At Microsoft’s recent Healthcare Hackathon in Toronto, Calian and Microsoft brought together healthcare leaders across Ontario for a collaborative executive roundtable. Hosted by Lori Singh, Calian’s VP of Pharma and Digital Health, and Noel Trinidade, Go-To-Market Lead for Data and AI, the conversation explored how hospitals are using data, analytics and AI to reimagine care—both inside and outside the hospital walls. 

What emerged was a candid, forward-looking dialogue about what it really takes to make healthcare more connected, community-driven and data-informed. 

“Healthcare Starts Long Before Hospitals”

While many themes unfolded throughout the discussion, one in particular was recognized as the most powerful— healthcare doesn’t begin at the hospital doors, it begins in the community. Despite the awareness that factors like housing stability, access to social support and living environments have an undeniable impact on health outcomes, these data points often exist outside the traditional healthcare record and limit our ability to provide comprehensive care. 

Some participants shared how their organizations are leveraging hospital data to better understand community health trends and anticipate needs as part of a broader shift from reactive treatment toward proactive engagement. Others echoed this vision, emphasizing the role of analytics in building healthier communities, while acknowledging that data silos remain one of the biggest provincial challenges in generating holistic and personalized insights. 

Across all organizations, there was a shared sense that progress can’t wait for perfect systems. As the digital era continues to evolve, patients seeking both front-line and community services expect faster access to care and clearer insights today—not a decade from now.  

Data Maturity: A Journey, Not a Destination

When it comes to advancing data maturity, all roundtable participants agreed that the journey is not a linear path. Some described their model as “governance and security first”, likening the process to “cutting grass”—something that requires constant attention and maintenance. 

Others noted they are still early in their data governance journey, reflecting on the evolution of their data usage as they continue to build from the ground up and make meaningful strides as new priorities and technologies emerge.  

The takeaway? Data maturity is never complete. It’s an evolving, iterative process that reflects an organization’s ongoing learning and response to industry needs. 

Trust, Governance and the Power of Collaboration

A clear thread through the conversation was that trust is the foundation of collaborative data governance and sharing. Healthcare doesn’t operate on traditional ROI metrics—it operates on a shared mission to improve patient outcomes and protect the integrity and usage of patient data. This means treating partner data with the same diligence, security and care as internal data. 

Despite a shared understanding of the importance of collaboration, meaningful data sharing remains constrained by differences in governance frameworks across provinces and ongoing concerns around data residency, such as ensuring that sensitive information stays within Canadian borders. Beyond these technical and regulatory hurdles, clinician adoption of new digital tools and the broader challenge of system-wide interoperability add another layer of complexity. Together, these factors can slow progress toward true data maturity—where insights flow seamlessly, securely and in support of better patient care. 

Starting Small with AI

As the discussion approached the topic of AI, the tone shifted to optimism and possibility. With the rapid rise of AI-powered tools designed specifically for healthcare, new opportunities are emerging for hospitals to enhance how they deliver care, whether it’s optimizing clinical workflows to reduce administrative burden, or leveraging data to guide earlier intervention and personalized treatment. 

Microsoft emphasized that the AI capabilities once limited to large, well-funded enterprises are now within reach for hospitals of all sizes. The key, they noted, is to “start small and scale fast.” By applying AI early to focused, high-impact use cases, organizations can quickly build confidence and see measurable value before investing in more large-scale changes. 

The advice from Microsoft was simple but powerful: “Just start.” Rather than waiting for perfection, teams should begin experimenting, build momentum and iterate as the path forward becomes clearer. 

Looking Ahead

If one message resonated above all others, it was that true healthcare transformation depends on people and partnership as much as it does on technology. 

As the discussion came to a close, five key reflections stood out:  

• Community health depends on more than clinical data—it’s tied to housing, environment and engagement. 

• Data maturity is a continuous, circular journey, not a linear path. 

• Governance and trust are foundational for meaningful collaboration. 

• System-wide interoperability and clinician adoption are key factors to overcoming technological and regulatory hurdles. 

• The transformative power of AI can be realized through small, iterative steps forward. 

As Calian and Microsoft continue to partner with hospitals across Canada, this conversation offered a glimpse into a more connected, proactive and collaborative future—one where data doesn’t just inform care but helps shape healthier communities from the ground up.