Amplify Care

Employee Spotlight: Stewart McKendry, Director, AI 🌟

Stewart McKendry is the Director, AI at Amplify Care. With more than 18 years of experience leading large technology programs, Stewart has helped organizations introduce innovative digital and AI capabilities across healthcare, government, education, and other public-service sectors.

At Amplify Care, Stewart leads initiatives that explore the practical application of artificial intelligence and automation to solve meaningful challenges in healthcare. His work focuses on reducing administrative burden, making information easier to access and use, and creating more time for healthcare teams to focus on delivering high-quality patient care.

Stewart is passionate about turning emerging technologies into real-world solutions. With a builder's mindset, he enjoys experimenting with new AI models and tools, then working closely with the people experiencing these challenges firsthand to develop practical solutions that make a measurable difference.

Help us celebrate Stewart and the innovation, expertise, and forward-thinking leadership he brings to Amplify Care every day! 💙

This week, our CEO, Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia, and Tricia Wilkerson had the opportunity to attend the AFHTO Executive Retreat in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake.

It was a great opportunity to connect with healthcare leaders and executives from across Ontario, share ideas, and discuss the future of primary care and digital health. We were especially proud to see Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia join fellow leaders as a panelist, sharing insights on the opportunities shaping healthcare innovation.

A big congratulations to AFHTO on celebrating its 20th anniversary and thank you for bringing together such an engaged community of leaders committed to advancing primary care.

We recently received some incredible photos from the e-Health Conference in Halifax, and they brought back so many great memories!

It's hard to believe it's already been a month since the conference, and we're still talking about the amazing conversations, meaningful connections, and inspiring innovations we experienced throughout the event.

A big thank you to Zuya Production for capturing these moments. Your photos perfectly showcase the energy and collaboration that made the conference such a memorable experience.

We're already looking forward to seeing everyone again next year!

🚀 We're hiring a Product Lead to help shape the future of digital health in Canada!

Are you passionate about interoperability, digital health innovation, and building products that make a real difference for clinicians and healthcare organizations?

We're looking for an experienced Product Lead to join our eServices team on a full-time, 12-month contract. In this role, you'll work with healthcare organizations, software vendors, and jurisdictional partners to deliver standards-based clinical solutions that improve connectivity across Canada's healthcare system.

You'll have the opportunity to:
✔ Lead the delivery of products that enable FHIR-based interoperability
✔ Collaborate with clinicians, technology partners, and government stakeholders
✔ Advance initiatives involving HL7 FHIR, SMART on FHIR, and pan-Canadian eReferral standards
✔ Influence the future of integrated clinical software and digital health across the country

If you have experience in healthcare technology, EMRs, product leadership, and interoperability standards, we'd love to hear from you.

📍 Location: Hybrid – Kitchener, ON
📅 Position: Full-time, 12-month contract

Interested in joining our team? Learn more about the role and apply today: https://loom.ly/kdM4u48

🌟 Clinical Advisor Spotlight: Julia Hutton

This month, we're spotlighting Julia Hutton, MScN, PHCNP, a Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner with the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team, whose dedication to patient-centred care is matched by her passion for improving how healthcare is delivered.

With over 15 years of clinical experience, Julia has built a diverse background across emergency medicine, primary care, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams. She began her career at Mount Sinai Hospital before expanding her clinical experience as a nurse in Australia. Since becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Julia has supported patients across a variety of primary care settings, including the Guelph and Upper Grand Family Health Teams, where she has developed deep expertise in collaborative care and chronic disease management.

Julia brings her frontline perspective to her work with the Amplify Care team, supporting initiatives focused on digital health innovation, including virtual visits, telehealth solutions, and quality improvement efforts. Her experience provides valuable insight into how technology can be thoughtfully integrated into clinical workflows to better support both healthcare professionals and patients.

What sets Julia apart is her commitment to bridging clinical practice and innovation. She understands the realities of delivering care firsthand and brings a practical, patient-focused approach to exploring how digital solutions can enhance healthcare experiences.

