Best Practices Day 2026
Bridging Gaps, Building Futures:
Advancing Rehabilitative Care Across the Continuum
— May 1, 2026 • Virtual —
Best Practices Day 2026!
The GTA Rehab Network and the Conference Planning Committee held a virtual Best Practices Day 2026 on Friday, May 1, 2026.
This year’s conference provided insights and explored:
- The role of AI in advancing rehabilitative care
- Enhancing primary care outcomes through rehabilitative interventions
- Leveraging technology‑enabled solutions to promote safe, efficient and cost‑effective home care
- Improving community-based strategies to prevent and manage falls in older adults
- Coordinating care for older adults with complex needs through an integrated patient navigation model
- Supporting behavioural health needs in older adults using innovative virtual care approaches
…and many additional leading‑edge topics.
View the conference program.
Attendance at the conference can be used towards Canadian College of Health Leaders (CHE) Maintenance of Certification credits.
MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION
Attendance at this program entitled certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE/Fellow) to 2.5 Category II credits towards their maintenance of certification requirement.
Note: Viewing additional break-out sessions was accredited at 0.37 category II credits each.
Our Speakers
Dr. Jordan Miller
PT, PhD
OPENING KEYNOTE
Presentation Title
Integrating rehabilitation professionals in team-based primary care
Synopsis
This interactive presentation will synthesize recent research on the integration of rehabilitation professionals in team-based primary care. Evidence presented will include: recent systematic and scoping reviews, a national survey of primary care physiotherapists, and two cluster trials. Participants will gain insight into current evidence and engage in discussions on future directions.
Dr. Muhammad Mamdani
PharmD, MA, MPH
CLOSING KEYNOTE
Presentation Title
Applied Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Implications for Rehabilitation Healthcare
Synopsis
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in healthcare but its adoption remains slow. While AI holds great promise to transform healthcare, it also comes with its own limitations and challenges. This talk will provide an overview of AI, review case examples of its application in healthcare, review its strengths and challenges, and provide insights into its application in rehabilitation medicine.
Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Session A
A Technology-Enabled Home Care Mosaic: Balancing Safety, Independence, and Budget Optimization
Presenters:
- Carol MacDonald, OT Reg., BScOT, BA (Gerentology)
- Steve Kupidy, MSc, BScOT, Clinical Ops & Implementation Lead, Gotcare
Concurrent Session B
Community Paramedic Post-Fall Rehabilitative Care Pathway – Implementing Rehabilitative Care Follow-up for Older Adults After a Fall in Two Communities in Ontario (North Western Toronto and Norfolk)
Presenters:
- Sanja Milicic Iafrate HonBSc, MA RSW, MHSc CHE, GTA Rehab Network, Rehabilitative Care Alliance
- Gary Siu, MHM, MScPT, PT, GTA Rehab Network
- Gabrielle Sadler, LSSBB, MScPT, BScPT, RPT, Rehabilitative Care Alliance
- Michele Kershaw, RKin, Norfolk Family Health Team
Concurrent Session C
The Evolution of a Patient Navigation Model of Care for Older Adults with Complex Care Needs
Presenters:
- Sander L. Hitzig, PhD, Program Research Director & Senior Scientist, St. John’s Rehab Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Naomi Ziegler, MSW, Vice President, Client Services, SPRINT Senior Care
Stay informed about Best Practices Day and other GTA Rehab Network initiatives by subscribing to our newsletter.
Our Sponsor
Planning Committee
| Dr. Sander Hitzig | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre/St. John’s Rehab ~ Chair |
| Bunmi Awoyemi | Humber River Health |
| Patricia Dickson | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre |
| Allison Freeman | University Health Network/Toronto Rehab |
| Paula Gilmore | Bluewater Health |
| Alin Khodaverdian | Humber River Health |
| Charissa Levy | GTA Rehab Network |
| Martha McKay | Sinai Health System/Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital |
| Sanja Milicic Iafrate | GTA Rehab Network |
| Melissa Monardo | Lakeridge Health |
| Manny Paiva | St. Joseph’s Health Care London |
| Whitney Sherman | Baycrest Health Sciences |
| Paula Shing | Sinai Health System/Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital |
