Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Why it's important to get your 2024 flu shot – and how to get it

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:23:42 +0000

Why it's important to get your 2024 flu shot – and how to get it

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 11/07/2024 - 09:23

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The flu vaccine is especially important for adults aged 65 years or older, pregnant people and individuals who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk of complications from influenza infection, 91�Թ� experts say (photo by Canva)

Ishani Nath

Topic

Our Community

Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Subheadline

91�Թ� experts on the flu vaccine, where it's available and when's the best time to get it

None of Jeff Kwong’s patients has asked him about the influenza vaccine yet this fall – but the family physician wants to make sure that getting vaccinated is on people’s radar.

That’s because influenza causes an estimated 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada each year.

Moreover, public health officials are doubly concerned this season because of a strain of influenza circulating in wild birds and some agricultural animals. While the risk of avian influenza to the general population remains low, A H5N1 has nevertheless infected some humans who have close contact with sick animals.

“While current influenza vaccines don’t protect against avian influenza, they may reduce the risk of infection with human influenza viruses and therefore the possibility of both human and avian influenza viruses infecting someone at the same time,” says Kwong, an associate scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute and professor at the 91�Թ�’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

“These co-infections could create a new ‘version’ of influenza that might spread easily among humans and cause very severe disease.”

What is influenza?

Influenza is a respiratory disease that typically causes fever, cough and body aches. While many people recover from influenza within a week to 10 days, for some, an infection can cause severe illness.

“It’s a good idea for everyone aged six months or older to get an influenza vaccine, but it’s especially important for adults aged 65 years or older, pregnant people and individuals who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk of complications from influenza infection,” says Kwong, who is the associate director of 91�Թ�’s Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (CVPD), adding that medical conditions of concern include heart diseases, diabetes and even obesity.

The most common reason Canadians give for not getting a flu shot is because they don’t think it’s necessary – a sentiment Natalie Crown, associate professor, teaching stream, in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, has heard before.

“Sometimes people will tell me they don’t get vaccinated because they think they don’t need it – for example, they’ll say they are healthy and rarely get sick themselves,” says Crown, who is also a CVPD member. “The reality is getting the flu vaccine is one of most effective ways of protecting ourselves from the flu and its complications, and we are doing our part to protect the more vulnerable people around us who are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu.”

91�Թ�’s Discovery Pharmacy's new location in the atrium of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy building is among the places 91�Թ� community members can get their shot across the three campuses (photo by Dana Thompson)

When to get the influenza vaccine

The flu season doesn’t have a precise start and end date. According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI), influenza season typically starts in December but can start as early as October or as late as February.

Influenza vaccines were first made available for high-risk individuals and then for the public, beginning in late October and early November.

Since antibodies generated by influenza vaccines gradually decrease over time, Kwong takes a strategic approach to timing his influenza vaccine – but notes that may not be the best approach for everyone.

“I tend to wait until around mid-November to get my influenza vaccine, so I will be protected in December when influenza activity often starts, and I can be fairly confident that the vaccine will still offer some protection up to May,” says Kwong. “However, for those at high risk, getting the influenza vaccine in late October is not a bad idea because occasionally influenza activity can start earlier than December.”

Where to get the influenza vaccine

Influenza vaccines are typically available at local community pharmacies, through primary care providers or at dedicated community clinics offered by public health units across the country.

Members of the 91�Թ� community can also visit UTogether for more information on where to get influenza, as well as COVID-19, vaccines across the university’s three campuses.

Learn more about vaccines at UTogether

Going digital to save lives: 91�Թ� grad student aims to eliminate barriers to health care

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:40:31 +0000

Going digital to save lives: 91�Թ� grad student aims to eliminate barriers to health care

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 10/07/2024 - 09:40

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Naturinda Emmanuel, a Mastercard Scholar who grew up in Uganda, studies intelligent medicine and electronic medical records at 91�Թ�'s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (supplied image)

Tina Adamopoulos

Topic

Global Lens

Black Research Network

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Africa

Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Subheadline

Naturinda Emmanuel, a scholar and entrepreneur, says the digitization of medical records, when coupled with AI, will reduce errors in patient care and help spot public health threats before they occur

Growing up in Uganda, Naturinda Emmanuel aspired to be a medical doctor and health leader who eliminates barriers to health-care access for those in underserved, remote communities.

“I always wanted to address different health-care issues in my country – that is my motivation,” he says. “I want to gain the skills and expertise to strengthen health-care systems to ensure that those who need care can receive it.”

