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SPARK: Conversations

Children's Healthcare Canada is pleased to offer this solutions-focused podcast and interview series, situated at the crossroads of children's healthcare, system improvement, and leadership.

Our host Dr. Katharine Smart draws on her wide experience with the child health and broad healthcare systems to create engaging and thoughtful conversations with her guests. She chats with child health and health system leaders who tackle wicked problems and discuss ideas to inform the development of innovative and integrated health systems serving children and youth.

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Latest Episodes

S5 E17 | Megan Wright & Denise Praill

The Power of Pediatric Palliative Care: Equity, Access, and Hope

Pediatric palliative care is so much more than end-of-life support — it’s about walking alongside children and their families from diagnosis through symptom management, grief, and beyond.  In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, Dr. Katharine Smart speaks with Megan Wright (Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice) and Denise Praill (Canuck Place Children’s Hospice) about what it takes to right-size pediatric palliative care systems across Canada, improve equity and access, and support families, and providers, through the most challenging moments of care.


Megan Wright

Megan joined Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice in 2014 as the CEO and has over 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, mostly within child and family services. Megan has been a valued member of the CHEO Management team since 2003, currently serving as the Director for Palliative Care. Before that, she was the Emergency, Critical Care, Inpatient Medicine, Surgery and Oncology Director.
 
Born and raised in Ottawa, Megan completed a Bachelor of Nursing at the Toronto Metropolitan University, a Master’s of Nursing Degree at the University of Toronto, and a Health Leadership Certificate from Ottawa University
 
Before joining CHEO, Megan was a nursing manager at the Credit Valley Hospital and the Bloorview MacMillan Centre. She has served on numerous regional, provincial, and national committees, advancing the care of pediatric palliative care for children and their families.
 
She is passionate about ensuring equity and accessibility for all families facing life-limiting illness and access to grief services for children and their families. Currently, Megan Chairs the National Pediatric Hospice Leadership Committee.
 
Megan is also the Executive Sponsor for Canada’s Pediatric Palliative Care Alliance, a new coming together of healthcare professionals, leaders, and families with lived experience working to improve equitable access to high quality pediatric palliative care. 
 
When she’s not at work, Megan treasures spending time with her family and friends, escaping into a good book and riding her bike.

Denise Praill

Denise Praill joined Canuck Place in 2013 as Chief Development Officer and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in April 2022. She brings more than 20 years of experience and success as a senior executive in the philanthropic, non-profit and private sectors in BC.

Denise has helped build a diverse and talented team that brought a relationship-based fundraising model and other significant strategies to Canuck Place — doubling annual revenues from $9.1M to more than $18M. She has also been a key member of the senior leadership team, providing strategic vision and direction to the organization.

Before joining Canuck Place, Denise held front-line fundraising and senior management positions with United Way of the Lower Mainland. She also has management, communications and public relations experience in the private sector.

Denise holds her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation and is a long-standing member with the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is an active volunteer in her community, currently serving on two non-profit boards dedicated to animal welfare.



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What does it take to build a truly integrated, child- and family-centered healthcare system? In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, host Dr. Katharine Smart speaks with Lauren Ettin, CEO of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). Together, they explore how POGO as the leader of Ontario’s Childhood Cancer Care system has become a model for right-sized healthcare - from diagnosis to treatment through survivorship - by combining visionary leadership, strong partnerships, robust data, and diversified funding support. Listeners will learn how Ontario’s childhood cancer system provides supports that wrap around children and families, not only in providing physical and mental health care, but beyond to other supports and programs to help children, youth and families through treatment and survivorship. The system offers valuable lessons for reimagining pediatric care more broadly.

About Lauren Ettin

Lauren Ettin is currently the CEO of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), the advisor to government on childhood cancer with accountability for the delivery of care of Ontario’s Childhood Cancer System. Lauren’s career has spanned the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She has proven herself as a strategic and entrepreneurial leader. Lauren has had great success in leadership, partnership, system integration, and advocacy through her work with Kids Health Alliance, the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, PwC and the Ontario government.

Lauren’s career has spanned the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She has proven herself as a strategic and entrepreneurial leader and is currently the CEO of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), the advisor to government on childhood cancer with accountability for the delivery of care of Ontario’s Childhood Cancer System. Previously, she was the founding Executive Director of Kids Health Alliance. In this role, Lauren forged relationships and formal collaborations with and between children’s and community hospitals, associations, and government. In addition, she was instrumental in the work of the Children’s Health Coalition, bringing together a collective voice for the pediatric sector, which resulted in a historic investment of $330M for programs and services across Ontario.

