Podcast
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.
Now Available
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S5 E13 | Danielle Flieler and Jim Armour
Federal Election 45 Results: Impact on children, their health, and healthcare
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.
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Danielle FlielerRole 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 ArmourJim 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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S5 E12 | Meghan Hanley and Steve Read | Big Hearts, Huge Impact: Philanthropy and the Future of Kids’ 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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S5 E11 | ‘Remi Ejiwunmi | The Role of Community Hospitals in Right-Sizing Children’s Healthcare |
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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. |
| S5 E10 | Kate Horton and Karima Karmali | How Ronald McDonald House Charities is Helping to Right Size Healthcare for Kids |
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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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S5 E9 | Maureen Charlebois | Homecare: A key element of right-sized health systems |
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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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S5 E8 | Dr. Tara Kiran | Right-sizing healthcare systems for kids: Primary care access |
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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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S5 E7 | Tatum Wilson | Collective action and Advocacy: Coalitions and right-sizing children's healthcare |
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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. |
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S5 E6 | Dr. Holden Sheffield and Crystal Edwards | Care Without Borders: Strategies for Delivering Quality Healthcare to Kids in Rural and Remote Communities |
Care Without Borders: Strategies for Delivering Quality Healthcare to Kids in Rural and Remote CommunitiesChildren'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).
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S5 E5 | Dr. Christine Chambers | Child Health Research: The Foundation of Rightsizing Child Health Systems |
Child Health Research: The Foundation of Rightsizing Child Health SystemsIn 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,
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| S5 E4 with Dr. Meredith Irwin & Dr. Steven Miller | The Pediatric Workforce: Right-sizing the HHR system for kids |
The Pediatric Workforce: Right-sizing the HHR system for kidsIn 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. |
| S5 E3 with Alex Munter | Right-Sizing health systems: The systems-focused Children’s Hospital |
Right-Sizing health systems: The systems-focused Children’s HospitalThrough 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. |
| S5 E2 with Leigh Chapman & Rebecca Earle | Beyond Bandaids: Retaining Nurses in Pediatric Healthcare |
Beyond Bandaids: Retaining Nurses in Pediatric HealthcareIn 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. |
| S5 E1 with Julia Hanigsberg | Beyond Bandaids: Collective Action to Right-Size Children's Healthcare Systems |
Beyond Bandaids: Collective Action to Right-Size Children's Healthcare SystemsChildren’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. |
Past Seasons
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Season 4 |
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Episode 1 | Children’s pain management: A new standard to improve care
Episode 2 | Integrating Pediatric Social Determinants of Health for Children in Canada
Episode 3 | Navigating the Child and Youth Mental Health Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities
Episode 4 | SPARK: Conversations LIVE | Creating Equitable and Inclusive Healthcare Systems for Children and Families
Episode 5 | A Pediatric Student-Led Clinic: One model to help right-size children’s healthcare
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Season 3 |
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Episode 1 | Getting the Facts Straight: Tackling mis/disinformation through patient-provider relationships
Episode 2 | Healing the Healthcare System: staff burnout, honest leadership, and collaboration
Episode 3 | Community hospitals: Key to an integrated healthcare system for children and youth
Episode 4 | Health Systems Transformation: Learning from Experts on Ways to Inform System Change
Episode 6 | Child Health Research: Thinking out of the Typical Health Care System Box
Episode 7 | Child Health in the Media: A Snapshot of the Media Representation of Child Health
Episode 8 | Health System Leadership: Leading Beyond Complexities to Effectively Transform Health Systems
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Season 2 |
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Episode 01 | Integration of and Innovation in Child Health Systems: The promise and perils of Joined-Up Governance
Episode 02 | COVID, Equity, and Child Health: Vaccines, Passports, and Impacts
Episode 03 | Learning from Lived Experience: Family Partnerships for Pain and Child Health Research
Episode 04 | Climate Change: A Child Health Issue Now and Into the Future
Episode 05 | Getting the Message Across: Clear Communications during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Episode 06 | More than just a Tick Box: Building Back Better through Family Engagement
Episode 07 | Child Health and Wellness Research: A Priority to Transform Children’s Healthcare
Episode 08 | COVID's Impact on Routine Immunizations
Episode 09 | Missed Opportunities Can Last a Lifetime: The State of Infant and Early Mental Health in Canada
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Season 1 |
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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 |
