Welcome to the CNIA Ontario Chapter Site

         

Kama Kalia and Sonia Pagliaroli are Co-Chairs for the CNIA Ontario Chapter

Our hope is this chapter will foster learning, collaboration, innovation and leadership growth among Nurse Informaticists in Ontario. 

Our next Ontario Chapter education event is:

Date:Nov. 10th 12-1pm (Eastern)

Title: Different Journeys. Shared Learning. The Power of Mentorship in Nursing Informatics.

Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89888219782?pwd=2Xj4WofiFbcVzH9iLAMkKOXEqkbPwy.1

Description:

There is no single path into nursing informatics. This panel brings together nursing informatics professionals from different generations and career stages to share how they found their way into the field, the challenges they encountered, and the people and experiences that helped shape their careers. The conversation will celebrate the experience each role brings and the opportunities we have to learn from one another. Come ready to engage with experienced mentors, ask questions, share the challenges you’re navigating, and gain practical perspectives to help shape your own journey in nursing informatics.

Panel:

Helen Edwards

Helen spent 40 years at SickKids Hospital, retiring in 2021 as Chief Nursing Informatics Officer. In that role, she led clinical transformation through the adoption of technologies, systems, and their associated data.

In retirement, Helen remained active in informatics and leadership through:

• Clinical informatics consulting
• Board service with CNIA and the HIMSS Eastern Canada Chapter

She continues as:

• an Adjunct Professor, Master of Health Informatics program, IHPME, University of Toronto
• a Board Member - Health Services Management Advisory Council, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University

Helen is passionate about developing future leaders and those entering informatics. She is a formal mentor in the Toronto Emerging Leaders Forum Mentorship Program and the University of Toronto Nursing Alumni Mentorship Program, and she informally mentors many others.

 

 

 Katherine Babayan 

Clinician and Health Strategist with over a decade of experience in the Canadian health system. Kathy works with senior leaders to identify and translate high-value opportunities into scalable solutions and businesses. Her nursing background provides a deep understanding of the frontline realities, while her Deloitte consulting experience brings a structured approach to building high-performing cross-functional teams, navigating ambiguity, and driving complex initiatives from concept to execution.

 

Erin Donnelly 

Erin Donnelly, RN, is a Clinical Informatics Practice Leader at Trillium Health Partners (THP). With more than 30 years of healthcare experience, she has played a key role in the development, implementation, and optimization of clinical information systems. Her experience as a frontline Meditech user led to her joining the Clinical Informatics team for the implementation of Sunrise Clinical Manager and later THP’s implementation of Epic. More recently, her work has included leadership on the OneTHP HR and payroll project, the implementation of Epic during the conversion of The McCall Long-Term Care Home to THP Rehab and the creation of a new clinic for RTMS treatment for Mental Health patients. Her background in emergency nursing and clinical operations provides a strong foundation for bridging clinical practice and technology. Erin is committed to advancing clinician-centred digital solutions that improve patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.

 

Brief Summary of Key Highlights
Questions

1. Thinking back, what first brought you into nursing informatics, and was it an intentional career choice or something you found your way into?

2. Informatics often requires us to step into unfamiliar spaces, influence others, and sometimes create our own seat at the table. What characteristics have helped you navigate those moments?

3. What is the toughest part of your job?

If you have any questions, you want the panel to answer, please email ontario@cnia.ca

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We are supporting the ONIG Education Day this year and CNIA Ontario Chapter members can register for FREE!

Human Centered Digital Health Forum Registration

Sept 9th, 2026 @12-1pm Eastern time

Clinical Data Standards: Driving Quality, Interoperability, and Better Decisions

As healthcare organizations continue to advance digital transformation, standardized clinical data is essential for enabling interoperability, improving quality, and supporting informed decision-making.

This panel brings together leaders from across the Canadian healthcare ecosystem to share diverse perspectives and real-world experiences in advancing clinical data standards. Panelists will discuss the strategic value of standardized clinical data, practical approaches to implementation within EMR systems, and the governance, mapping, and maintenance processes required to keep standards aligned with evolving clinical practice and reporting needs. Through lessons learned, successes, and ongoing challenges, the discussion will highlight opportunities for collaboration and innovation to strengthen data quality, improve interoperability, and support better patient care across the health system.

Panelists:

Linna Yang - Director Clinical Informatics, North York General Hospital

Alyssa Bryan - Program Lead, Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)

Judy Fleming - Chief Clinical Information Officer, Northumberland Hills Hospital

Moderator:

Sonia Pagliaroli 

Event Recording

We welcome you to complete our chapter survey to offer your feedback - https://forms.gle/CdASgnK1fjp2cEpd8

If you have any questions about the chapter, please email us at ontario@cnia.ca