Prior to her time with Kids Health Alliance, Lauren served as the Director of Policy and Member Relations with the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, worked in consulting and had leadership roles at the Ministry of Health and Cabinet Office.

She is also a previous Board member of Scientists in School, PACE Independent Living and Daytrippers Children’s Charity, and Vice Chair of Elizabeth Fry Toronto.

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In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, host Dr. Katharine Smart is joined by Rochelle Reid, Senior Lead and Strategic Advisor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Hamilton Health Sciences Centre. Rochelle shares insights from the development of the organization’s first five-year EDI plan and emphasizes the importance of community partnerships, equitable policies, and data governance to right-size services for children and families. Don't miss the launch of Children's Healthcare Canada's new National Child Health Equity Practice Network aimed at fostering collaboration across the country.

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About Rochelle Reid

Rochelle Reid currently serves as the Senior Lead & Strategic Advisor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Hamilton Health Sciences where she leads transformative initiatives to enhance health equity for one of the largest healthcare systems in Ontario. With over 15 years of senior leadership experience in both healthcare and higher education, Rochelle's commitment to co-creating inclusive environments is evident in her work and recognized by Members of Parliament. Rochelle is the founder and CEO of Virtuous Management Group Inc. and co-founded the BYND BLK program that aims to support and empower Black students. She also co-chairs the Greater Hamilton Health Network’s Black Health Table centering strategies, policies and initiatives to support positive health outcomes for Black communities. She has also dedicated her leadership and expertise to serve as a board member for the Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford YMCA. Her diverse skill set, including public sector knowledge and strategic planning expertise, enables her to collaborate effectively across groups/sectors. An accomplished leader, Rochelle believes in empowering others and creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive being exactly who they are.

In this episode of SPARK Conversations, host, Dr. Katharine Smart, and guest Fabiana Bacchini explore the impact of Family Partnership on children’s healthcare across the country. Fabiana shares her perspective on family engagement in right-sizing the system for children and their families in Canada through involvement in education, research, advocacy.

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About Fabiana

Fabiana Bacchini is the Executive Director of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation (CPBF), a journalist, and an author.

Her journey as an advocate began in the NICU with her surviving twin, born extremely preterm. During this time, she participated in the Family Integrated Care (FiCare) study, a model that empowers parents to be active partners in their baby’s care. Inspired by its impact, Fabiana became a dedicated volunteer at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and an ambassador for FiCare, sharing her story across Canada and internationally to promote more inclusive, family-centered neonatal care.

Following her son’s diagnosis with cerebral palsy, Fabiana’s advocacy deepened. She has worked to ensure that families are not only heard but are meaningfully involved in research and healthcare decision-making. Through her leadership, she has fostered collaborations with hospitals, researchers, and global organizations, advancing parent-led initiatives and driving systemic change in maternal and newborn health.

In this episode of SPARK Conversations, host, Dr. Katharine Smart, and her guests explore the impact of the recent Canadian federal election results on children’s health and healthcare across the country. Podcast guests, Danielle Flieler, Manager, Federal Government Affairs at Santis Health, and Jim Armour, Managing Partner with Summa Strategies Canada, share their perspectives on the cabinet composition and government priorities in relation to healthcare, especially for children and their families in Canada. 

Guest Bios

Danielle Flieler 

Role at Santis 

With over a decade of experience in health advocacy, policy, government relations, and business development Danielle Flieler brings deep expertise and strategic insight to Santis Health’s federal government relations team. A trusted advisor to clients across the health and life sciences sectors, Danielle Flieler supports clients with shaping policies and advancing advocacy initiatives on a national scale. Her portfolio includes working with diverse stakeholders—from rare disease advocates to long-term care associations and health research bodies—creating impactful recommendations that influence policy and improve outcomes in Canada’s health care system. 

Experience 

Prior to joining Santis, Danielle was the Senior Development Manager at Research Canada, an Alliance dedicated to federal advocacy on behalf of health research and health innovation in Canada. During her time at Research Canada, Danielle managed a portfolio of over 100+ members and stakeholders stemming from a variety of sectors including biopharmaceutical companies, academic health science centres, hospitals, health charities, universities and start-ups. 

