Learning together: Building learning health systems through collaboration
How do we move from research and data to meaningful change in health systems and communities?
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Red & White Club, 1833 Crowchild Trail NW
The 2026 O'Brien Institute for Public Health fall forum will bring together researchers, health-system leaders, patients, community organizations and policy partners to explore how learning health systems can support more responsive, equitable and collaborative approaches to health improvement.
Participants will explore the diverse forms learning health systems work can take, what is needed to support it and how collaboration across sectors can help accelerate impact.
The forum will also mark the launch of the O’Brien Institute Learning Health Systems Accelerator.
We invite Institute members, students, trainees and research staff to submit abstracts for a poster session showcasing innovative Learning Health System initiatives that highlight work that translates data, evidence and lived experience into meaningful improvements in health systems and communities.
We welcome submissions from a broad range of disciplines, sectors and perspectives, including clinical innovations, health-system delivery, community engagement, policy, quality improvement, implementation science, patient partnership and data-driven decision-making.
Abstract submission deadline: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026.
Eligibility: O’Brien Institute for Public Health members, students, trainees, research staff and collaborators affiliated with an Institute member.
We welcome both new and previously presented work. Presenters may reuse or adapt posters that have been submitted to or presented at other venues.
Submission: Submit your abstract as a Microsoft Word or PDF document to iph@ucalgary.ca with the subject line: “Fall Members Forum Abstract Submission”.
8:30 - 9:00 a.m. | Registration
Light breakfast will be available
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. | Welcome remarks
Featuring Dr. Kirsten Fiest, PhD and Dr. Khara Sauro, PhD
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. | Demystifying the learning health system: What does it take?
A keynote presentation by Dr. Robert Reid, MD, PhD and moderated by Dr. Khara Sauro.
An accessible introduction to what learning health systems are, why they matter and what it takes to build them, from the people and partnerships involved to the interconnected “gears” that support continuous learning and improvement.
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. | Break
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | What does it take to build a learning health system together?
A panel discussion bringing together health system, clinician, data and patient perspectives to explore the collaboration needed to build effective learning health systems.
Featuring Dr. Kim Simmonds, PhD, Lana Bentley, D’arcy Duquette, and Dr. Claire Barber, MD, PhD. Moderated by Dr. Nicole George, PhD.
11:30 - 11:45 a.m. | Launch of the O’Brien Institute LHS Accelerator by Dr. Khara Sauro
A suite of tools and resources that will support O’Brien Institute members in advancing learning health systems by embedding research into healthcare, enabling rapid cycles of improvement, and advancing the Quintuple Aim.
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Lunch & poster presentations
Join us for a showcase of posters highlighting learning health system initiatives that turn data, evidence and lived experience into meaningful improvements for health systems and communities. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
12:45 - 1:00 p.m. | Pulse Check by Dr. Khara Sauro
An opportunity to reflect on the morning’s discussions, connections and poster showcase, and consider how they have shaped your thinking about learning health systems.
1:00 - 1:45 p.m. | Equity in ALL gears: A conversation starter for advancing equity-centred learning health systems
Keynote presentation by Dr. Ibukun Abejirinde, MD, PhD and moderated by Dr. Katie Birnie, PhD.
A practical exploration of how equity can be embedded throughout a learning health system, with examples of how researchers and partners can put equity into practice across its different “gears.”
1:45 - 2:45 p.m. | The learning health system gears in action
Short research presentations exploring how research helps learning health systems learn, adapt and improve.
Featuring Dr. Zahra Goodarzi, MD, Dr. Doreen Rabi, MD, Dr. Lara Cooke, MD, Dr. Matt James, MD, PhD, and Dr. Perri Tutelman, PhD with Lance Tanke. Moderated by Dr. Pamela Roach, PhD.
2:45 - 3:00 p.m. | Closing remarks by Dr. Khara Sauro
Dr. Robert Reid, MD, PhD
Dr. Robert Reid is lead scientist emeritus at Trillium Health Partners and a global expert in learning health systems, population health and primary care. He led the development of the Learning Health System Action Framework, awarded CIHR's 2025 Article of the Year, and now used across Canada.
He also pioneered the patient-centred medical home model at Group Health Cooperative (now Kaiser Permanente), since adopted worldwide. Dr. Reid holds academic appointments at the University of Toronto and McMaster University, and received the 2024 Louise Lemieux-Charles Health System Leadership Award.
Dr. Ibukun Abejirinde, MD, PhD
Dr. Ibukun Abejirinde is a scientist at the Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners and associate professor (affiliated scientist) at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.
She leads a transdisciplinary research program advancing health equity across the health system, working collaboratively with policymakers, patients, community organizations and researchers. She is a 2022 AMS Healthcare Fellow in Compassion and Artificial Intelligence, and co-leads the digital health equity hub of the International Collaborative for Translational Digital Health.