Ontario introduces its first health ‘innovation brokers’

TORONTO – Ontario has announced its first three healthcare Innovation Brokers, who will accelerate the work of the Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist (OCHIS). They will accomplish this, the government said, by connecting health technology companies, healthcare providers, patients, and other key stakeholders to advance health technology innovations into practice.

The first three Innovation Brokers are:

• Jennifer Zelmer (pictured), President at Azimuth Health Group – With strong expertise in clinical adoption of health technologies, Jennifer and her team will be building innovation capacity within the health system by mentoring change agents on such topics as value-based procurement and calculating ROI.
• Martin Gurbin, Vice President and Founder, Sunnybrook International – With strong international business expertise, Martin will be working with health technology innovators to define and communicate their value proposition to Ontario-based health service providers.  Martin will work with health technology innovators to build partnerships and business development opportunities.
• Karen Michell, Executive Director of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario (CAHO) – On behalf of Ontario’s 23 research hospitals, Karen will help clear the path to market by pulling innovation into Ontario’s health system. Karen’s work will focus on matching the needs and priorities of Ontario research hospitals with the innovative solutions underway in Ontario.

“Technology is transforming our province, and that includes our healthcare system,” said Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science. “The Health Technologies Fund recipients and the Innovation Brokers are helping foster a culture of health innovation across Ontario. Together, these initiatives will create jobs within the province’s knowledge economy, while also improving patient outcomes for all Ontarians.”