CARRFS 2016 Innovation Summit
Toronto; January 10-11, 2016
19 public health executives and professionals across Canada took part in the first phase of developing the new CARRFS as an innovative pan-national network. During the summit, a core Executive team was established, and 6 working groups formed. The delegates also developed the Vision and Mission for the new CARRFS. For more information - see tab "Blog" or contact us.
Keynote Speakers
DR. MARTIN SUMNER-SMITH, MARS
Title: Digital technologies disrupting public health surveillance
Bio: Martin Sumner-Smith, PhD, is a senior advisor with MaRS Health Venture Services. In his role he currently advises three dozen digital health start-up ventures. A molecular biologist, he worked in the biotechnology industry, bioinformatics and enterprise software, holding research management, marketing, communications, public relations, business development and licensing roles. As an entrepreneur, Martin has founded several start-up companies.
Contact information: Blog: Digital for Health, Twitter: @MartinSS, or LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/martinss/.
Content: “Digital technologies have been extremely disruptive to many sectors, and most observers predict a similar impact to healthcare. One of the characteristics of newer digital approaches is that they involve the management of data in volumes that are several orders of magnitude greater than previous practices. Someone using a simple consumer device that monitors several biological parameters continuously will quickly accumulate more data than is likely in stored in their ‘official’ health records. Impending developments in micro-sensors are likely to soon lead to the cheap, easy and accurate measurement of a far larger number of biological parameters. Decisions as to how to provide the best possible healthcare services will increasingly require an understanding how all relevant data is generated, where it is stored and how it can best be combined and analysed.”
DR. GAYATRI JAYARAMAN, PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA
Title: Upping the ante on behavioural surveillance
Bio: Dr. Gayatri Jayaraman joined the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention as Associate Director/Chief, Surveillance and Epidemiology Division in 2012. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the Federal Government's behavioural and environmental surveillance and epidemiology programs in the areas of healthy living and chronic and injury prevention. A molecular epidemiologist, she remains actively involved in research aimed at understanding the intersection of chronic and infectious behavioural epidemiology including transmission dynamics among at-risk populations. Prior to joining the Federal Health Portfolio, she worked on public health program development with various bilateral and non-governmental organizations in East Africa, India, Vietnam, and the Balkans. She is an adjunct professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine at the University of Ottawa.
Contact information: Email: gayatri.jayaraman@phac-aspc.gc.ca, Twitter: @jayaramangaya
Content: While it is well known that four in five Canadian adults are at risk of chronic disease because of poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol use, the role of other lifestyle factors such as social isolation or psychological well are increasingly being recognized as also significantly impacting health. As a consequence, the interplay between physical and mental health is becoming increasingly more relevant for public health programming and policy. Furthermore, since these interplays can occur at multiple levels, decisions on how to provide the best possible services and inform policy changes will require an understanding risk and protective factors not only at the individual level but also at the family, community and societal levels.
Downloads
Download Dr. Martin Sumner-Smith, MaRS and Dr. Gaya Jayaraman, PHAC Presentations by clicking on the icons.
THE SUMMIT WAS SPONSORED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA, PUBLIC HEALTH ONTARIO, AND THE BC PROVINCIAL HEALTH SERVICES AUTHORITY.