Canada's health system runs on leadership. The CCHL Podcast exists to celebrate it, examine it, and strengthen it. Hosted by Sue Owen, CEO of the Canadian College of Health Leaders, the show brings two series to life. In Conversation With features senior health leaders from across the country reflecting on the moments and decisions that defined their careers. Real Stories puts the LEADS framework into practice told through the voices of leaders living it every day in their organizations. This is the community that makes belonging to the College so great. And now, it has a voice.
MOC Credit: Engaging and listening to the podcast entitles certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE / Fellow) to 0.5 MOC Category I credits toward their maintenance of certification requirement.
New episodes drop monthly. Hit follow and be part of the conversation and stay connected with us on:
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Special Edition: Excellence Is for Everyone — Sarah Wells | CWHLC 2026
In this special edition of In Conversation With, host Sue Owen speaks with Olympian, keynote speaker, leadership and innovation expert, and Amazing Race Canada competitor Sarah Wells ahead of her keynote at the 2026 Canada West Health Leaders Conference.
Sarah shares how her experiences as an elite athlete, including the disappointment of missing the 2016 Olympic Games, shaped her perspective on excellence, resilience, and success. She discusses why excellence is not about perfection or simply achieving an outcome, but about who we become in pursuit of our goals.
The conversation explores the role of mentors, coaches, community, and feedback in helping us grow, and why excellence is not reserved for elite performers. Sarah also shares how the small things, from how we communicate to how we show up each day, can make a meaningful difference in how we lead and work with others.
Listeners will get a glimpse into the ideas and stories Sarah will bring to the stage at the Canada West Health Leaders Conference in Calgary this October.
Discover Western University’s new Doctor of Health Sciences program.
Western University’s three-year, fully online Doctor of Health Sciences program is designed for experienced health professionals ready to lead, innovate and create greater impact. Applications open November 1.
Explore the program and subscribe for application and webinar updates: https://bit.ly/46xyCkP (https://bit.ly/46xyCkP)
1 Oct 2026
Special Edition: What Problem Are We Trying to Solve? — Rocky Ozaki | CWHLC 2026
In this special edition of In Conversation With, host Sue Owen speaks with Rocky Ozaki, Founder and CEO of the NoW of Work, ahead of his keynote at the 2026 Canada West Health Leaders Conference.
Rocky shares his perspective on how healthcare leaders can approach artificial intelligence without getting caught up in the rush to adopt every new technology. He discusses the importance of starting with the problem an organization is trying to solve, putting good governance in place, and considering whether the challenge is actually related to people, processes, automation, or AI.
The conversation also looks at how leaders can think about AI investment and return on investment, prepare themselves for a rapidly changing workplace, and remain adaptable when it is difficult to predict where the technology is heading.
Rocky also gives listeners a preview of his upcoming conference keynote and what he hopes attendees will take away from the session, including a better understanding of AI, practical ideas they can apply, and a greater sense of agency in navigating what comes next.
Discover Western University’s new Doctor of Health Sciences program.
Western University’s three-year, fully online Doctor of Health Sciences program is designed for experienced health professionals ready to lead, innovate and create greater impact. Applications open November 1.
Explore the program and subscribe for application and webinar updates: https://bit.ly/46xyCkP (https://bit.ly/46xyCkP)
15 Sept 2026
Special Edition: Inside the LEADS Refresh — Dr. Graham Dickson and Dr. Phil Cady
Dr. Phil Cady and Dr. Graham Dickson join Sue Owen to discuss the LEADS Refresh and what it means for health leaders navigating today’s complex healthcare environment.
25 Aug 2026
Bloom Where You’re Planted — Andrew Williams
Sue Owen speaks with Andrew Williams about nearly four decades of health leadership in rural Ontario. Andrew shares what makes small community leadership uniquely demanding, why relationships are the foundation of everything and why the best advice he ever received still guides him today — bloom where you're planted.
