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EMHA students explore the future of health-care leadership

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Telfer EMHA Class of 2024 graduates smiling with EMHA Director Karen Nelson.

EMHA students explore the future of health-care leadership 

The first Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) cohort from the Telfer School of Management completed their program in August 2023 with an integrative capstone experience. The theme for the week was Leadership and Innovation. They visited Ottawa health-care organizations where innovation is taking place and heard from local health-care executives. 

One of their visits was to Fullscript to meet with Kyle Braatz, who was named Ottawa Business Journal’s 2023 CEO of the Year and was a recipient of Canada’s Forty Under 40 award in 2018. 

Telfer EMHA Class of 2024 graduates smiling with Kyle Braatz, CEO of Fullscript.

The group then met with Trualta founder and CEO, Jonathan Davis. Trualta is developing software to support caregivers of patients to decrease caregiver burnout and improve patient outcomes. 

One of the highlights of the capstone week was an opportunity for the students to work on a live case led by Professor Ian Cullwick. The EMHA candidates prepared and presented their case analysis. The case underscored the types of decisions that health-care executives face when it comes to incorporation of private health-care services into the publicly funded health-care system. 

The capstone week also featured class discussions on how innovation has led to the creation of the Ottawa Paramedicine Program, presented by Shannon Leduc, who is the commander of clinical programs for Ottawa’s Paramedic Service. Jennifer Zelmer, the CEO of Healthcare Excellence Canada, discussed the case for change in health care.

The students also explored the role and implications of AI in health care with Tanya Horsley, an adjunct professor and associate director of research Associate Director of Research and Evaluation at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. 

The students’ visit to Perley Health focused on discussing how innovation is taking place in the long-term care system and informing geriatric research. 

During a visit to CMHA Ottawa, researcher Donna Pettey and CMHA staff discussed the development of their Housing First program. 

A discussion on crucial health-care leadership competencies 

On the final day of the EMHA Capstone Week, the candidates engaged in a panel discussion that centred on the future of health care and health-care leadership. Four well-known Ottawa health-care executives shared their perspectives on what strong, effective leadership looks like in health-care organizations. 

Panel moderator Gregory Richards, who is Telfer’s vice-dean of graduate programs, was joined by Dr. Jack Kitts, former CEO of The Ottawa Hospital; Dr. Virginia Roth, who is chief of staff at The Ottawa Hospital and professor of medicine at uOttawa; Alain Doucet, who is president and CEO of the Canadian College of Health Leaders; and Dr. Bernard Leduc, the former CEO of Hôpital Montfort (Montfort Hospital). 

Four panelists in conversation and smiling while seated in a row at a table facing the seated attendees.
From left to right: Dr. Virginia Roth, Dr. Bernard Leduc, Dr. Jack Kitts and Alain Doucet.

Advice for the next generation of health-care leaders 

Each of the four panelists gave advice to the next generation of health-care leaders: 

Stay authentic and true to your values: Leaders need to be authentic and maintain a steady focus on guiding their teams, even as others manage day-to-day operations. 

  • Prioritize self-care: Take control of your life and your schedule in a way that helps you maintain balance. 

  • Practice gratitude: Make sure to express appreciation for the people you work with and for those who work for you. 

  • Focus on patient-centred care: Always prioritize the impact on patients in every decision and action. 

  • Value your teams: Recognize the importance of both your professional team and your personal support system. While your work team is crucial for achieving professional goals, don’t overlook the importance of your "home team"—your family and loved ones. 

  • Be a change agent: Embrace the role of being a constant change agent and leader. Leading with inspiration is key to driving positive change in health care. 

  • Commit to development: Foster growth by ensuring access to support services, coaching and training for the ongoing development of yourself and your teams. 

Telfer’s First EMHA Class of 2023 

Congratulations to the first EMHA graduating class on successfully completing the program. Learn more about Telfer’s online Executive Master of Health Administration program and how you can advance your career in health-care management.