Naturinda (his surname) is now a graduate student at the 91�Թ�, where he studies intelligent medicine and electronic medical records in the master of health informatics program at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME).

He’s also actively involved with the startup community, having launched a successful, impact-focused enterprise in Uganda and training other entrepreneurs.

Naturinda joined IHPME with the support of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, a global education initiative focused on the next generation of African leaders, and Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative (AHEHC), a partnership between 91�Թ�, the Mastercard Foundation and leading African universities. The AHEHC was established in 2022 to drive primary health-care workforce education, entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa.

This is Naturinda’s second time studying abroad with the Mastercard Foundation. He became the first in his family to study outside the country when he was awarded a scholarship to pursue an undergraduate degree in laboratory medicine at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana.

He later returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic to volunteer in the clinical microbiology and immunology departments at a local hospital. The experience prompted him to think about how to improve systems that were suddenly facing new pressures at already burdened hospitals – namely the continued use of paper records.

Medical records are the building blocks for developing efficient and effective intelligent medicine models, he says, while intelligent medicine refers to the use of machine learning models to process medical data and reduce errors in patient care. Large datasets may also allow medical professionals to spot health patterns – an emerging epidemic, for example – to better prepare for public health threats.

However, low-to-middle-income countries face many barriers to digitizing medical data, including limited access to technology and the absence of standardized data formats. The use of paper records also causes delays in retrieving laboratory results and makes it difficult to understand patients’ medical histories efficiently.

“The digitization of medical records is essential for developing and training predictive models,” Naturinda says. “Unique electronic datasets from these communities provide the more accurate and reliable information needed to account for unique socio-cultural factors and effectively develop models tailored to address those specific challenges.”

Naturinda will work under the guidance of Karim Keshavjee, an assistant professor and director of the master of health informatics program. In addition to intelligent medicine, Naturinda says he also has a key interest in implementation science, or the study of methods to ensure research is translated into policy, programs and startups.

One of Canada’s few professional graduate programs in the field, the master of health informatics program provides students with the skills and strategic vision to take on leadership positions in health-care landscape.

The opportunity to learn industry-specific knowledge from health leaders is what made the program a perfect fit, Naturinda says.

“One of the reasons I chose the MHI program is because it is training us to be leaders, innovators and policymakers. I wanted to seek mentorship from people who were making a big impact in strengthening health-care systems in Canada.”

Public health isn’t the only field where Naturinda is hoping to make an impact. He also wants to help others as an entrepreneur – a journey that’s already well underway.

During his undergrad, he co-founded the Nugget Poultry Farm to help smallholder farmers in western Uganda raise poultry more effectively and improve food access back home. The venture aims to support 1,000 farmers in 20 communities by 2027 and has received a Social Venture Challenge Award from the Mastercard Foundation and the Resolution Project.

Naturinda enhanced his business knowledge through the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University. Now a program coach, he has trained more than 500 entrepreneurs from Africa-based startups addressing various issues in agribusiness, climate change and health care.

Naturinda is eager to tap into 91�Թ�’s network of entrepreneurs and has wasted no time reaching out to various groups, including the Black Founders Network.

“When I train entrepreneurs, I see the impact of them pitching their ventures or winning a grant. It’s the type of impact that I want to see with my research, and bridging those two passions is an ideal step forward,” Naturinda says.

“As I progress at 91�Թ�, I look forward to leveraging opportunities that speak to my background in entrepreneurship, health care and research to make sure that I implement them together.”

First 48 Hours: Documentary spotlights the journey of international students

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:53:06 +0000

First 48 Hours: Documentary spotlights the journey of international students

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 10/01/2024 - 15:53

Cutline

(supplied image)

Adam Elliott Segal

Topic

Global Lens

Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation

Centre for International Experience

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Global

Graduate Students

Student Life

Subheadline

International Students: First 48 Hours will be screened across 91�Թ�’s three campuses this fall

The first few days of a new school year can be as frantic as they are exciting – but for several international students at the 91�Թ�, there was an extra wrinkle: a new country.

The students are featured in a 22-minute documentary called International Students: First 48 Hours in Canada, which is directed by Cal Campos and was shot at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

It uses a combination of the students’ own footage and sit-down interviews to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the excitement of packing, traveling and finally setting foot on each of 91�Թ�’s three campuses.

