Alex Baron graduated from the University of Alberta Augustana Campus in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts – English, and then completed a Bachelor of Arts – Communications from the University of Calgary in 2016. In his career, Alex has had the opportunity to work in some truly unique places, allowing him to pursue his two key interests – creating memorable guest experiences and telling great stories. This includes working at the Walt Disney World Resort, Heritage Park Historical Village, and the University of Calgary. His interests outside of work include travel and photography. Communications Advisor Alex Baron  ambaron@ucalgary.ca NEXT OPERATIONS MEMBER PREVIOUS OPERATIONS MEMBER

Our Operations Team Alex Baron graduated from the University of Alberta Augustana Campus in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts – English, and then completed a Bachelor of Arts – Communications from the University of Calgary in 2016. In his career, Alex has had the opportunity to work in some truly unique places, allowing him to pursue his two key interests – creating memorable guest experiences and telling great stories . This includes working at the Walt Disney World Resort, Heritage Park Historical Village, and the University of Calgary. His interests outside of work include travel and photography. Communications Advisor Alex Baron  alex.baron@ucalgary.ca Jill de Grood jointly leads the W21C Research and Innovation Centre with Dr. Jaime Kaufman, PhD. Together, Jill and Jaime support the strategic direction of the initiative, promoting W21C’s value proposition as an organization dedicated to research, innovation, and education . They support day-to-day W21C operations and processes, and lead specific portfolios. Jill completed her Master’s degree in Sociology at the University of Calgary. Her thesis project examined factors impacting lawyer’s physical and mental health. She completed a Certificate in Professional Management in 2015 and received her Project Management Professional Certification in 2018. Jill has been in an evolving leadership role with W21C for more than nine years, and became Director of the Centre in 2013. Over the years, Jill has led and been involved in numerous industry partner projects in areas such as technology assessment, infection prevention and control, and examining the effectiveness and impact of health care innovations for patient care. Jill is a published author with fourteen journal publications along with a number of knowledge translation pieces. As Director of Development and Partnerships, Jill continues to bring a strategic perspective to the W21C, to solve challenges and identify opportunities for the Centre. Jill is responsible for establishing and enhancing new and existing community partnerships with government and external organizations. Jill oversees the clinical trials and human factors teams in conjunction with Michelle Wright. She is also accountable for externally focused innovation support programs like SPARK Calgary. W21C Leadership Representative Jill de Grood  gjde@ucalgary.ca Maryam has a Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation degree and a Master of Management degree, both from the University of Calgary. Specializing in strategy, project management, and stakeholder relations, Maryam has successfully led teams, managed projects, and executed plans within diverse business domains. Her expertise includes strategic analysis, client communication, and a detail-oriented approach to data management . Maryam brings a unique blend of academic excellence, professional acumen, and a passion for community service to every project, making her a dynamic and versatile contributor to the W21C team. Operations Coordinator Maryam Ali  maryam.ali1@ucalgary.ca Shane holds a master’s degree in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology from Simon Fraser University and is a Project Management Institute certified Project Management Professional. He has extensive experience in leading interdisciplinary teams, strategic planning, and working with various stakeholder groups . Prior to joining the W21C, Shane developed and managed a variety of projects relating to pediatric health outcomes, health technology, and neuroscience with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Neuropsychology Service. He has also previously worked as a Research Coordinator with the University of Calgary Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre and as a Research Associate with the Simon Fraser University Injury Prevention and Mobility Lab. Prior to his role as Program Manager, Shane coordinated the W21C Digital Health Colloboratorium initiative. Outside of work, Shane enjoys participating in a variety of sports including hockey, basketball, and skiing. Hub Manager Shane Virani  shane.virani@ucalgary.ca