Danielle has held other roles in health care over the years, including Ottawa Chapter Manager at Cystic Fibrosis Canada and Officer of Program and Sponsorships at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. 

Volunteerism and Education 

Danielle completed her Honours B.A. at the University of Ottawa in History with a Minor in Psychology. She also recently completed her Mini-MBA at Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. 

 

Jim Armour

Jim Armour is a Managing Partner at Summa and has extensive knowledge of media relations, communications, advocacy and advertising. His broad skill set gives clients the opportunity to take an integrated approach to achieving their objectives. 

Prior to joining Summa, Mr. Armour served as Director of Communications and Marketing at the Canadian Medical Association where he played a key role in their efforts to improve access, reduce wait times and address Canada’s doctor shortage. 

Mr. Armour worked on Parliament Hill from 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2005. He was Communications Director for two Leaders of the Official Opposition and helped brand the launch of both the Canadian Alliance and the Conservative Party of Canada. This interest in marketing strategy and tactics was furthered by the two years he spent with one of Atlantic Canada’s top advertising agencies. 

Originally from St. John’s Newfoundland, Mr. Armour has a B.A. (Hons) from McGill and a M.A. in Newfoundland History from Memorial University. He also earned his APR accreditation from the Canadian Public Relations Society and has a CAAP designation from the Institute of Communication Agencies. 

Outside of the office, Jim serves on the boards of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Ottawa Convention Centre, Greo Evidence Insights and Eating Disorders Nova Scotia. He also sits on the editorial board of the international Journal of Communication in Healthcare.

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*Recorded LIVE at #ChildHealthCan2025

What does it really take to right-size Canada’s children’s healthcare systems? In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, we explore the powerful role of philanthropy in shaping accessible, equitable, and innovative care for kids. Featuring inspiring stories and expert insights, our guests unpack how donor dollars fuel breakthroughs, fill critical gaps, and help build a healthier future—one bold investment at a time.

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In this episode of SPARK Conversations, we explore right-sizing children’s healthcare systems from the perspective of Community Hospitals that serve children, youth, and their families. Our guest for this episode, ‘Remi Ejiwunmi, Vice President, Shah Family Hospital for Women and Children, with Trillium Health Partners, shares her perspectives regarding the role and impact of community hospitals play within the Canadian healthcare system to ensure every child, youth and family can feel supported, no matter where they receive their healthcare. 

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In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, we explore the role of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Kate Horton, Chief Executive Officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities and Karima Karmali, President and Chair of the Board of Directors at Ronald McDonald House Charities discuss the role Ronald McDonald House Charities plays within the Canadian healthcare system to ensure that every child, youth, and family can feel supported both during and after treatment

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In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, we explore the role of home healthcare. Maureen Charlebois, Chief of Nursing & Clinical Officer at Bayshore HealthCare, discussing the importance of home healthcare within the Canadian healthcare system to ensure that every child, youth, and family can feel supported both inside and outside hospitals.

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In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, we explore the role of primary care teams or healthcare professionals in right-sizing children’s healthcare systems. Dr. Tara Kiran discusses the revolutionary OurCare study, its findings, and implications for addressing the current primary care crisis and ensure that every child, youth, and family is assigned and has timely access to a primary care team or provider. Through this webinar we will also explore how other countries have ensured access to primary care for citizens; what this means for children, youth and their families and the healthcare systems that serve them; and how this could be reflected in Canada. 

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In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, we explore the collaborative efforts shaping the future of child and youth mental health care in Ontario. The Children’s Health Coalition, a powerful partnership between Children’s Mental Health Ontario, Ontario’s 5 children’s hospitals, and other key organizations, is working to ensure kids and families get the care they need—when and where they need it most.

Join us as we dive into how this groundbreaking coalition is transforming the mental health system, overcoming challenges, and paving the way for a more integrated and effective approach to care. We’ll discuss the Coalition’s achievements, the barriers they’ve tackled, and the lessons learned in creating a system that works for children and youth across Ontario.

Care Without Borders: Strategies for Delivering Quality Healthcare to Kids in Rural and Remote Communities 

Children's Healthcare Canada, its members, and strategic partners have highlighted the need to and catalyzed collective action to right-size health systems for children. Recommendations in the Beyond Bandaids report include a call for the expansion of localized capacity and innovative models for children's healthcare in rural, remote, and Northern communities.