Obinna Ezeani (supplied image)

Obinna Ezeani, who is featured in the film and spent 17 hours traveling from Lagos to Toronto, says he is thrilled to see the final product come to life.

“It’s an opportunity to relive those moments and memories from a year ago and remind myself why I embarked on this journey,” says Ezeani, who is working on a master’s degree in health informatics and recalls his first few days in Canada as “exciting.”

A joint partnership between 91�Թ�’s Centre for International Experience and the Innovation Hub in the division of Student Life, the documentary is being screened across the three campuses in October and November – with the first screening scheduled at 91�Թ� Scarborough this week.

It will later be available for streaming on YouTube.

Julia Allworth, the Innovation Hub’s manager of innovation projects, says the goal of the project was to shine a light on the multitude of diverse global perspectives that make up nearly a third of the university’s student body.

“We wanted to zoom in on what it’s like for students when they first arrive in Canada. What challenges do they face as they step off the plane and into Canada? What decisions do they need to make along the way?” says Allworth.

“International students bring tremendous value to the university.”

The biggest challenge, according to Campos, was figuring out how to show the diversity and complexity of student life at 91�Թ� in just 22 minutes.

Jo Antonia Sepulveda Guzman (supplied image)

“The beauty of documentary is you think it’s going to go in one direction, and then it goes a totally different way,” says Campos, who was selected to helm the project for their thoughtful approach to equity and diversity.

Jo Antonia Sepulveda Guzman, who is from Chile and is working on a bachelor’s degree in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, says she is looking forward to sharing the doc with her family.

“[They were] so excited when I told them I would be doing the 48 hours project,” she says. “My sister started giving me tips on how to record and took me to change my phone screen protector so that the camera was not blurry. My mom is expecting to cry.”

Sepulveda is nostalgic about the experience.

“The person I was then is completely different from the person I am today. I worked so hard to come here. Remembering the beginning will be emotional for me.”

Shraddha Prasad, associate director, international student experience and global fluency at the Centre for International Experience, says she couldn’t be prouder of the year-long project, which received support from 91�Թ�’s International Student Experience Fund.

“International students have such impact in the 91�Թ� community through the perspectives they bring to the university through their lived experiences and their cultural backgrounds,” she says, noting that funding is already underway for a second film project titled International Students: Life After Graduation.

“Being able to elevate these stories has been a huge highlight for us.”

Caution needed when drawing links between improving symptoms and unproven remedies: Study

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 16:03:17 +0000

Caution needed when drawing links between improving symptoms and unproven remedies: Study

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 09/06/2024 - 12:03

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(photo by Oleksandra Yagello/Getty Images)

Sunnybrook Staff

Topic

Breaking Research

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Research & Innovation

Subheadline

"Post-hoc bias can play tricks on patients that can eventually lead to serious disappointments – and for health-care workers, it can ultimately lead to shortfalls in care"

People tend to continue with unproven treatments even if there’s no evidence to suggest an initial marginal improvement in symptoms is anything more than a potential coincidence, a new study has found.

"I've noticed many of my patients take unnecessary vitamins, pills or alternative remedies with little evidence to inform their choice, leading to a lot of distraction, wishful thinking and wasted money,” says senior study author Donald Redelmeier, a staff internist and senior scientist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and professor in the department of medicine in the 91�Թ�’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

“Perhaps even more concerning is a false belief that leads to a missed diagnosis that later becomes incurable.”

The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, explores “post-hoc bias” – a tendency in reasoning that causes many patients to continue taking dubious or unreliable treatments. The bias encourages a popular misconception: that because one action preceded another later event, the first must have caused the second since it occurred in sequence.

But medical science, the researchers note, stresses that the order of two events does not prove a cause-and-effect since coincidences are frequent. The implication for medical care is that a patient who improved after a treatment is not necessarily a patient who improved because of the treatment.

Instead, other potential explanations include withdrawal from an adverse activity, added rest or the body’s own healing powers.

To test bias across a variety of clinical cases, the researchers ran multiple experiments using hypothetical clinical scenarios administered by a randomized survey of pharmacists and members of the community.

The scenarios described a patient with fatigue or another vague symptom who feels a bit better after trying a vitamin, shampoo, sugar pill or other treatment.

“We found that most respondents suggested continuing the treatment indefinitely even though the change in symptoms might be pure random chance," says Redelmeier, who is also affiliated ICES and the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in 91�Թ�’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

"The post-hoc bias can play tricks on patients that can eventually lead to serious disappointments – and for health-care workers, it can ultimately lead to shortfalls in care."

