CDEF 2026 Agenda

8:15 a.m.

Welcome and opening remarks

Isaac Gould, CEO, In-Common Laboratories

8:30 a.m.

Keynote Presentation: Build an Integrated, Sustainable Diagnostic Ecosystem with Precision Oncology

David Schaeffer (Vancouver Coastal Health), Mary Kinloch (Saskatchewan Health Authority), and Seghen Woldai (Deloitte)

9:25 a.m.

Enhancing the Value of Speciality Laboratories in Patient Care: Lessons Learned from Neurology Lab Testing

Adrian Budhram (London Health Sciences Centre)

9:50 a.m.

Achieving Measuringly Better Health Care through Lab Enabled Best Practices

Craig Ivany

10:45 a.m.

Updates in Lab Medicine from Newfoundland

Dr. Edward Randell (Newfoundland Health Services)

11:05 a.m.

Updates in Lab Medicine from PEI

Dr. Veni Bharti (Health Prince Edward Island)

11:25 a.m.

Updates in Lab Medicine from Nova Scotia

Lori Beach (IWK Health)

11:45 a.m.

Progress updates from New Brunswick including provincial CIS/LIS

Emily Bodechon (Horizon Health Network) and Annie Carré (Vitalité Health Network)

12:05 p.m.

Updates in Lab Medicine from Quebec

Dr. Alan Spatz (McGill University Health Center)

1:30 p.m.

The Role of Laboratories in Canadian Health Care: Perspectives From Hospital CEOs

Altaf Stationwala (Unity Health Toronto), Kelli-Ann Lemieux (St. Joseph's General Hospital), and Dr. Nicole Boutilier (Nova Scotia Health). Moderated by Lisa Merkley, Director of Lab Medicine at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

2:45 p.m.

AI in Digital Pathology

Anne Martel (Sunnybrook Research Institute)

3:10 p.m.

Agentic Analytics in Laboratory Medicine

Dr. Daniel Holmes (St. Paul's Hospital)

3:35 p.m.

IT Improvements and Immediate Impacts

Dr. Geiger (The Ottawa Hospital)

4:00 p.m.

Keynote Presentation: AI in Canadian Health Care

Will Falk

8:25 a.m.

Alzheimer's and MS Testing

Justin Lear (Roche) and Dr. Ronald Booth (Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association)

8:50 a.m.

Next Phase of Efficient Equipment Management

Tammy Robson (Quinte Health) and Lisa Camp (Quinte Health)

10:10 a.m.

Updates in Lab Medicine from Ontario Health

Dr. Rita Selby (Ontario Health) and Michele Henry (Ontario Health)

10:30 a.m.

Evolution of a Shared Microbiology Service Model

Dr. Christie Vermeiren (Shared Health Laboratory) and Marilyn Spagnoli (Shared Health Laboratory)

10:50 a.m.

Updates in Lab Medicine from Saskatchewan Health Authority

Brandi Keller (Saskatchewan Health Authority)

11:10 a.m.

Updates in Lab Medicine from Alberta Precision Labs

Carolyn O'Hara (Alberta Precision Laboratories, Edmonton Base Lab)

11:30 a.m.

Updates in Lab Medicine from British Columbia

Brenda Jackson (Provincial Health Services Authority)

11:50 a.m.

Updates in Lab Medicine from Yukon General Hospital

Greg Shaw (Yukon Hospitals) and Sheri-Lynn Heighington (Yukon Hospitals)

1:05 p.m.

Keynote Presentation: It Starts in the Lab: Advancing Health Equity Through Laboratory Leadership

Dr. Notisha Massaquoi (University of Toronto)

2:40 p.m.

The Importance of National Quality Standards in the Point of Care Test Context

Lucy Perrone (University of British Columbia)

3:05 p.m.

Scaling Proficiency Testing Through Partnership: How IQMH and ICL Expanded Equitable Access Across Canada

Haleh Bahrami (The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare)

3:30 p.m.

Rapid Diagnostic Pathway for Life-Threatening Blood Disorders

Michelle Sholzberg (St. Michael's Hospital)

4:00 p.m.

Conference closing remarks

Isaac Gould, CEO, In-Common Laboratories