In that same vein, this podcast discusses creative strategies and models to deliver better care for kids living far away from urban centres (including, virtual care, rapid transport, and service partnerships).

 

Child Health Research: The Foundation of Rightsizing Child Health Systems

In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, join host, Dr. Katharine Smart, as she engages in a compelling dialogue with Dr. Christine Chambers, Scientific Director of CHIR IHDCYH, about the role and value of child health research in right-sizing health systems for children and youth. They offer insights into demystifying research and explore questions such as,

  • How can we work together to increase awareness and understanding of the role and value of child health research?
  • What is the value of research to children, youth, their families, and Canadians more broadly?

The Pediatric Workforce: Right-sizing the HHR system for kids

In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, join host Dr. Katharine Smart as she engages in a compelling dialogue with Dr. Meredith Irwin and Dr. Steven Miller surrounding the HHR crisis, especially within pediatrics. How can we work together to ensure the future of pediatric care can be sustainable and achievable? This episode offers listeners insights into the HHR crisis and how partnerships can offer an inspiring future in pediatric care.

Right-Sizing health systems: The systems-focused Children’s Hospital

Through visionary leadership, health systems focus, population-based approaches, trusting relationships, and creative partnerships, systems-focused Children’s Hospitals create integrated delivery networks purposefully designed to meet the unique needs of children and families. This serves to improve healthcare access, system navigation, and efficiency, and children’s experiences of care and outcomes.

In this episode of SPARK: Conversations, join host Dr. Katharine Smart as she engages in a compelling dialogue with Alex Munter, CEO of CHEO. Alex shares insights from his extensive experience, highlighting innovative strategies and collaborative initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare access and quality for children across Canada. This episode offers listeners a deep dive into transformative healthcare leadership, inspiring action towards a more equitable and sustainable future for pediatric care.

Beyond Bandaids: Retaining Nurses in Pediatric Healthcare

In this episode of the SPARK: Conversations podcast, Dr. Katharine Smart talks with Dr. Leigh Chapman and Rebecca Earle about nursing retention and the role of the nursing workforce in optimizing children's healthcare systems. They discuss challenges such as post-pandemic burnout and emphasize the importance of the newly released Nursing Retention Toolkit for maintaining a competent nursing workforce. The conversation also explores how the toolkit can be scaled to other healthcare professions and systems, providing actionable steps for healthcare organizations to support nursing staff and improve care for children and families.

Beyond Bandaids: Collective Action to Right-Size Children's Healthcare Systems 

Children’s Healthcare Canada is committed to creating accessible, equitable, and evidence-informed healthcare systems tailored for children. Over the past two years, they have collaborated with healthcare leaders, clinicians, researchers, families, youth partners, advocates, policymakers, and educators to develop recommendations for these "right-sized" systems. In this podcast episode, Board Chair Julia Hanigsberg discusses the progress made and encourages listeners to join in the efforts to achieve this vision.

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Past Seasons

Episode 1 | Children’s pain management: A new standard to improve care

  • Dr. Katie Birnie, Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, University of Calgary; Associate Scientific Director, Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP); Clinician, Alberta Children’s Hospital

Episode 2 | Integrating Pediatric Social Determinants of Health for Children in Canada

  • Dr. Justine Cohen-Silver, Investigator, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital; Staff pediatrician, Women and Children’s Health Program, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital; Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Temerity Faculty of Medicine; Research Director, Department of Pediatrics, St. Joseph’s Health Centre; Medical site lead, Model Schools Pediatric Health Initiative, Parkdale Public School, Unity Health Toronto.

Episode 3 | Navigating the Child and Youth Mental Health Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities

  • Guest: Dr. Javeed Sukhera, Chair of Psychiatry, the Institute of Living (IOL); Chief of Psychiatry, Hartford Hospital; Associate Clinical Professor, Yale University's School of Medicine

Episode 4 | SPARK: Conversations LIVE | Creating Equitable and Inclusive Healthcare Systems for Children and Families

  • View live video recording
  • Guests:
    • Dr. Nel Wieman, Acting Chief Medical Officer, the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia
    • Dr. John (JC) Cowden, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City; General Academic Pediatrician, Children’s Mercy Kansas City

Episode 5 | A Pediatric Student-Led Clinic: One model to help right-size children’s healthcare