We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants NEWS Date Pamela Hyde, Office of the Vice-President (Research) | Sept 6, 2023 Project Contact: Image Source: iStock UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem just received a $20.3-million boost, thanks to Alberta’s Major Innovation Fund (MIF). On Sept. 5, Nate Glubish, minister of technology and innovation, announced that three UCalgary projects have received four years of funding to lead province-wide strategic initiatives to accelerate research and commercialization in the areas of medical devices, electronic and mobile health, and space and defence technologies. “Provincial support for high-tech research and innovation will help our post-secondary scholars move from groundbreaking technological ideas to entrepreneurial realities, fuelling a more diverse economy and making a positive impact in the wider community ,” says Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Calgary. Major Innovation Fund projects are highly collaborative, requiring the engagement of scholars from institutions across Alberta, industry partners, and the communities that the projects intend to serve. It is an outcomes-focused program, funding projects that will attract and retain top talent, diversify Alberta’s economy, support industries and local businesses, and leverage additional investments. “UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem is growing thanks to the drive of our research community and investments like the Major Innovation Fund ,” says Dr. William Ghali, vice-president (research). “These three projects will streamline the research-to-commercialization pipeline for their sector and create opportunities for both innovative research and widespread of adoption of novel, made-in-Alberta solutions .” UCalgary’s projects are the Alberta Medical Device Innovation Consortium, Health Everywhere, and Space and Defence Technologies Alberta. Health Everywhere Lead investigator: Dr. Mary Brindle , MD, professor, Cumming School of Medicine Alberta has pockets of excellence in eHealth (digital health technologies) and mHealth (mobile health technologies), which include novel programs and innovations. However, much of this excellence is disconnected and has tremendous untapped potential for collaboration and commercialization, and widespread adoption. The vision of Health Everywhere is a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem in Alberta that builds on a foundation of strength in innovation to drive economic and technological growth. “The rapid evolution of technology, the increasing complexity of medicine and the limitations of our current systems of patient care underscore the need for a human-centered approach to digital health ,” says Brindle. “Health Everywhere will use digital-health technologies to allow patients to receive the best possible medical treatment whether it is in the hospital or in their own homes, and strengthen connections between care in the hospital and care in communities .” Co-developed with community, industry, and academic stakeholders, Health Everywhere will be a provincial hub of digital health excellence that brings together integrated programs, leading experts, and resources to enable efficient and effective commercialization, spread, and scale of eHealth and mHealth technologies. “The Health Everywhere program will create an ecosystem that puts exciting and impactful innovations in technology, computer science, and data analytics into the hands of teams who can use them to benefit the patients of today and tomorrow ,” says Brindle. Health Everywhere is a UCalgary-led project, in partnership with the University of Alberta, Athabasca University, Lethbridge College, MacEwan University, Mount Royal University, NAIT, Red Deer Polytechnic and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. THEME 1: BRIDGING COMMUNITY AND ACUTE CARE Date Advancing eHealth Innovation to Enable Intelligent Patient Monitoring January 2024 Prevention of pressure injuries (PIs) is a priority for healthcare systems worldwide. Also referred to as pressure ulcers or bedsores, this condition is a skin and soft tissue injury that forms because of constant or prolonged pressure on the skin, typically occurring at bony areas on the body. Most prevalent in healthcare settings where the patient is unable to move frequently enough to relieve the pressure, PIs are painful for the patient and can lead to a deterioration in health, increased hospital stays, and even death. To address this issue, W21C partnered with XSENSOR Technology Corporation, a Calgary-based company that designs, manufactures, and sells advanced pressure-imaging systems for use in medical environments worldwide. With support from W21C’s research team, this led to the creation of a novel pressure sensing device - the ForeSite PT™ System. In late 2007, an opportunity arose for W21C to partner with XSENSOR in the development and testing of a health innovation. The main objectives of this initiative were to better understand the potential of innovative technology to support healthcare providers in caring for patients at risk of pressure injuries. W21C’s initial role was to collect and analyze focus group feedback from physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and pressure mapping experts. Over time this progressed to usability testing of a protype device in a simulated Intensive Care Unit. Each phase of W21C research was followed by a design cycle at XSENSOR that consisted of research on every aspect of the system, including overall architecture, transducer design, sensing electronics, software, mechanical design, and packaging. Through funding provided by Alberta Innovates ‘Accelerating Innovations into Care’ program, XSENSOR once again, approached W21C in 2023 to support the evaluation and impact on workflow of an updated system (referred to as ForeSite IS) in acute and long-term care, and to evaluate the device’s ability to predict skin breakdown of patients at elevated risk of PIs. This study is currently under way at Foothills Medical Centre and throughout several long-term care sites in the Calgary area. To learn more about this project and its commercial capabilities, please visit XSENSOR’s website . Image Sources: Adobe Stock (top), XSENSOR.com (middle) Alex Baron, W21C Research and Innovation Centre