While attributing an initial improvement in – or lack of – symptoms to a treatment is a quick and intuitive approach, the researchers say the study reinforces the need for both patients and clinicians to be cautious when drawing conclusions.

“An awareness of post-hoc bias will not make it disappear, however we suggest patients and clinicians need to think twice and stay mindful of alternative explanations.”

The study was supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a Canada Research Chair in Medical Decision Sciences, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the PSI Foundation of Ontario and the National Science Foundation.

This story was originally posted at Sunnybrook Research Institute

Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, Centre for

laurie.bulchak — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:17:11 +0000

Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, Centre for laurie.bulchak Sat, 07/27/2024 - 17:17

URL

https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/centre-for-sexual-and-gender-minority-health-research/

Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Centre for (CVPD)

laurie.bulchak — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:11:25 +0000

Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Centre for (CVPD) laurie.bulchak Sat, 07/27/2024 - 17:11

URL

https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/institutes/centre-for-vaccine-preventable-diseases/

Occupational Disease Prevention, Centre for

laurie.bulchak — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:09:59 +0000

Occupational Disease Prevention, Centre for laurie.bulchak Sat, 07/27/2024 - 17:09

URL

https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/institute/centre-for-occupational-disease-prevention/

Pandemics, Institute for

laurie.bulchak — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 17:02:47 +0000

Pandemics, Institute for laurie.bulchak Sat, 07/27/2024 - 13:02

URL

https://pandemics.utoronto.ca

91�Թ� community members recognized with Order of Canada

bresgead — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:49:13 +0000

91�Թ� community members recognized with Order of Canada

bresgead Thu, 07/04/2024 - 12:49

Cutline

(photo by Sgt Johanie Maheu, Rideau Hall, OSGG-BSGG)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Our Community

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Unity Health

Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation

Alumni

Chemistry

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Music

Hospital for Sick Children

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Order of Canada

Political Science

St. Michael's College

University College

University Health Network

Victoria College

Subheadline

"The Order of Canada recognizes individuals who have made positive and lasting impacts on communities here in Canada or who have brought honour to our country abroad"

An innovator in chemical catalyst development. A global leader in cardiac surgery and care. And a public health expert who led the rollout of Canada’s first colon cancer screening program.

These are a few members of the 91�Թ� community who were recently honoured with appointments or promotions within the Order of Canada.

The Governor General recently announced 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including two promotions within the Order.

They include Doug Stephan, a University Professor of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science; Lee Errett, a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of surgery, and Linda Rabeneck, a health executive and professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

Established in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honours, recognizing extraordinary contributions across all sectors of society.

“The Order of Canada recognizes individuals who have made positive and lasting impacts on communities here in Canada or who have brought honour to our country abroad,” Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said in a statement.

Here is a list of 91�Թ� faculty, alumni and supporters who were appointed to, or promoted within, the Order of Canada in the latest round of honourees.

Current and former faculty

Edward Cole, a staff nephrologist at Toronto General Hospital and professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of medicine, was named a Member of the Order for his dedication to advancing and delivering care to people living with kidney disease, his instrumental role in establishing a globally impactful kidney-paired donation program and his leadership as former physician-in-chief at the University Health Network.

Lee Errett, a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of surgery, was appointed a Member of the Order for his transformative leadership in cardiac research and care, including his role in establishing St. Michael’s Hospital as a world-class centre for cardiac surgery, his dedication to educating future medical leaders and providing care in underserved areas worldwide.

Franklyn Griffiths, a professor emeritus and George Ignatieff Chair Emeritus of Peace and Conflict Studies in the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was appointed a Member of the Order for his scholarship on Russian affairs which has advanced the Western world’s understanding of Soviet politics. An expert in Arctic international relations, Griffiths helped create the Arctic Council and pushed for Indigenous voices to play a central role in the council’s workings.

Beverley Johnston, an internationally renowned percussionist who is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Music, was appointed an Officer of the Order for her work developing and promoting Canadian music to audiences around the world. Working in a male-dominated field, Johnston’s unconventional performances combine classical transcriptions, contemporary music and an element of theatre.

Daphne Maurer, a professor emeritus of psychology, neuroscience and behaviour at McMaster University who holds a status appointment at 91�Թ�’s Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, was appointed an Officer of the Order for her research on visual and cognitive development in early childhood.

