Canada's health care challenge: Health education solutions

Join your fellow alumni at St. Paul's Bloor St. as Queen’s comes to Toronto for an exclusive fireside chat.  

The night kicks off with an intimate and insightful conversation between Dr. Jane Philpott, Dean, Queen’s Health Sciences, Dr. Chris Simpson, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President (Medical) at Ontario Health, Jo-anne Marr, BNSc'83, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oak Valley Health and Vivian Fu, BNSc'20, Registered Nurse, Inpatient Cardiology Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children. Our speakers will talk about the role healthcare education can play in creating a top healthcare system. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions during a short question and answer period following the discussion. 

After the talk, continue the conversation with your fellow alumni over light refreshments. 

St. Paul's Bloor St. is an accessible venue featuring accessible washrooms and an elevator to all floors. 

Meet Our Speakers

Jane Philpott

Dr. Jane Philpott is the dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and director of the School of Medicine at Queen's University, and the chief executive officer of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization. She is a medical doctor, a professor of Family Medicine, and a former Member of Parliament. Prior to politics, Dr. Philpott spent the first decade of her medical career in Niger, West Africa. A family doctor in Markham-Stouffville for 17 years, she was named chief of Family Medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital in 2008. From 2015 to 2019 she served as federal minister of health, minister of Indigenous services, president of the treasury board, and minister of digital government. She currently serves as the minister's special advisor for the Ontario Health Data Platform and was recently elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. 

Chris Simpson

Dr. Chris Simpson is the executive vice president (medical) at Ontario Health. Dr. Simpson works clinically as a cardiologist at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and is a professor in the Department of Medicine at Queen’s University. He was the president of the Canadian Medical Association from 2014-15 and president of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences from 2020-21. 

Jo-anne Marr, BNSc'83

 Jo-anne Marr is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Oak Valley Health. Prior to joining Oak Valley Health in 2015, Jo-anne was the CEO of the Central Community Care Access Centre and held leadership positions at Mackenzie Health including interim CEO, executive vice president, and chief operating officer.

Throughout her career, Jo-anne’s focus has been on health system leadership and driving strategic and transformational initiatives that have a positive impact on the overall patient experience. Jo-anne has extensive health care experience that spans academic and community hospitals, public and private sectors, and both administrative and clinical leadership positions, as well as health care consulting.

Vivian Fu, BNSc'20

Vivian Fu is a registered nurse with the Inpatient Cardiology Unit at The Hospital for Sick Children. Vivian previously worked as a registered nurse at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Passionate about health education, advocacy and delivering quality patient-centred care, Vivian is also a Master of Nursing candidate specializing in Health Policy and Education at Toronto Metropolitan University in hopes of becoming a better advocate for patients and colleagues.

This is the premier event in the Queen's To You series, which brings your alma mater to your city by highlighting how the innovation Queen’s drives is changing your community for the better. 

Dress code: Business Casual

Doors open: 6:30 pm ET

Parking is available at the Manulife Headquarters: 200 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ont. M4W 1E5