News UCalgary-based program expands province-wide in supporting digital health researchers Date We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. September 11, 2023 | Alex Baron, W21C Research and Innovation Centre For the first time, researchers in digital health from Alberta post-secondary institutions will all share access to expert support in translating research innovation into improved care for citizens through an expansion of the newly renamed SPARK Alberta program. The boost is thanks to a new grant from Alberta Innovates. Launched in 2020 as SPARK Calgary, the program has been providing expert advice, education and ecosystem connections for evidence-based digital health innovations in Calgary for the last three years. Based out of the University of Calgary’s W21C Research and Innovation Centre, the program recruited its fourth cohort in spring 2023 and has worked with more than 70 faculty and researchers supporting 14 projects. The SPARK model originated from Stanford University in 2006 with the aim of advancing research discoveries from academia to the health-care system. Now a global network of more than 60 academic institutions across six continents, SPARK Alberta represents the only active SPARK site in Canada. Earlier this year, SPARK Alberta was awarded a grant by Alberta Innovates’ Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program. With this grant, SPARK will leverage its previous success in Calgary and expand the program provincially, further establishing Alberta’s reputation as a province with strong digital health innovation. “This grant will allow us to offer our resources and expertise to faculty and researchers developing innovations from post-secondary institutions from across the province,” says Dr. Scott Kraft, MD, director of SPARK Alberta and clinical associate professor in the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). “Our aim is to form a central network, linking and co-ordinating digital health innovation across Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.” SPARK graduates have impact The Calgary Pediatric Brain-Computer Interface Program (BCI4Kids) plays a pivotal role in addressing the challenges currently faced by thousands of Canadian children with neurological disabilities. These disabilities often hinder their ability to fully engage in daily life and exercise their fundamental rights to interact with the world. Operating out of the Alberta Children’s Hospital and affiliated with the CSM, the BCI4Kids program is led by Dr. Adam Kirton, MSc’96, MD, a CSM professor and technology solutions research lead for One Child Every Child, a UCalgary research initiative with a vision for all children to be healthy, empowered and thriving. BCI4Kids focuses on cutting-edge brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to provide children suffering from severe neurological disabilities with an avenue to achieve greater independence and an improved quality of life. From the BCI4Kids program came a commercial venture called Possibility Neurotechnologies. Incorporated in October 2022, Possibility Neurotechnologies is dedicated to integrating BCI technology into everyday life, enabling those with severe physical disabilities to interact and communicate in transformative ways. In March 2023, the research team successfully graduated from the SPARK program. Its flagship product, Think2Switch, allows individuals to control household electronic devices using only their thoughts. By creating user-friendly and accessible technology, the team aims to enhance independence and quality of life, making previously unimaginable interactions possible for those in need. “Participating in the SPARK program has been an invaluable experience for Possibility Neurotechnologies,” says Dr. Dion Kelly, MBT’18, PhD’23, co-founder and CEO of Possibility Neurotechnologies and clinical neuroscientist at BCI4Kids. “The monthly check-ins served as crucial touchpoints, compelling us to regularly evaluate our progress and address setbacks head-on.” Since joining the SPARK program, Possibility Neurotechnologies has achieved significant growth, including being accepted into the Remarkable Accelerator Program, receiving an equity investment from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and showcasing its Think2Switch technology at international events. With a growing mailing list and a lineup of prospective customers, the team is preparing for a limited market release in Q1 2024. Image Source: SPARK Team Project Contact- Alex Baron, W21C Research and Innovation Centre