Linda Rabeneck, a gastroenterologist, health executive and professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, was named a Member of the Order for her leadership in colorectal cancer screening and prevention. Formerly the director of the Division of Gastroenterology at 91�Թ�, she led the rollout of ColonCancerCheck, Canada’s first province-wide screening program.

Stephen Randall, who earned his master's degree and doctorate at 91�Թ� and taught at the university from 1971 to 1974, was named a Member of the Order for his academic contributions and advisory role in international relations. A professor emeritus at the University of Calgary, Randall’s expertise in myriad issues affecting the United States and Latin America, notably Colombia, has informed Canada’s foreign policy.

Bibudhendra Sarkar, senior scientist emeritus at the Research Institute of the Hospital for Sick Children and professor emeritus at 91�Թ�’s department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for his achievements in advancing medical research in Canada and abroad. He discovered a novel treatment for patients with Menkes disease, a rare genetic condition, and led international efforts in South and Southeast Asia to address public health crises from contaminated groundwater.

Jonathan Scott Rose, a professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, was named a Member of the Order for his pioneering work in architecture and software used in field-programmable gate arrays. Rose served as the chair of the department from 2004 to 2009 and received his PhD degree in electrical engineering from 91�Թ� in 1986.

Doug Stephan, a University Professor in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was named an Officer of the Order in recognition his world-leading research in inorganic and organometallic chemistry. His many achievements include discovering – and commercializing – a new class of catalysts that is now used in one of the largest chemical manufacturing facilities in the world. He also achieved global renown for founding the field of “Frustrated Lewis Pair” chemistry.

Alumni and friends

Sleight-of-hand artist David Ben, who graduated from University College in 1983, was named a Member of the Order for his four decades of dedication to the exploration, development and preservation of magic, including penning several books on the subject and co-founding the Magicana organization.

William Fox, a research fellow and adjunct professor at Trent University who earned his honours bachelor of arts and master of arts in archeology at 91�Թ�, was named a Member of the Order for his distinguished contributions to Canadian archeology, his leadership in the Ontario Archaeological Society, and his steadfast advocacy for the involvement of Indigenous communities in preserving their material heritage.

Martha Friendly, who founded the Childcare Resource and Research Unit at 91�Թ�’s Centre for Urban and Community Studies in the early 1980s, was appointed an Officer of the Order for her work with the now-independent non-profit and her advocacy for accessible, publicly funded early childhood education and care, and women’s equality.

Rosemary Ganley, a writer, activist, teacher and an alumna of St. Michael’s College, was named a Member of the Order for her lifelong advocacy for human rights, gender equity, and social justice, including co-founding Jamaican Self Help, an organization of Canadians working to support the development of healthy Jamaican communities.

Arnie Gelbart, a member of the Chancellors’ Circle of Benefactors, was named a Member of the Order for his decades-long leadership in independent film and television in his role as founder, executive producer and CEO of Galafilm Productions Inc.

Judy Kent was named a Member of the Order for championing sport as a catalyst for social change, her advocacy for gender equality and inclusion and her leadership in international support. Among her achievements: She was the first woman to serve as both president of Commonwealth Sport Canada and Canada’s chef de mission for the Commonwealth Games, and her paper on sport for international development laid the foundation for the SportWORKS program.

James David Meekison, with a 45-year career spanning investment banking, cable television and private equity, was named a Member of the Order for his extensive philanthropy. The Jim Meekison and Carolyn Keystone Foundation supported 91�Թ�’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s efforts to launch the Discovery Pharmacy on the St. George campus.

Michael Perley, a 91�Թ� alumnus who completed a master’s degree in French language and literature, was named a Member of the Order for his lifelong dedication to tackling environmental and health challenges. He has been an advocate for tighter tobacco control laws, reducing second-hand smoke exposure and has led coalitions on acid rain and air pollution.

Dan Poenaru, a pediatric surgeon and professor at McGill University who earned two degrees at 91�Թ�, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions to pediatric surgery in Africa, including establishing a surgical unit and training program in Kenya, co-founding three medical schools and leading initiatives for children's surgery globally.

Vaira Vike-Freiberga, an alumna of Victoria College and the first woman to serve as Latvia’s president, was named an honorary Officer of the Order for her work enriching Canada-Latvia relations and for reflecting Canadian values abroad.

