e-Health26 Monday Opening Plenary: When Humans and AI Thrive Together: Redefining Care with Empathy and Innovation
Sponsored by Accenture, taking place on Monday, June 15 | 8:00 – 9:45 a.m. ADT
The e-Health Conference and Tradeshow continues the tradition of convening influential voices to explore the future of healthcare and healthcare delivery in Canada and around the world.
In a period of rapid technological change, how will our historically fragmented systems adapt to create connection, compassion, and innovation? Amid an ongoing health human resource crisis, there is an urgent need for holistic, integrated approaches that put patients first while supporting those who care for them.
The e-Health26 Monday Opening Plenary session explores how humans and AI can thrive together, with AI serving as an enabler, that augments human capacity, improves coordination across the continuum of care, and fosters better outcomes for both patients and providers. By combining technological intelligence with human empathy, we can reimagine service delivery, optimize capacity, and cultivate a more resilient and fulfilled healthcare workforce.
Drawing on national and global expertise, the panel will share insights, opinions and lessons learned to help shape a more connected, innovative, and compassionate future of care.
Panelists
Dr. Tej Shah
Managing Director, Accenture
Dr. Tej Shah serves as Global Medical Lead and Managing Director for Accenture, where he delivers clinical operations and health administrative services for major North American health insurers and health systems. In this role, he oversees utilization management, prior authorization, appeals, and care management operations, with a focus on reducing administrative burden while improving outcomes, member experience, and clinician well-being.
Tej’s career spans frontline emergency medicine, global strategy consulting, corporate strategy, venture investing, and operating leadership. He began his career as an emergency physician before joining McKinsey & Company, where he advised health insurers, biopharma organizations, and leading private equity clients. At Merck, he helped shape corporate portfolio strategy, including a multibillion-dollar divestiture of non-core assets and early investments in immuno-oncology and digital health.
In the technology and innovation space, Tej led digital health strategy for Samsung, developing a healthcare investment thesis for a multibillion-dollar corporate venture fund. He later co-founded an AI-enabled care management platform focused on patient engagement and adherence.
Tej has negotiated and managed partnerships across health systems, payers, pharmaceutical companies, retail pharmacy chains, and technology firms. His work often sits at the intersection of workforce resilience, health equity, population health, and technology-enabled care delivery.
He is a frequent advisor and speaker to boards, executive leadership teams, and policymakers on workforce health and well-being, value-based care, healthcare AI, and the future of integrated care across ambulatory, virtual, and at-home settings. Tej holds a medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and studied economics and biochemistry at Boston University.
Karen Oldfield
Interim President & CEO, Nova Scotia Health
Since September 2021, Karen Oldfield has served as Interim President and CEO of Nova Scotia Health. Her tenure has been marked by action and measurable results, including the creation of the West Bedford Transitional Health Centre — a first-of-its-kind facility in Atlantic Canada designed to help patients transition from hospital to home while freeing up acute care beds through an innovative partnership with Shannex Inc. Opening in December 2024, West Bedford has saved 14,000 patient days from acute care units (as of July 1, 2025).
More recently, Nova Scotia Health reported significant improvements in surgical wait times, with the Canadian Institute for Health Information recognizing the province for leading progress nationally. These results reflect the success of a re-focused provincial strategy and collaborative system redesign under Karen’s leadership.
Her vision for the future of healthcare in Nova Scotia is data-driven, prioritizing innovation, efficiency, sustainability, and long-term system resilience.
Prior to joining Nova Scotia Health, Karen served for 18 years as President and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority, where she led record growth in trade, infrastructure investment, and economic impact.
In recognition of her leadership and contributions to business and public service, Karen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University in May 2022. She credits her accomplishments to a strong sense of purpose — and the unwavering support of her daughter, Laura — who reminds her every day why it matters to “get things done.”
Dr. Andy Smith
President and CEO, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Since 2017, Dr. Andy Smith has served as President and CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where he leads more than 12,000 staff, physicians, researchers, and learners, and oversees an annual budget exceeding $1.7 billion. Prior to this role, Dr. Smith served as Sunnybrook’s Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Executive.
With a long-established career as a surgeon and recognized leader in the management of colorectal cancer, Dr. Smith is deeply committed to improving healthcare delivery. He has been actively involved in quality improvement initiatives across Ontario and has a strong interest in healthcare leadership, innovation, and the evolution of Canada’s healthcare system.
Dr. Smith serves on the Board of Directors for ORNGE, Public Health Ontario, HealthCareCAN, and Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners. He is also an active member and past chair of the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network.
Moderator
Jimmy Yang
Canadian Health Practice Lead, Accenture
Jimmy Yang is a Managing Director at Accenture and the firm’s Canadian Health Industry Leader. He serves on Accenture’s Global Health Strategy Council and Global Health Leadership Council.
Jimmy leads Accenture’s Canada health practice, overseeing strategy, technology, data and AI, and design across a national team. His work spans hospitals, governments, life sciences, and private health organizations, focusing on digital health transformation, new models of care, and AI-enabled modernization.
A trusted advisor and thought leader, Jimmy works closely with healthcare executives across Canada and regularly speaks at major forums such as HIMSS and e-Health. He has authored national thought leadership on digitally enabled care and future health system models.
Jimmy is an Adjunct Professor at the Schulich School of Business, serves on the Advisory Board of the Krembil Centre for Health Management and Leadership, and was named Digital Health Canada’s 2024 Digital Health Executive of the Year.
Register for e-Health26
Early Bird registration ends in five days on February 28! Reserve now to join Canada’s digital health community in exploring the ideas, innovations, and collaborations shaping the future of healthcare and healthcare delivery. Register now by clicking the button below.