We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants NEWS Date Pamela Hyde, Office of the Vice-President (Research) | Sept 6, 2023 Project Contact: Image Source: iStock UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem just received a $20.3-million boost, thanks to Alberta’s Major Innovation Fund (MIF). On Sept. 5, Nate Glubish, minister of technology and innovation, announced that three UCalgary projects have received four years of funding to lead province-wide strategic initiatives to accelerate research and commercialization in the areas of medical devices, electronic and mobile health, and space and defence technologies. “Provincial support for high-tech research and innovation will help our post-secondary scholars move from groundbreaking technological ideas to entrepreneurial realities, fuelling a more diverse economy and making a positive impact in the wider community ,” says Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Calgary. Major Innovation Fund projects are highly collaborative, requiring the engagement of scholars from institutions across Alberta, industry partners, and the communities that the projects intend to serve. It is an outcomes-focused program, funding projects that will attract and retain top talent, diversify Alberta’s economy, support industries and local businesses, and leverage additional investments. “UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem is growing thanks to the drive of our research community and investments like the Major Innovation Fund ,” says Dr. William Ghali, vice-president (research). “These three projects will streamline the research-to-commercialization pipeline for their sector and create opportunities for both innovative research and widespread of adoption of novel, made-in-Alberta solutions .” UCalgary’s projects are the Alberta Medical Device Innovation Consortium, Health Everywhere, and Space and Defence Technologies Alberta. Health Everywhere Lead investigator: Dr. Mary Brindle , MD, professor, Cumming School of Medicine Alberta has pockets of excellence in eHealth (digital health technologies) and mHealth (mobile health technologies), which include novel programs and innovations. However, much of this excellence is disconnected and has tremendous untapped potential for collaboration and commercialization, and widespread adoption. The vision of Health Everywhere is a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem in Alberta that builds on a foundation of strength in innovation to drive economic and technological growth. “The rapid evolution of technology, the increasing complexity of medicine and the limitations of our current systems of patient care underscore the need for a human-centered approach to digital health ,” says Brindle. “Health Everywhere will use digital-health technologies to allow patients to receive the best possible medical treatment whether it is in the hospital or in their own homes, and strengthen connections between care in the hospital and care in communities .” Co-developed with community, industry, and academic stakeholders, Health Everywhere will be a provincial hub of digital health excellence that brings together integrated programs, leading experts, and resources to enable efficient and effective commercialization, spread, and scale of eHealth and mHealth technologies. “The Health Everywhere program will create an ecosystem that puts exciting and impactful innovations in technology, computer science, and data analytics into the hands of teams who can use them to benefit the patients of today and tomorrow ,” says Brindle. Health Everywhere is a UCalgary-led project, in partnership with the University of Alberta, Athabasca University, Lethbridge College, MacEwan University, Mount Royal University, NAIT, Red Deer Polytechnic and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

Bridging Community and Acute Care Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) Evaluation Redesigning Pathways for More Centralized, Holistic Care Lead Michelle Grinman Co-Lead Karen Okrainec Additional Contributors Sunita Chacko, Ceara Cunningham Share this project LinkedIn X (Twitter) Copy link Share this project LinkedIn X (Twitter) Copy link Bridging Community and Acute Care Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) Evaluation Redesigning Pathways for More Centralized, Holistic Care Lead Michelle Grinman Co-Lead Karen Okrainec Additional Contributors Sunita Chacko, Ceara Cunningham Share this project LinkedIn X (Twitter) Copy link Share this project LinkedIn X (Twitter) Copy link THE CHALLENGE In Canada, adults with multiple chronic conditions rely heavily on hospital care, with admissions and readmissions accounting for nearly 30% of healthcare spending. These patients often face fragmented care, limited coordination among providers, and inadequate post-discharge support. As they move between specialists and care settings without consistent follow-up, they are at higher risk of repeated admissions, preventable complications, and poorer health outcomes. THE CHALLENGE In Canada, adults with multiple chronic conditions rely heavily on hospital care, with admissions and readmissions accounting for nearly 30% of healthcare spending. These patients often face fragmented care, limited coordination among providers, and inadequate post-discharge support. As they move between specialists and care settings without consistent follow-up, they are at higher risk of repeated admissions, preventable complications, and poorer health outcomes. THE CHALLENGE In Canada, adults with multiple chronic conditions rely heavily on hospital care, with admissions and readmissions accounting for nearly 30% of healthcare spending. These patients often face fragmented care, limited coordination among providers, and inadequate post-discharge support. As they move between specialists and care settings without consistent follow-up, they are at higher risk of repeated