Advancing Arctic Health Innovation
- 01/10/2024
- 9:00 am
- The Collaboration Center, 8th Floor, 150 Elgin St
The global COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital solutions for health and wellbeing. It is now crucial that developments continue to improve access to health care for both physical and mental health, especially in remote Arctic Communities.
The Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council has prioritized human health advances and innovative digital health solutions are being developed in Canada and Norway.
Arctic Frontiers and The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ottawa warmly welcome you to join us for this event. It is free of charge but registration is required for venue capacity and for access to the live recording.
Program
Anu Fredrikson
Executive Director, Arctic Frontiers
Trygve Bendiksby
Chargé d’Affaires, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ottawa
The Honourable Dan Vandal
Minister of Northern Affairs (pre-recorded video)
Challenging environments, remote communities and limited access to healthcare can be factors in the reduction of wellbeing, physical and mental health across the Arctic. Integrating factors such as food security, lived experiences and the environment into health care services is an important step for improving provisions.
However, the socio-economic characteristics differ vastly across the Arctic and current healthcare services are perhaps not tailored enough to the nuances of life in the Arctic. Can digital solutions help?
Confirmed Speakers
Richard Budgell
Assistant Professor, McGill University
Sarah Cox
Director, Circumpolar, Intergovernmental and International Relations Directorate, Policy and Strategic Direction, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
& Head of Delegation, Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG), Arctic Council
Jordyn Stafford
Food Security Manager, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services
Ketil Lenert Hansen
Professor, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
Moderator
Advances and Remaining Challenges in Health Provisions for the North
Research and innovation go hand-in-hand in the digital health field, but the challenge for bold ideas and new companies is in the scale-up phase. Healthcare services are heavily regulated and moving from private to public sector is challenging and expensive. Trust with new companies, modern technology, and innovative tools needs to be built.
Additional barriers, such as unreliable connectivity in remote communities, can hamper the benefits of digital solutions, but the recent global pandemic highlighted the need for virtual and digital healthcare solutions.
Confirmed Speakers
Hedda Crogh
Ideas Hunter, Norinnova
Dr Tine Nordgreen
Professor at University of Bergen & Director ForHelse
Dr Martin Ferguson-Pell
Professor at University of Alberta & Director of the Board Click&Push Accessibility Inc. (Digital)
Dr Ole Hope
Chief Executive Officer, Finnmark Hospitals Trust
Dr Allison Crawford
Chief Medical Officer of 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline & Medical Director, Psychiatry Outreach and Virtual Care, CAMH (Digital)
Moderator
Dr Zachary Kaminsky
DIFD-Mach-Gaensslen Chair in Suicide Prevention Research
Digital tools such as remotely controlled robotics and apps must be designed and developed for the needs of the local communities they serve.
Services run and led by Indigenous Peoples and Arctic residents are now providing reliable and safe healthcare to various remote communities across the Arctic.
Confirmed Speakers
Chief Darcy Bear
Whitecap Dakota First Nation
Cindy Roache
Regional Director, Primary Health Care and Population Health, Saskatchewan Region, Indigenous Services Canada
Dr Ivar Mendez
Professor at University of Saskatchewan & Director, Virtual Health Hub
Kelly Gregoire
Chief Operating Officer, TryCycle Data Systems
Allan MacKenzie
Director, Atlantic First Nation Tech Services (Digital)
Nelli Rachel Kongshaug
Leader of Kors på Halsen project, Norwegian Red Cross (Digital)
Moderator
Dr Zachary Kaminsky
DIFD-Mach-Gaensslen Chair in Suicide Prevention Research
Partners