– with files from Mariam Matti and Rahul Kalvapalle

How will AI change our world? 91�Թ� podcast explores technology’s impact on society

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:17:45 +0000

How will AI change our world? 91�Թ� podcast explores technology’s impact on society

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 04/04/2024 - 11:17

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Unity Health

What Now? AI

Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society

Alumni

Artificial Intelligence

CIFAR

Computer Science

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Information

Faculty of Law

Geoffrey Hinton

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Startups

91�Թ� Mississauga

Vector Institute

Subheadline

In What Now? AI, hosts Beth Coleman and Rahul Krishnan explore – and demystify – artificial intelligence and its impact on society with the help of leading experts

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence are posing profound questions about the future – and about us.

Can we ensure safety and alignment within AI systems? How might AI forever transform fields like health care? What ripple effects could AI have on jobs and livelihoods, including in creative industries?

91�Թ� researchers Beth Coleman and Rahul Krishnan explore – and demystify – these and other topics by tapping into the knowledge of leading AI experts in What Now? AI, a new 91�Թ� podcast that launches this week.

It can be found on Apple, Spotify, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio and Amazon.

An associate professor at 91�Թ� Mississauga’s Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology and the Faculty of Information, Coleman says she hopes the episodes help audiences make sense of new AI tools and systems by cutting through “all the noisiness and controversy that has taken over the headlines.”

“It can be complex and technical, but it’s also social,” says Coleman, a research lead on AI policy and praxis at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology & Society.

“What we do with AI makes a difference and more people need to be able to share that knowledge.”

Coleman’s own research centres around technology and society with a focus on data and cities, AI and policy, and generative arts. Inspired by Octavia Butler’s 1980 Xenogenesis trilogy, Coleman authored Reality Was Whatever Happened: Octavia Butler AI and Other Possible Worlds using art and generative AI.

Krishnan, meanwhile, is an assistant professor in 91�Թ�’s department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. A Canada CIFAR AI Chair at the Vector Institute and Canada Research Chair in computational medicine, Krishnan and his team focus on teaching neural networks about causality, building deep learning models that analyze cause and effect from data.

“I’m excited to co-host this podcast to explore and demystify for a broader audience AI through the lens of an accomplished and diverse set of experts,” says Krishnan, who is also a faculty affiliate at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society and a faculty member at the Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM).

What Now? AI picks up where the conversation started last year by Geoffrey Hinton, the cognitive psychologist and University Professor emeritus of computer science who is known as the “Godfather of AI.” After a lifetime spent developing a type of AI known as deep learning, Hinton stepped back from his role at Google to warn about the existential threats of unchecked AI development.

Since then, there have been ongoing advancements in AI research, technological applications and policy development.

Coleman and Krishnan will tackle these and other topics with guests:

Gillian Hadfield, professor of law and strategic management at the Faculty of Law and the Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society.
Roger Grosse, associate professor of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and founding member of the Vector Institute.
Christine Allen, professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and co-founder and CEO of Intrepid Labs Inc.
Andrew Pinto, a family physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, and associate professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
Nick Frosst, co-founder of Cohere, singer in Good Kid band and a 91�Թ� computer science and cognitive science alumnus.

“The What Now? AI podcast highlights the incredible researchers at the 91�Թ� who are exploring the profound implications of this transformative technology,” says Leah Cowen, 91�Թ�’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “These discussions tackle critical questions surrounding AI safety and alignment and its myriad implications across various domains.

“The university is committed to fostering informed discussions that will shape our collective understanding of AI’s role in our society and in our future.”

Coleman says she hopes listeners come away from the podcast feeling more grounded.

Krishnan, for his part, wants the audience to understand “that there is no one group that has ownership” over the technology” and that “the free exchange of ideas and open-source tools encourage people from all disciplines to come see how accessible AI can be, what AI can do for them and how they can advance the discourse in the field.”

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Why it's important to get your 2024 flu shot – and how to get it

What is influenza?

When to get the influenza vaccine

Where to get the influenza vaccine

Learn more about vaccines at UTogether

Going digital to save lives: 91�Թ� grad student aims to eliminate barriers to health care

First 48 Hours: Documentary spotlights the journey of international students

Caution needed when drawing links between improving symptoms and unproven remedies: Study

Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, Centre for

Tags

Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Centre for (CVPD)

Tags

Occupational Disease Prevention, Centre for

Tags

Pandemics, Institute for

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91�Թ� community members recognized with Order of Canada

Current and former faculty

Alumni and friends

How will AI change our world? 91�Թ� podcast explores technology’s impact on society