admissions, preventable complications, and poorer health outcomes. THE INNOVATION The Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) is a structured, team-based model designed to improve discharge planning, continuity of care, and post-discharge support for high-risk, medically complex patients in the Calgary Zone. Each patient is connected to an Integrated Care Lead (ICL) who coordinates complex discharge planning, streamlines communication between hospital and home, and links patients to community and primary-care supports. The ICL follows patients for up to 90 days after discharge, with frequent check-ins during the critical first 1–2 weeks when the risk of ED visits or readmission is highest. Patients also have access to a 24/7 phone line—delivered in partnership with HealthLink—for urgent guidance and clinical navigation. THE INNOVATION The Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) is a structured, team-based model designed to improve discharge planning, continuity of care, and post-discharge support for high-risk, medically complex patients in the Calgary Zone. Each patient is connected to an Integrated Care Lead (ICL) who coordinates complex discharge planning, streamlines communication between hospital and home, and links patients to community and primary-care supports. The ICL follows patients for up to 90 days after discharge, with frequent check-ins during the critical first 1–2 weeks when the risk of ED visits or readmission is highest. Patients also have access to a 24/7 phone line—delivered in partnership with HealthLink—for urgent guidance and clinical navigation. HOW IT WORKS The ICP assigns a dedicated Integrated Care Lead who supports patients from hospital admission through 90 days post-discharge. The model includes coordinated discharge planning, personalized care plans in the EMR, proactive phone follow-ups, a 24/7 support line via 811HealthLink, and connections to primary care, home care, and community services to ensure seamless transitions. HOW IT WORKS The ICP assigns a dedicated Integrated Care Lead who supports patients from hospital admission through 90 days post-discharge. The model includes coordinated discharge planning, personalized care plans in the EMR, proactive phone follow-ups, a 24/7 support line via 811HealthLink, and connections to primary care, home care, and community services to ensure seamless transitions. THE BENEFITS For Users Enhanced Support and Follow-Up: Patients receive ongoing guidance after discharge, improving their ability to manage chronic conditions at home. Improved Continuity of Care: Tailored follow-up and coordinated care plans reduce care fragmentation and prevent gaps that lead to readmissions. Greater Patient Autonomy: Patients are empowered with consistent, accessible support, strengthening their confidence and capacity to self-manage their health. For The System Reduced Hospitalization and Readmissions: Proactive discharge planning and post-discharge monitoring lower the likelihood of ED visits and preventable readmissions, easing pressure on acute care. Improved Resource Efficiency: Coordinated care and streamlined case management reduce strain on hospital teams and support more efficient care delivery. Long-Term Cost Savings: By preventing complications and avoidable hospital use, ICP supports sustainable healthcare utilization, better long-term outcomes, and health system costs THE BENEFITS For Users Enhanced Support and Follow-Up: Patients receive ongoing guidance after discharge, improving their ability to manage chronic conditions at home. Improved Continuity of Care: Tailored follow-up and coordinated care plans reduce care fragmentation and prevent gaps that lead to readmissions. Greater Patient Autonomy: Patients are empowered with consistent, accessible support, strengthening their confidence and capacity to self-manage their health. For The System Reduced Hospitalization and Readmissions: Proactive discharge planning and post-discharge monitoring lower the likelihood of ED visits and preventable readmissions, easing pressure on acute care. Improved Resource Efficiency: Coordinated care and streamlined case management reduce strain on hospital teams and support more efficient care delivery. Long-Term Cost Savings: By preventing complications and avoidable hospital use, ICP supports sustainable healthcare utilization, better long-term outcomes, and health system costs Explore Further If you’d like to learn more or connect about Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) Evaluation , reach out to Michelle Grinman, Project Lead , at: michelle.grinman@ucalgary.ca Get Involved Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent sit amet metus sed lorem tincidunt pretium. Learn More View other projects and explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are transforming care across the province. View Portfolio Explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are solving real-world challenges and shaping the future of care across the province. ABOUT The Health Everywhere Hub portfolio map showcases academic-led projects tackling real healthcare challenges across Alberta. By highlighting shared goals and commonalities, we hope to spark collaboration and amplify impact across the system. It’s more than a list of projects - this evolving collection shows what’s possible when partnerships, bold ideas, and real-world testing come together.