5 Aug 2026
How Thoughtful Disruptors Are Changing Healthcare — Dr. Bhavini Goel
In this episode, Sue Owen speaks with Dr. Bhavini Goel about her remarkable journey from medicine to global health leadership. Bhavini shares how COVID became a defining turning point, how adversity can clarify purpose, and why the future of healthcare depends on thoughtful disruptors who are willing to reshape the system rather than simply function within it.
2 Jul 2026
Healthcare Is a Humanity Business — Dr. Michael Heenan
In this episode of In Conversation With, host Sue Owen sits down with Dr. Mike Heenan, President and CEO of St. Joseph's Health System and President of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton — one of Ontario's most respected and innovative health leaders.
Michael's path to the CEO chair is anything but conventional. He started his career as a political aide to the Minister of Health before becoming a strategy and quality consultant, then a director, then a vice president moving across multiple hospital settings, stretching into clinical programs, and even being restructured out of his job twice.
In this honest and wide ranging conversation, Michael and Sue explore what it really takes to build a 25 year career in health leadership. They discuss the mentors who shaped him, the defining moments that tested him, and why he believes the future of healthcare depends on leaders who are willing to have mature, courageous conversations about the system — not just manage within it.
About Dr. Michael Heenan: Dr. Michael Heenan is President and CEO of St. Joseph's Health System and President of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. He holds a PhD in Business, is an assistant professor at McMaster University, and previously served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Hospitals and Capital at Ontario's Ministry of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
9 Jun 2026
Special Edition: The Conversations Healthcare Is Afraid to Have — Amie Archibald-Varley | CNC 2026
Sue Owen speaks with Amie Archibald-Varley about the conversations healthcare is afraid to have. Drawing from her own experience with workplace bullying and mental health, Amie shares why storytelling is the most powerful tool for change and what it truly means to lead with courage.
1 Jun 2026
Leading with Authenticity — Altaf Stationwala
Sue Owen speaks with Altaf Stationwala about his unexpected journey from business school to health system CEO. Altaf shares how curiosity, critical thinking and great mentors shaped his career, and why staying grounded in your values is what separates good leaders from great ones.
22 May 2026
Special Edition: Every Leader Has a Voice — Michael Rossi | CNC 2026
In this bonus episode, Sue Owen speaks with Michael Rossi ahead of his keynote at CNC 2026. Michael shares his journey from President of Adidas Canada to executive coach and speaker, and offers a preview of what health leaders can expect from his session in Montreal — a conversation about leading through uncertainty, staying grounded in your values, and finding the purpose that sustains you as a leader.
18 May 2026
Special Edition: The Stories That Shape Us — Mike Downie | CNC 2026
In this special edition, Sue Owen speaks with filmmaker and philanthropist Mike Downie ahead of his keynote at CNC 2026. Mike shares his journey into documentary filmmaking, the storytelling philosophy behind his award-winning work, and why reconciliation and Canadian identity are at the heart of everything he creates. The conversation closes with a powerful reminder — that the stories that matter most are the ones that start with one person and end with all of us.
5 May 2026
Why Great Leaders Put Their People First — John King
John takes us through a 45-year career that spanned hospitals, association management, health authorities, and government — from Saskatchewan to Alberta to the halls of Ontario's Ministry of Health, and finally to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. But what makes his story remarkable isn't the titles. It's what he did with the unexpected turns.
7 Apr 2026
Welcome
Welcome to the Canadian College of Health Leaders Podcast. Each month, host Sue Owen sits down with the people shaping Canada's health system exploring the experiences, decisions, and leadership lessons that define great leadership in Canadian healthcare. Through two series — In Conversation With and Real Stories — we bring you the voices and frameworks driving leadership excellence across the country.
MOC Credit: Engaging and listening to the podcast entitles certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE / Fellow) to 0.5 MOC Category I credits toward their maintenance of certification requirement.
New episodes drop monthly. Hit follow so you never miss one.
Learn more about the Canadian College of Health Leaders at cchl-ccls.ca (https://cchl-ccls.ca/). Say hello on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/canadian-college-of-health-leaders/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CCHL.National/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cchl_ccls/), X (https://x.com/cchl_ccls), or subscribe to our YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/HealthLeadersCanada) channel.
Contact Canadian College of Health Leaders Podcast
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