Health Equity and Indigenous Health

Not everyone in Ontario experiences pregnancy and birth equally. BORN Ontario uses data to identify barriers, understand social determinants of health, and support more equitable, patient-centered care so all families have the opportunity for better health outcomes. 

Featured Speakers 

• Alicia St. Hill, BORN Ontario Executive Director
• Darine El-Chaâr, The Ottawa Hospital Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
• Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, Chair of BORN Ontario's Maternal Newborn Outcomes Committee
• Dr. Nan Okun, PSO Co-Medical Director

Sociodemographic data and social determinants of health help reveal the social and systemic factors that influence health outcomes. BORN Ontario is working to safely collect and use this information to identify inequities, close gaps in care, and support more equitable, patient-centered care for pregnant and birthing individuals and families across the province.

Featured Speakers: 

• Nicole Shadbolt, CHEO Physician Lead, East Ottawa Kids & Kids Come First
• Alicia St. Hill, BORN Ontario Executive Director

BORN Ontario follows strict privacy and data governance practices under Ontario’s PHIPA to protect health information and build public trust. Through comprehensive policies, equity focused guidance, and partnerships with communities including Indigenous data governance, BORN ensures that sociodemographic and social determinants of health data are collected, used, and protected ethically, respectfully, and securely.

Featured Speakers: 

• Ian Joiner, BORN Ontario Information Protection Manager
• Tom Lindsay, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Specialist

Every patient’s story matters. BORN Ontario is working with healthcare partners to safely collect sociodemographic and social determinants of health data at the point of care, helping providers better understand patient needs, connect families with supports, and deliver more equitable, patient-centered care.

Featured Speakers: 

• Joseé St. Denis, BORN Ontario Clinical Content Specialist
• Jessica Forster, Oak Valley Health Paediatric Diabetes Social Worker
• Aderemi Ejiwunmi, Trillium Health Partners Registered Midwife

Multiple Marker Screening (MMS) uses clinical information, including race, to help assess the chance of certain chromosome differences during pregnancy. BORN Ontario and Prenatal Screening Ontario are working to evaluate the role of race in screening algorithms and ensure race data are used responsibly to support accurate, equitable, and patient-centered prenatal screening.

Featured Speaker: 

• Danna Hull, BORN Ontario Genetic Counsellor

BORN Ontario is building its capacity around health equity by training staff, collaborating with equity specialists, and strengthening partnerships with clinicians, community groups, and Indigenous leaders. Through initiatives like the Internal Health Equity Advisory Group and the Inclusive Language Guide, BORN works to embed equity in policies, programs, and daily operations to ensure all patients in Ontario receive respectful, inclusive, and fair care.

Featured Speakers: 

• Alicia St. Hill, BORN Ontario Executive Director
• Tom Lindsay, BORN Ontario Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Specialist