Dr. Retson is from Kenora, Ontario. She completed medical school at the University of Western Ontario and pursued her family medicine residency in Thunder Bay. She then furthered her expertise by obtaining an international Master’s of Health Leadership at McGill University.

Dr. Retson’s experience with advocacy and strategies started at the hospital and community level, advocating for funding and new models of care when her hospital experienced an inpatient care crisis and a shortage of family physicians. Using certain strategies and working closely with hospital leadership, MOH and the community, the partnership was successful in acquiring physician services funding to design a new hospitalist program and internal medicine program for the area, stabilizing inpatient care, providing internal medicine support for ICU patients and consultative support for new family physicians in ER and inpatient care. Learners also now rotate through these two programs and have great experiences.

Dr. Retson's other works include physician delegation to the city council on recruitment and retention, which resulted in the formation of a community health care coalition that advocated for a new inter-provincial health services agreement with Manitoba/Ontario for patients, a new physician recruiter position and work to develop and eventually become the first OHT in the northwest and only OHT with indigenous partners at the table. This work was recognized by an award of excellence from the CFPC and a Northwestern Ontario Visionary Award.

Dr. Retson has been involved with advocacy work in health system transformation at the level of the local OHT as a Chair of the primary care working group and now Co-Chair of the OHT clinical advisory and in the role as Medical Director for Kenora Chiefs Advisory (board of 8 First Nations Chiefs). Through this capacity, the committee has secured a few million dollars for primary care physicians and nursing for our indigenous communities and is presently negotiating with MOH/OMA for a new collaborative and integrated rural generalist physician compensation and governance model on and off reserve. It will integrate acute care services such as inpatient and ER and address inequities in access for our surrounding First Nations communities.

Dr. Jaason Geerts is the Vice-President of Research and Leadership Development at the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL), an associate at the Centre for International Human Resource Management (CIHRM) at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, and an adjunct professor at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa.

Jaason completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge on leadership for professionals after a teaching degree and two Master’s from the University of Toronto and Cambridge respectively.

Along with being a TEDx speaker and giving keynote addresses at several prominent conferences, Jaason’s work has been featured in international peer-reviewed journals, including BMJ journals, the Globe and Mail (Canada’s national newspaper), CBC national news, CTV news, and local radio, as well as globally through the International Hospital Federation (IHF).

The model of leadership in a crisis that Jaason created is the theoretical foundation for a recent successful CIHR research grant (Canada’s federal funding body for health research) valued at $450,000 and he participated as an invited international expert advisor for a World Health Organization (WHO) symposium on health system recovery.

Jaason is also a program director and instructor at the Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa) and the Schulich School of Business (York University, Toronto).

Jaason is also a qualified teacher and was nominated for the Toronto Star’s Teacher of the Year.

Shiyen is a Certified Executive Coach, Speaker and Advisor to top health leaders committed to transforming the healthcare system.

She was named one of the Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership by leaders amongst Simon Sinek, Adam Grant and Marshall Goldsmith. She was recognized as a Top 75 Canadian Immigrant and has received the prestigious Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for her contributions.

Shiyen holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from McMaster University.

Starting as a frontline clinician in Toronto's healthcare industry, she quickly advanced to leadership roles before founding her consulting firm, Dream Dare Lead Inc.

She is the host and curator of “Lessons in Leadership and Life”, the first of its kind video series that featured candid conversations with top leaders in healthcare.

As a Certified Yoga Teacher, Shiyen combines her diverse intellectual and lived expertise to help leaders overcome their limitations and achieve greater success. She is a life-long learner, an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto and serves as Board Chair on a not-for profit board. She is a mother of three, navigating the challenges and joys of a young family with a meaningful career of impact.

Website: https://shiyenshu.com

LinkedIn: Shiyen Shu, Msc.OT, H.BSc, PMP, CYT | LinkedIn

Keith Adamson joined the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work as an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in August 2017. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2023.

He holds more than 20 years of progressive senior management experience in clinical, management and professional practice leadership roles, as well as expertise in Clinical Governance at Mackenzie Health , Women’s College Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto, and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. His management roles have expanded from providing a professional practice lens for the Social Work profession to being responsible for the professional practice of other health disciplines, as well.