Theme 2: Remote Monitoring and Virtual Care Enhancing Recovery After Surgery Date We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. January 9, 2024 | Alex Baron As we age it can take longer for our bodies to heal from trauma. As many as 40% of patients that undergo surgery will have major complications that lead to long-term health problems, such as heart disease or stroke. This is especially true for adults over the age of 65 following a major surgery, with many experiencing difficulties in returning to their pre-operation levels of function. Led by Dr. Duminda Wijeysundera, MD, at the University of Toronto, the Functional Improvement Trajectories After Surgery (FIT After Surgery) study aims to gain a better understanding of how often and why some patients experience significant disability after surgery. As one of 14 study sites across Canada, W21C is currently working with the Calgary site lead, Dr. Melinda Davis, MD, director of Master Teaching Program, clinical associate professor, Cumming School of Medicine, on recruitment efforts at the Foothills Medical Centre, actively engaging with patients prior to their surgery. Patient recruitment for the Calgary site began in July 2021 and is ongoing. Researchers are excited about the possibilities this work could reveal, especially as Canada’s population continues to age and the likelihood of more seniors needing major surgery every year is increasing. Having a better understanding of when and why patients experience disability after surgery will enable patients to make better-informed decisions about having surgery and allow physicians to identify patients that may need additional support following surgery. Overall recruitment and follow up for the study is expected to finish in 2023, with preliminary results anticipated in early 2024. By capitalizing on W21C's capabilities in eHealth and mHealth technologies, fostering collaboration, and actively engaging communities, the Health Everywhere Hub is poised to play a pivotal role in improving seniors' recovery experiences post-major surgeries. Image Sources: Adobe Stock Project Contact- Alex Baron

News Health Everywhere Launch Event Date We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. March 6, 2024 | Alex Baron On January 23, 2024, over 100 guests joined us as we held the Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe Lectureship on Digital Health Today and Tomorrow. Hosted by the W21C Research and Innovation Centre, this event formally introduced and showcased "Health Everywhere", a new eHealth and mHealth hub created from a $6.3M Major Innovation Fund award from the Government of Alberta. This lectureship series honours the contributions of Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe. Joining the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine (now named Cumming School of Medicine) to serve as professor and head of internal medicine in 1974, Dr. Watanabe served as dean of the Faculty of Medicine from July 1982 until June 1992, and is believed to be the first Japanese Canadian dean of a Canadian medical school. He passed away July 5, 2023, at the age of 90. Opening remarks were provided by Dr. Mary Brindle, W21C Academic Director, and Dr. William Ghali, Vice-President (Research) at the University of Calgary. Dr. Ghali shared with the audience his memories of working with Dr. Watanabe and his legacy in digital health. The event was then led in a keynote address by Dr. James A. Makokis, speaking on the negative role colonialism continues to play in healthcare for Indigenous Canadians. This was followed by a lecture from Dr. Christy Cauley on the integration of mobile health to optimize recovery in patients. After a quick intermission the audience was introduced to Health Everywhere by five of its lead researchers. This included presentations from Dr. Chad Saunders, Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell, Dr. Mary Brindle, Dr. Matt James, and Dr. Tyler Williamson. These presentations were followed by a Q&A with all the leads participating at once. Overall, the three-hour event proved to be a wonderful opportunity for the Health Everywhere team to introduce this initiative to the public while also making great connections between industry and academic leaders. Image Source: Brittany DeAngelis, O’Brien Institute for Public Health Project Contact- Alex Baron

