD, MPH
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Neil Seeman is an author, publisher, Toronto Star columnist and University of Toronto professor and Senior Fellow focused on the intersection of mis/disinformation, mental health, and technology. He is publisher of Sutherland House Experts and a fellow of the Fields Institute, the HIVE Lab, and the Investigative Journalism Bureau, where his research examines how online narratives shape population health, trust, and policy. He previously founded RIWI and the Health Strategy Innovation Cell, organizations focused on tracking and understanding misinformation online globally.
MODERATOR
DR. ALEX SUMMERS, MD, MPH, CCFP, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health for the Middlesex-London Health Unit
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Dr. Alex Summers is the Medical Officer of Health for the Middlesex-London Health Unit, a position held since March 2022, and previously the Associate Medical Officer of Health starting July 2018. Dr. Summers holds a Bachelor of Science from Queens University, a Doctor of Medicine from Queens University and a Master of Public Health from Harvard University. He completed his residency in public health and preventive medicine at the University of Toronto.
Panel: Quality Improvement & Performance Measurement
This session will explore how to measure impact and demonstrate ROI through storytelling and actionable metrics. Participants will learn strategies for tracking progress in public health programming, fostering collaboration with community partners, academia, and research institutions, and planning and standardizing approaches to act on insights for broader impact. The discussion will also cover priority-setting strategies aligned with the new Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS).
Public Health Planner, Foundational Standards Southwestern Public Health
ROB HAILE, M.Sc.
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Rob Haile is a Public Health Planner at Southwestern Public Health, where he supports cross-organizational teams in program planning, research, evaluation, quality improvement and program-level performance measurement. He brings experience in applied public health ethics and qualitative research, with a focus on population-level planning and strategic thinking that helps programs track progress towards broader public health objectives. Rob also serves on Public Health Ontario’s Ethics Review Board, contributing to the ethical oversight of evidence-generating initiatives across the province. He is committed to advancing practical, community-responsive improvements in public health practice.
DR. KELLY A. PILATO, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Sciences, Brock University
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Kelly A. Pilato is an Assistant Professor in Health Sciences at Brock University. Her research focuses on quality improvement, implementation science, and how health systems shape health and population well-being. Using systems-level approaches to understand implementation processes and their real-world impacts, she is interested in how these processes support health and wellness across the lifespan, within the context of people’s lives and related social determinants of health. Her work is community-engaged and interdisciplinary, including collaborations with public health agencies, universities, and provincial health organizations. She is committed to meaningful knowledge mobilization and building bridges between research, education, and practice.
JESSICA BRETT, RN, BScN, CCHN(C)
Nursing Project Officer, Ottawa Public Health
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Jessica Brett is a Registered Nurse with specialty certification in Community Health Nursing. Since joining Ottawa Public Health in 2015, she has held progressive leadership roles across public health programs. In her current role as a Nursing Project Officer, Jessica leads strategic planning, risk management, and evaluation, and has overseen the implementation and monitoring of OPH’s Strategic Plan since 2023. With a background in LEAN principles and nursing practice, she brings expertise in evidence‑based program planning, quality improvement, and performance measurement. Jessica is recognized for her collaborative approach, strong facilitation and communication skills, and ability to manage complex initiatives with insight and innovation.
Manager, Effective Public Health Practice, Public Health Sudbury & Districts
NASTASSIA McNAIR, MPH
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Nastassia McNair is the Manager of the Effective Public Health Practice team at Public Health Sudbury & Districts. She leads research, evaluation, and knowledge exchange initiatives that strengthen evidence‑informed decision‑making across the organization. Since joining the agency in 2014, she has worked across multiple program areas and played key leadership roles, including in the implementation of program planning processes and tools, accountability reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Nastassia holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Public Health and is committed to helping public health teams apply evidence in ways that improve health and create meaningful change.
MODERATOR
DR. NA-KOSHIE LAMPTEY, MD, MPH, CCFP, FRCP
Deputy Chief, Medical and Scientific Support, Population Health
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Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey brings more than 15 years of experience as a public health and preventive medicine physician. Many of you know her from her time at Toronto Public Health, where she served as Deputy Medical Officer of Health and Acting Medical Officer of Health. She also held leadership roles in New Brunswick and Sudbury, and her expertise in clinical care, policy development, and system advocacy will be an incredible asset to our team. She also recently served as Vice-Chair of the Ontario Public Health Emergencies Science Advisory Committee (OPHESAC), a multidisciplinary group established in 2022 to provide PHO with scientific and technical advice related to public health emergencies.