Celebrating Innovations in Health Care Expo was held on April 19 and 20, 2006 at the Toronto Convention Centre. Co-sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), the event showcased the remarkable creativity and drive behind some of the biggest innovations unfolding across the health care system.

For the first time, healthcare players from community providers to those working in the largest acute care hospitals were able to came together to celebrate innovations that they themselves have championed.   In fact, one of the biggest strengths of this inaugural event was its success in providing a focal point to share knowledge and exchange experiences across the different sectors of the care continuum.

The event was organized by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by Robert McKay and Rachel Solomon. Other members of the Steering Committee included: Allison Blair, David Colgan, Sandra Conley, Melissa Farrell, Penny Firth-England, Barbara Hazlewood, Juliana Jackson, Eileen McAlear, Sharon Pillon, and Lily Weedon.

"The idea for Celebrating Innovations in Health Care Expo came from the many health care organizations across Ontario who contacted us about innovative programs and initiatives they were introducing to help improve the quality and efficiency of care in Ontario," says Rachel Solomon, Co-Chair.   "We thought it would be terrific to bring all these innovators together so that we could all benefit from their vision and efforts."

"There is an incredible amount of innovation underway and it's been amazing to see people attend the Expo and participate in the Expo to focus on learning and sharing new ways to help deliver care and manage our health resources more effectively," confirms Robert McKay, Co-Chair.   "One of the most exciting elements of the Expo is the fact that it clearly demonstrats how collaboration between different organizations and therapeutic areas is taking place in Ontario, and that is transforming out health care system for the better."

The success of the event can be measured, in part, by the significant response received to the Ministry's request for organizations to submit applications to participate in the Expo. Applications were requested under five key theme areas that were reflective of the major challenges confronting the health care system.

The Ministry received more than 600 applications in response to their call for innovation proposals to profile at the Forum.   The applications were reviewed by a Selection Committee comprised of the following individuals: Dr. Zubin Austin, Dr. Ross Baker, Diane Barrafato, Randy Belair, Dr. John Cain, Kelly Campbell, June Duesburry-Porter, Steven Elson, Helena Hutton, Stephen Kay, Bob Kitcher, Tina Mah-Sanscartier, Hume Martin, Dr. Sarah Muttit, Emma Pavlov, Dr. Hugh Scully, Dr. William Sibbald, and Teresa Smith.

The goal of the Selection Committee was to select a range of projects that reflected the diversity of innovations unfolding in the health care sector, particularly those that extended beyond single sectors of the care continuum.   In the end, the Expo featured 190 poster displays, 140 booths, and 35 workshops. More than 2,000 individuals - many of them front line workers - attended the two-day event.