In partnership with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, our research focuses on developing tangible solutions to systems level problems which can improve patient outcomes in our public system.
In partnership with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, our research focuses on developing tangible solutions to systems level problems which can improve patient outcomes in our public system. The Institute is currently focused on four primary areas of research over 2026.
Canada is currently facing a crisis in access to physician care. While training new physicians takes years, thousands of other qualified practitioners, such as pharmacists, paramedics, and nurse practitioners, are available today and can help expand access to care. This analysis uses advanced causal inference techniques to examine how varying levels of access to non-physician providers across jurisdictions in Canada affect hospital use, timeliness of primary care access, and overall health outcomes. Early findings show significant positive effects from initiatives aimed at expanding access to non-physician providers.
Analyses published by DLSPH show a rapidly growing burden of ill health across Ontario over the next 15 years, from 1.8 million people with serious illness in 2020 to 3.1 million by 2040. While part of this increase is due to people living longer with disease (i.e., increased lifespan), the number of years spent in good health (healthspan) is shrinking. This analysis builds on a population disease-burden model developed at DLSPH to estimate the impact of community-led interventions aimed at increasing healthspan and reducing the overall burden of chronic disease on both health outcomes and healthcare costs. It will examine both individual and population-level interventions that have demonstrated impact and can be implemented through public-private partnerships and other delivery mechanisms.
This analysis uses simulations and other contract design approaches to assess how more efficient models for commoditized services, such as patient transport, could improve costs and access in Ontario. It will also explore additional ways that optimized contract design for these services could help reduce pressure on the health system.
This analysis will combine interview data, historical project reviews, literature reviews, and existing work at DLSPH to estimate how much capital could be unlocked for health system use through partnerships with pension funds, large institutional investors, and both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. It will also explore mechanisms to ensure that this capital is directed toward improving system efficiency and quality of care.
In partnership with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, our research focuses on developing tangible solutions to systems level problems which can improve patient outcomes in our public system.
Canada is facing a primary care crisis, with millions of people lacking access to a regular primary care provider. Expanding the scope of practice for
Canada is facing a primary care crisis, with millions of people lacking access to a regular primary care provider. Expanding the scope of practice for non-physician providers has emerged as a promising strategy to address health system gaps by enabling these professionals to safely perform tasks beyond their traditional scope of practice.
Dan Arnold has 17 years experience in the public opinion research sector, and has served as Chief Strategy Officer at Pollara Strategic Insights since 2022, where he leads public affairs and corporate reputation research for many of Pollara’s largest clients. He has extensive experience in health care sector research, having completed public opinion research projects for over a dozen hospitals and health care organizations during his research career.
Prior to rejoining Pollara, Dan served as Director of Research and Advertising in the Prime Minister’s Office for 6 years, where he oversaw Government of Canada public opinion research. When elections rolled around, he was also the pollster for the Trudeau Liberals for their 2015, 2019, and 2021 election wins.
Dan is a regular commentator on public opinion research in the Toronto Star, the CBC, the Herle Burly, and most major Canadian media outlets.
Professor Adalsteinn (Steini) Brown has served as the Dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) since 2017. His research largely now focuses on the use of evidence and data in public policy. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, a dozen book chapters and over 100 reports, editorials and commentaries. Prior to serving as Dean, Steini was the Director of the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the DLSPH, an Assistant Deputy Minister in two different Ontario government ministries, and worked in start-up and Fortune 500 companies in the US. He received his undergraduate degree in government from Harvard University and his doctorate from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Jamie Kippen is a seasoned political and strategic advisor with nearly 15 years of experience advising top political leaders figures at both the provincial and federal level in Canada. Known for his deep expertise in political campaigns, crisis management, policy development and strategic communications, Jamie has built a career providing high-level counsel to senior leaders, including the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Opposition Leaders, and federal and provincial elected officials.
Jamie began his career working on Parliament Hill for then Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Bob Rae, Canada’s current Ambassador to the United Nations. Over the years in addition to holding senior leadership positions on national and provincial campaigns, he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada as well as Chief of Staff to high-ranking cabinet Ministers including Health and Environment and Climate Change.
During his time as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Health, Jamie helped to oversee Canada’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, working closely with provincial and territorial governments, industry partners and health experts. He also played a leadership role on the team that helped to oversee negotiations with Provinces and Territories during the recent healthcare accords which drove reform in the Canadian system.
Chief of Staff to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, he led key initiatives in sustainable finance, climate action, and international negotiations. Most recently Jamie served as the Deputy Campaign Manager for Mark Carney’s 2025 election campaign.