👉 Learn more about Julia and our full clinical advisory team here: https://loom.ly/F4cwR3c

How do we improve transitions in care for older adults with complex needs? Often, the answer isn't creating new programs: it's strengthening the connections between the services that already exist.

In a recent guest post on the Amplify Care blog, Jessica Lemon, Digital Health Co-Lead/Project Manager with the KW4 Ontario Health Team and Integrated Care Manager at Amplify Care, reflects on the 2025–2026 Transitions in Care Collaborative Quality Improvement Plan (cQIP) and the power of multi-partner collaboration to improve care coordination across primary care, community services, and acute care.

The initiative brought healthcare and community partners together to:
✔️ Strengthen communication between care teams
✔️ Improve hospital-to-home transitions
✔️ Enhance referral pathways and system navigation
✔️ Identify patients at risk of Alternate Level of Care (ALC) earlier
✔️ Create more connected experiences for patients and caregivers

The result? Stronger relationships, greater awareness of existing services, and practical solutions that help patients access the right care at the right time.

Read Jessica's reflections on how collaboration is helping break down silos and advance integrated care across the region here: https://loom.ly/fFqjxck

A special thank you to the organizations that contributed their expertise and commitment to this work: Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington, Community Care Concepts, Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo, City of Waterloo, KW Habilitation, Ontario Health atHome, ProResp, Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services, Sunbeam, Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), and Woolwich Community Health Centre.

Last week, members of our team attended the Connected Care Café, a small but highly engaged event that sparked meaningful conversations on some of the most pressing topics in healthcare today.

A standout moment came from the opening speaker, who shared a firsthand experience of a cyberattack in their clinic. The story underscored not only the financial impact, but the significant stress on their team, reinforcing the need for greater vigilance and preparedness across the system.

We saw strong interest in Shield, with many physicians stopping by to learn how they can better protect their practices and patients. There was also great engagement around newer initiatives like EQUIP for CKD screening, alongside continued interest in eReferral, particularly around expanding and connecting new senders in the region.

While the event was intimate, the level of engagement and openness stood out. It was a valuable opportunity to connect directly with clinicians, share practical solutions, and continue building awareness of tools that support real-world care delivery!

Employee Spotlight: Marissa Barbosa, Knowledge Translation and Evaluation Specialist 🌟

Marissa Barbosa has been part of Amplify Care for over three years. She first joined the team as a co-op student during her Master of Health Evaluation practicum and has since grown into her current role as a Knowledge Translation and Evaluation Specialist.

Marissa brings a strong ability to translate data, evidence, and complex concepts into clear, actionable insights that support stronger digital health decision-making. Her work focuses on bridging research and practice, ensuring that programs are meaningful, measurable, and grounded in real-world needs.

What motivates Marissa most is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on healthcare by supporting care that is more accessible, coordinated, and patient-centred. She values being part of collaborative teams that are thoughtful, driven, and committed to improving health experiences and outcomes.

✨ Fun Fact:
When she’s not working, Marissa stays active by playing soccer in local leagues a couple of nights a week. She also enjoys getting out on the Hydrocut trails in Kitchener for some mountain biking when the weather is nice. Outside of sports, she’s a big fan of horror movies and true crime podcasts — with Canadian True Crime by Kristi Lee being a favourite for its detailed storytelling and local connections.

Help us celebrate Marissa and the insight, dedication, and passion she brings to Amplify Care every day! 💙

June highlighted the growing impact of digital health, new conversations shaping clinical innovation, and opportunities to connect with healthcare leaders across Canada. This month’s newsletter brings together patient perspectives, emerging ideas in AI, and key ways to get involved in improving care delivery.

In This Issue:
✅ The impact of digital health — from the patient perspective
✅ Catch up on our latest issue of AI Amplified to learn more about vibe coding
✅ Get involved in shaping CKD care tools
✅ A new podcast interview with Amplify Care CEO Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia
✅ Amplify Care at the e-Health 2026 National Conference and Tradeshow

From elevating patient voices to exploring emerging AI concepts and engaging with national healthcare discussions, this month’s edition reflects the continued momentum toward more connected, innovative, and patient-centred care in Canada.

Read the full newsletter here: https://loom.ly/GDTOy8k