Discover research that brings eHealth and mHealth innovations into the hands of Albertans. Research Themes RESEARCH THEMES Health Everywhere is rethinking the patient journey—using digital innovation to move care beyond hospital walls and into people’s lives. Our research themes focus on connecting traditional care with virtual and remote options, improving data access, and strengthening the innovation ecosystem. Our mission is to improve patient-centered care, healthcare access, and timeliness for Alberta's diverse populations. Enhancing Healthcare Equity in Alberta A More Integrated Healthcare System The Health Everywhere Hub remains committed to supporting its members throughout their innovation journeys, acting as a connector, enabler, and advocate to ensure long-term sustainability and impact. We envision a vibrant interconnected eHealth and mHealth ecosystem that leverages Alberta's strengths to drive economic and technological growth. OUR RESEARCH Together, our research supports a future where care is more connected, timely, and personalized—wherever and whenever it’s needed. THEME 1 Bridging Community and Acute Care Led by: Matthew James and Neesh Pannu Alberta’s acute care system is well integrated, but community-based services remain fragmented. This theme enables seamless, inclusive, and scalable healthcare implementation in acute and community-based care settings. It focuses on digital innovations that can be scaled across the province, with an emphasis on building strong, sustained connections between clinicians and the communities they care for. Learn More THEME 2 Remote Monitoring and Virtual Care Led by: Martin Ferguson-Pell and Mary Brindle While digital technology has advanced rapidly, uptake into healthcare remains limited. This theme builds a foundation for testing and scaling virtual and mobile health innovations for virtual care delivery. By advancing virtual care tools and remote monitoring systems, this research theme aims to empower patients to take charge of their health, reduce the need to travel, and close the digital divide that limits access to care. Learn More THEME 3 Connectivity and Data Access Led by: Tyler Williamson Health data can save lives—but only when it’s accessible. Right now, many providers don’t have access to the information they need. This theme focuses on building systems that allow data to flow securely and efficiently across the healthcare landscape. It’s about creating a more connected system—one where every piece of information contributes to better care. Learn More THEME 4 Integrative Innovation Ecosystem Support Led by: Chad Saunders Innovation can’t happen in isolation. This theme supports the growth of a vibrant digital health ecosystem by connecting innovators with the people, infrastructure, and resources they need. By mapping and strengthening the ecosystem, we can ensure that promising solutions have the support required to scale and succeed. Learn More THEME 1 Bridging Community and Acute Care Uniting researchers, decision-makers, and digital health innovators to ensure seamless, inclusive, and scalable healthcare implementation in acute and community-based care settings. Led by: Matthew James and Neesh Pannu A series of projects to better understand the factors, processes, and tools needed to support a vibrant ecosystem. This includes real-time, longitudinal research on if eHealth and mHealth technology development and innovation in Alberta is meeting current goals. Evaluating the current eHealth and mHealth ecosystem While innovators experience challenges navigating the support available to them, there are also unique services that innovators in eHealth and mHealth require that are not readily available. We will work to identify and fill critical gaps in the services available to innovators. Bespoke ecosystem support services See More Theme 4: Integrated Innovation Ecosystem Support OUR RESEARCH By addressing gaps and opportunities in the current ecosystem, our aim is to create a dynamic eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, by identifying resources, matching them with innovators, and improving overall integration. Led by: Chad Saunders Land Acknowledgement The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).