Bridging the Gap: Advancing Rural Health Care Through Innovation & Collaboration

Description

Rural health care professionals and community members are invited to join us for an essential event focusing on the challenges and opportunities in rural health care that circle our region.

"Bridging the Gap: Advancing Rural Health Care Through Innovation & Collaboration" is a unique event aimed at addressing the gaps in rural health care services, with a particular focus on virtual care solutions and improving access to primary care in underserved communities. This event will bring together key industry leaders along with our title sponsor, Teladoc Health Canada to share insights, data, and innovative solutions to improve rural health care systems.

Event Highlights:

• Panel Discussion with healthcare leaders, sharing insights on addressing rural health care challenges and the role of virtual care.

• Data presentation on virtual care?s impact on patient outcomes.

• Open Q&A session with health professionals to discuss needs and challenges.

• Opportunities for networking with healthcare professionals, community leaders, and stakeholders in rural health.

Don't miss out on this important conversation about the future of rural health care. Register today!
 

About Teladoc Health Canada
Teladoc Health Canada is a Canadian company within the Teladoc Health Group, guided by a Canadian leadership team. Headquartered in Toronto, Teladoc Health Canada has more than 20 years of experience, is integrated into healthcare systems coast to coast, and enables virtual care services to millions of Canadians with a unique combination of technology and clinical capacity through its virtual care platforms. Through experiences and learnings from providing services in over 190 countries across the world, Teladoc Health Canada has access to world-class research and innovation, enhancing care delivery while maintaining a strong Canadian focus.

Joby McKenzie
Managing Director | Teledoc Health Canada
Joby McKenzie is the Managing Director of Teladoc Health Canada. She leads the company's strategic direction, operations, and partnerships across the country. With a career spanning public and private health landscapes, Joby brings deep expertise in health system transformation and digital innovation. She is passionate about building accessible, high-quality virtual care that meets the needs of Canadians and is committed to advancing equitable health outcomes through strong collaboration.


Azi Boloorchi Drake
Vice President | Hospital and Health Systems Partnerships and R&D at Teladoc Health Canada
Azi Boloorchi Drake is Vice President of Health System Partnerships and R&D at Teladoc Health Canada, where she takes a system, solution-oriented approach to addressing challenges related to access to healthcare through innovative virtual care partnerships with health systems. Azi also oversees product development and technology in order to bring the best capabilities to Canadian clients.

Nik Nanos, CM, ICD.D
Chief Data Scientist and Founder | Nanos Research
Nik Nanos is the Chief Data Scientist and Founder of Nanos Research, a leading organization delivering market and consumer insights globally. He is a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a research adjunct professor at Carleton University?s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and leads the Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Confidence Index. As the pollster of record for CTV News, The Globe & Mail, and Bloomberg News in Canada, Nik has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to research and public policy.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen
City of Lethbridge
Blaine Hyggen was first elected to City Council in 2013 and was elected Mayor in 2021. He has owned and operated various small businesses throughout the community for the past 28 years. He studied Business Law and Accounting at Lethbridge Community College. As a proud parent, grandparent and successful business owner, Blaine loves Lethbridge and wants to see it remain the best city for families while ensuring it is a great place to do business. 

Dr. Waller
Medical Director | Chinook Primary Care Network
Dr. Waller graduated from Warwick Medical School in the UK in 2012 and moved to Canada in 2019. He currently works at the University of Lethbridge Health Centre as a Family Physician and Chinook Regional Hospital as a Palliative Physician. Outside of clinical practice he works at the Chinook Primary Care Network as Medical Director and for the University of Calgary as Co-site Director for the Lethbridge Rural Family Medicine Residency Program.

Dr. Richard Buck
Associate Dean | Southern Alberta Medical Program
University of Lethbridge
Dr. Richard Buck is an emergency physician at Chinook Regional Hospital and the Associate Dean for the new Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) at the University of Lethbridge, supporting rural medical education across Southern Alberta. He brings extensive experience in physician training and academic leadership, with a long-standing commitment to improving access to care in underserved communities. His leadership is key to preparing the first cohort of medical students in Lethbridge starting next summer.

Dr. Sayeh Zielke
Medical Director | Chinook Cardiology
Physician Lead | Cardiac Services AHS South Zone
Dr. Sayeh Zielke is a cardiologist, entrepreneur, and published author based in Lethbridge, Alberta, where she serves as Physician Lead for Cardiac Sciences with Alberta Health Services South Zone, Medical Director of Chinook Cardiology, and Chair of several provincial healthcare committees. She holds faculty appointments at both the University of Calgary and University of Lethbridge, has served in leadership roles with the Canadian Medical Association and Alberta Health Services Board, and earned her ICD.D. designation in 2022. Recognized for her community leadership and professional excellence, Dr. Zielke has received numerous awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, a Key to the City of Lethbridge, and the 2025 YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Shattered Ceilings.  

Josh Nash
Provincial Director | Alberta Operations, STARS
Josh is a registered paramedic with 25 years of experience in Alberta's pre-hospital care system. He is passionate about critical care, education, and advancing the implementation and delivery of virtual care. Josh has held the position of Provincial Director, Alberta Operations with STARS for the past two years, bringing leadership and clinical expertise to support operations across the province.