TOPHC 2026 Virtual Speaker Spotlight
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.
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.
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health
DR. BLAIR BIGHAM, MD, MSc.
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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)
Nurse 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.