IEHPs in Canada’s Healthcare Workforce Summit

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Location: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo

10 Victoria St S A, Kitchener, ON N2G 1C5

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Date: April 30th, 2026

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Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EDT

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Programme francophone

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Event Overview

The IEHPs in Canada’s Healthcare Workforce Summit convenes national professional associations, regulators, educators, and community-based organizations to advance the integration of internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) into Canada’s workforce. Hosted alongside the Interconnected Futures Conference, the Summit will feature sector-specific conversations led by leaders in healthcare and allied health.

The event emphasizes dialogue, collaboration, and practical solutions to licensure, workforce participation, and system integration. Participants will engage in networking, knowledge exchange, and cross-sector discussions that connect newcomer talent with professional pathways, strengthening Canada’s healthcare workforce capacity.

Event Agenda

8:30 – 9:00 AM

Continental Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15 AM

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Land Acknowledgement

9:15 – 9:40 AM

Partner Spotlight Sessions

(Featuring organizations supporting IEHP integration)

9:45 – 10:30 AM

Public Health and Allied Health Sessions

Exploring Diverse Career opportunities in Public Health and Health Promotion by Pegeen Walsh

Pegeen Walsh's bio

10:30 – 10:45 AM

Healthcare Data Analytics - Group3

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Licensed Profession-Specific Sessions

Focused sessions highlighting pathways and experiences across healthcare professions, featuring facilitators working in these fields and representatives from professional and regulatory bodies, including:
- Medicine : Happiness Rosemary Ezeh, Kalpeshkumar Vansia
- Nursing: Eberechukwu Peace Akadinma
- Pharmacy: Wasem Alsabbagh, Kelsey Skromeda
- Dental: Ruchi Gera

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Lunch Break

1:00 – 1:45 PM

Learning Stream Presentations

Participant-led presentations from IEHPs-Can learning streams

1:45 – 2:45 PM

Panel Discussion

Interprofessional perspectives from healthcare sectors:

Wasem Alsabbagh, Kelsey Skromeda, Happiness Rosemary Ezeh, Se-Inyenede Onobrakpor, Eberechukwu Peace Akadinma, Nasrin Alostaz

2:45 – 3:30 PM

Networking Session

Opportunity to connect with peers, professionals, and organizations

3:30 - 4:00 PM

Closing Session

Certificate Distribution and Closing Remarks

Pre-Summit Learning Streams

In addition to the Summit day activities, we are offering pre-summit learning programs designed to help internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) strengthen skills relevant to working in the Canadian healthcare system. These programs were developed based on feedback from IEHPs and focus on three key areas that support career integration in Canada.

What Participants Will Gain?

Practical healthcare skill development
A completed professional output (evidence brief, analytics deliverable, or pathway plan)
Opportunity to present at the Summit
Certificate of completion
A portfolio-ready product that can be included in a CV or professional profile

Who This Is For?

These programs are designed for IEHPs who are pursuing clinical licensure pathways, exploring public health, research, teaching, or considering alternative healthcare careers, either as an interim step or long-term direction.

How It Works?

Register: Choose your specific learning stream.
Learn: Complete weekly self-directed modules or tasks.
Apply: Join facilitated group sessions to apply your learning.
Present: Finalize your project and present it at the Summit.

FAQ

Do I need research experience? No, this is professional skills training designed for beginners.
Do I need to attend every week? Strongly recommended, as the project builds weekly.
Can I participate online? Yes, learning sessions are virtual. The Summit is hybrid.
What do I receive at the end? A certificate of completion and a project you can present and include in your portfolio.

Choose Your Learning Stream

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Stream 1: Evidence-Informed Decision Making

Learn to frame questions, search/appraise evidence, and translate findings into recommendations.

Output: Evidence brief, case summary, or poster

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Stream 2: Healthcare Data Analytics

Build confidence with datasets using Excel, Power BI, and introductory SPSS/R concepts.

Output: Data poster or short analytics pitch

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Stream 3: Licensure, Employment & Networking

Map realistic entry points, translate experience to Canadian roles, and prep portfolios.

Output: Licensure plan and employer-ready portfolio

Registration

In Person

$40

Location: University of Waterloo, School of Pharmacy (10 Victoria St S A, Kitchener, ON N2G 1C5).

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Virtual

$20

Location: Via Zoom. Registration link will be provided after payment is completed.

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Speakers

Pegeen Walsh

Pegeen Walsh is an instructor with and developed the curriculum for the health promotion component of the bridging program, Alternative Careers in Health Promotion and Education for Internationally Trained Physicians hosted by the Learning Enrichment Foundation.

As a former executive with the federal and provincial government and not-profit sector, she oversaw the design and delivery of a wide range of programs, policies, partnerships, advocacy and research that supported individual and community health and well-being. In her past leadership roles as Executive Director at the Ontario Public Health Association, Director of Chronic Disease Prevention at the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, Ontario Regional Director at the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada, she led such initiatives as climate change and health, prenatal health, early child development, seniors, injury prevention, HIV/AIDS, SARS airport screening, Aboriginal Headstart, Smoke-Free Ontario, the built environment, alcohol misuse, chronic disease prevention, healthy eating and health equity.

Pegeen values volunteering as a Board Member at Bellwoods Centres for Community Living and Co-Chairing its Community Advisory Council.

Nasrin Alostaz

An Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a master’s degree in nursing education, a master’s degree in science, and a Ph.D. in nursing from McMaster University. Currently, Nasreen works as a Ph.D. researcher and Faculty, Professor at Mohawk College, a sessional instructor in the graduate program, Faculty of Health Disciplines at Athabasca University, a Co-Investigator on an SSHRC/PHAC-Funded IEN project at McMaster University in partnership with the CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses, and a Nursing Content Specialist and Consultant at Pegasus Institute in partnership with the Canadian Medical Foundation (CMF). Her postdoctoral training was focused on evidence-informed policies that support the integration of IENs into the Canadian workforce and advance health system equity. Her work is grounded in a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare, with a focus on professional achievement and building research capacity to strengthen nursing expertise.