Conferences and Education

Weekly on Thursdays, February 5–December 16, 2026  · Instructor: Laurie Lafleur

For those seeking a comprehensive foundation in AI within health care, this course offers a full examination of the field: machine learning, natural language processing, generative AI, robotics, clinical decision support, EMRs, and more.

But unlike many AI courses, this one emphasizes the realities of implementation—privacy, cybersecurity, risk mitigation, governance, and trustworthiness. Each session includes “applications” and “implications” discussions that reveal both the potential and the practical constraints of modern AI adoption.

AI 1 is ideal for clinicians, IT leaders, analysts, and executives wanting a full understanding of today’s AI landscape.

https://nihi.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=590

Weekly on Thursdays, February 5–December 16, 2026 · Instructor: Laurie Lafleur

Building on AI 1, this second course moves from theory to real organizational implementation. Participants learn how to evaluate vendors, build AI business cases, develop governance structures, integrate AI into workflows, and manage the change required to make these technologies safe and successful.

The course also explores reimbursement models, procurement strategies, and the shifting Canadian regulatory environment, essential knowledge for any healthcare leader planning or overseeing digital transformation.

https://nihi.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=636

Registration for Best Practices Day 2026 is open!

The GTA Rehab Network and the Conference Planning Committee invite you to register for the virtual Best Practices Day 2026 on Friday, May 1, 2026.

This year’s conference will provide insights and explore:

• Exploring the role of AI in advancing rehabilitative care
• Enhancing primary care outcomes through rehabilitative interventions
• Leveraging technology?enabled solutions to promote safe, efficient and cost?effective home care
• Improving community-based strategies to prevent and manage falls in older adults
• Coordinating care for older adults with complex needs through an integrated patient navigation model
• Supporting behavioural health needs in older adults using innovative virtual care approaches
• …and many additional leading-edge topics.

Who should attend? Clinicians, researchers, administrators, policy & management professionals, students.

Tomorrow’s Promise, Today’s Plan: Transforming Children’s Healthcare in Canada

Across Canada, children’s healthcare is at a pivotal moment. Rising complexity, system disruption, widening inequities, and rapid technological change are reshaping how care is delivered—and demanding new forms of leadership, collaboration, and accountability. Tomorrow’s Promise, Today’s Plan brings together leaders from healthcare, research, policy, technology, and communities to chart a bold, practical path forward for child and youth health.

This conference explores the essential ingredients of transformation:

• Leading through disruption with clarity, courage, and an unwavering focus on children and families.

• Advancing equity in AI and data innovation, ensuring digital tools strengthen—rather than undermine—fairness, trust, and outcomes.

• Building learning health systems that turn evidence into action and accelerate improvement across the country.

• Measuring what matters, grounding decisions in outcomes that reflect the lived experiences and priorities of children, youth, and families.

• Strengthening collective responsibility and cross-sector action, recognizing that no single institution can meet children’s needs alone.

Together, participants will craft the strategies, partnerships, and shared commitments needed to shape a healthier future for all children in Canada.

CDEF 2026, the national forum that brings together hospital executives and laboratory leaders to discuss the evolving state of laboratory medicine in Canada.

We’re now building the 2026 program and invite you to submit a Presentation Abstract highlighting innovations, transformation initiatives, operational improvements, or lessons learned that could benefit laboratories and health systems across Canada. 

We are also seeking speakers for our Cross Country Check-Up sessions. These short provincial updates highlight new initiatives, emerging challenges, and interesting ideas we can learn from one another. 

If you or your team have insights to share, we would love to hear from you! All Presentation Abstract and Cross Country Check-Up submissions are due April 15, 2026. Presenters will be notified mid-May.

The CDEF is presented by ICL, proudly Canadian and intentionally not-for-profit. Our mission is enhancing access to laboratory services that improve health care and support the public health care system through innovation and collaboration.  This forum is a chance for all of us to connect and be part of shaping what’s next.

North American Conference on Integrated Care

The North American Conference on Integrated Care (NACIC27) in partnership with The International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) and IFIC Canada will take place in The Westin on 13-15 October 2027. The conference will bring together leaders, researchers, clinicians, managers, community representatives, patients and caregivers from around the world who are engaged in the design and delivery of integrated health and care.