  • Guest: Kiersten McMaster, Physiotherapist - Student Led Clinic, BC Centre for Ability

Episode 1 | Getting the Facts Straight: Tackling mis/disinformation through patient-provider relationships

  • Guest: Dr. Katharine Smart, Pediatrician, Past President of the Canadian Medical Association

Episode 2 | Healing the Healthcare System: staff burnout, honest leadership, and collaboration 

  • Guest: Dr. Katharine Smart, Pediatrician, Past President of the Canadian Medical Association

Episode 3 | Community hospitals: Key to an integrated healthcare system for children and youth   

  • Guest: Alison Quigley, Senior Vice-President, Patient Care Services & Master Plan Clinical Lead, Trillium Health Partners

Episode 4 | Health Systems Transformation: Learning from Experts on Ways to Inform System Change

  • Guest: Helen Bevan

Episode 5 | Spirit Bears Guide to Reconciliation: Utilizing Jordan’s Principle and the Spirit Bear Plan to achieve culturally based equity for First Nations Children

  • Guest: Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director and co-founder, First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada; Associate Professor & Director of First Nations Children’s Action Research and Education Service, University of Alberta; Professor, McGill’s School of Social Work

Episode 6 | Child Health Research: Thinking out of the Typical Health Care System Box

  • Guest: Dr. Jason Berman, CEO and Scientific Director; CHEO Research Institute; Vice-President Research, CHEO

Episode 7 | Child Health in the Media: A Snapshot of the Media Representation of Child Health

  • Guest: Carly Weeks, Journalist, The Globe and Mail

Episode 8 | Health System Leadership: Leading Beyond Complexities to Effectively Transform Health Systems 

  • Guest: Dr. Michael Gardam, Michael is the Chief Executive Officer at Health PEI

Episode 01 | Integration of and Innovation in Child Health Systems: The promise and perils of Joined-Up Governance

  • Guest: Eyal Cohen co-founded the Complex Care Program in the Division of Pediatric Medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children, where he is Program Head of Child Health Evaluative Sciences in the Research Institute. He is a Professor of Pediatrics and co-Director of the Leong Centre for Healthy Children at the University of Toronto with cross-appointments in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

Episode 02 | COVID, Equity, and Child Health: Vaccines, Passports, and Impacts

  • Guest: Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, Department Head of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital

Episode 03 | Learning from Lived Experience: Family Partnerships for Pain and Child Health Research

  • Guest: Dr. Katie Birnie, Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine,University of Calgary; Associate Scientific Director, Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP)

Episode 04 | Climate Change: A Child Health Issue Now and Into the Future

  • Guest: Dr. Anna Gunz, Paediatric Intensive Care Doctor, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Center; Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University

Episode 05 | Getting the Message Across: Clear Communications during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Guest: Dr. Sankar, Science Advisor & Community Partnerships Lead, ScienceUpFirst

Episode 06 | More than just a Tick Box: Building Back Better through Family Engagement

  • Guest: Rachel Martens, Research Engagement Strategist with the Family Engagement in Research Course

Episode 07 | Child Health and Wellness Research: A Priority to Transform Children’s Healthcare

  • Guest: Susa Benseler, MD, PhD; Director, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute at the Cumming School of Medicine; Strategy Lead, Child Health and Wellness Research Strategy; Cenovus Energy Chair in Child and Maternal Health; Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair in Paediatric Research; University of Calgary

Episode 08 | COVID's Impact on Routine Immunizations

  • Dr. Sadarangani, Director, Vaccine Evaluation Centre; Associate Professor, University of British Columbia

Episode 09 | Missed Opportunities Can Last a Lifetime: The State of Infant and Early Mental Health in Canada

  • Guest: Dr. Chaya Kulkarni, Director of Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion (IEMHP)

Episode 01 | Saying Yes to Less: Resource Stewardship in Children’s Healthcare

Episode 02 | Inspiring Healthy Futures: #WeCANforKids

Episode 03 | Pharmacare Fit for Kids

Episode 04 | Learning Systems in Child Health: Connecting 'What We Do' with 'What We Know'

Episode 05 | Raising Hope from the Ground Up: Building children's healthcare in Canada

Episode 06 | Children's Hospitals of the Future: Creating Conditions for Healthy Kids

Episode 07 | The COVID-19 Vaccine and Canada's Children and Youth 

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