MEDIA ADVISORY: Data Privacy Day event. Trustworthy AI in Health: The Promise, Perils, and Protections

TORONTO, Jan. 22, 2026 /CNW/ - Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, is hosting a panel discussion about how artificial intelligence is being deployed in Ontario's health sector to mark Data Privacy Day.

While AI technologies offer potential benefits, they also raise important questions about privacy, accountability, and bias. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how AI is being used in health care, the risks that must be addressed, and the safeguards needed to protect personal health information and maintain patient trust.

Date:              Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Time:             9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST (doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
                       (Commissioner Kosseim will be available for media interviews)

Location:      MaRS Discovery District, 101 College St., Toronto
                      (Lower Level -- Auditorium)

Moderators:

• Andrew Drummond, Director of Health Policy, IPC Ontario
• Stephanie Lockert, Interim Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Ontario Health
• Melissa Prokopy, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Ontario Hospital Association

Panelists:

• Dr. Onil Bhattacharyya, Family Physician and Senior Scientist, Women's College Hospital
• Suzanne Brant, President, First Nations Technical Institute
• Dr. Khaled El Emam, Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Medical AI, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa
• Dr. Colleen Flood, Dean of Law, Queen's University
• Sandra Holdsworth, Patient Partner in Healthcare and Research
• Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO, Wellesley Institute
• Nicole Minutti, Senior Health Policy Advisor, IPC Ontario
• Stephanie Lockert, Interim Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Ontario Health
• Dr. Teresa Scassa, Canada Research Chair in Information Law and Policy, University of Ottawa
• Dr. Amol Verma, Clinician-Scientist, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto

Media representatives are invited to attend the event in person or online. Please register by emailing [email protected].

SOURCE Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario

Media contact: [email protected]