OpenHouse
Come to our OpenHouse on the first Tuesday of each month, where we share updates on our projects, explore new ideas, and “work out loud” together. Everyone is welcome!
Next OpenHouse | 12-1PM on
Sep 8, 2026
Join us in person at 489 College Street, Suite 400, or online using the link below.
Sep 2026 | Art, Creativity, and Innovation in Healthcare
In September, we welcome Brian Loevner, founder of BLVE, for a conversation about the emerging collaboration between the Siminovitch Theatre Foundation and UHN OpenLab. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience as an arts leader, producer, and consultant—including leadership roles with The Second City and work with arts organizations across Canada and the United States—Brian will explore how the arts can inform innovation in healthcare.
Brian Loevner is the President and Founder of BLVE and an executive leader, consultant, and producer with more than 30 years of experience helping arts organizations across Canada and the United States strengthen their operations, leadership, and impact. Previously, he served as Managing Producer of The Second City, overseeing more than $12 million in annual theatrical production, and has produced over 150 productions with organizations including The Kennedy Center and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, while raising more than $7 million for arts organizations and productions. His recent work includes executive producing the iHeart Original podcast My Brother David, which was selected for the Tribeca Festival.
Past Presenters
OpenLab regularly hosts in-depth presentations on our ongoing and completed projects, bringing together insights, ideas, and innovative thinking. We’ve also been fortunate to welcome a range of external experts and thought leaders to share their perspectives and experiences. Here’s a selection of some of the presenters who have joined us in the past.
2026 Speakers
June 2026 | Inside OpenLab: A Deep Dive into Our Projects
Join us in June when we’ll take a deeper dive into our internal projects and the ideas shaping our work. This session offers a closer look at ongoing initiatives, the challenges we’re tackling, and opportunities for meaningful collaboration.
May 2026 | Fail Out Loud * Special In-Person Event 4-6PM *
Part show-and-tell, part group therapy. A meetup dedicated to our biggest project flops. Listen to brave innovators share those times where failure was the only option. Because progress depends on taking risks and sharing them out loud.
April 2026 | From New Age to Coming of Age - The Evolution of VR in Healthcare
Dr. Lora Appel is an associate professor at York University and affiliate scientist at KITE-UHN. She also leads the Prescribing Virtual Reality (VRx) lab which explores how virtual reality can be used as a therapeutic tool in healthcare, with a focus on improving care for aging populations, including people living with dementia.
March 2026 | Designing for What Really Happens - Putting the Human Back in Healthcare
Melissa Frew, Associate Director of Design at Healthcare Human Factors (HHF), explores what it truly means to design for the realities of clinical practice. HHF is a design and human factors consultancy embedded within UHN that combines human‑centred design with human factors engineering to deeply understand the experiences, constraints, and needs of the people who deliver and receive care.
Feb 2026 | The Future of Everything, According to Zayna Khayat
Dr. Zayna Khayat is an applied health futurist and strategic leader who helps organizations navigate the forces shaping the future of health and care, serving as Chief Program Officer & Managing Director at AMS Healthcare and as Health Futurist in Residence with Deloitte Canada’s healthcare practice. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with Zayna Khayat. Moderated by UHN OpenLab’s Creative Director, Tai Huynh. Read more about Zayna here.
Jan 2026 | Update on Overdose Response Network Project
Dr. Howie Abrams is a physician, scientist, and innovator in healthcare delivery, serving as Director and co-founder of UHN OpenLab, Medical Lead of UHN’s NORC Innovation Centre, and a Scientist with TRI KITE. With over 30 years of frontline clinical experience, Dr. Abrams combines deep expertise in patient care with a proven ability to integrate innovative solutions into complex clinical environments. Dr. Abrams will provide an overview of OpenLab’s projects and areas of focus, and invite participants to share their own interests and initiatives, with the goal of identifying opportunities for learning, collaboration, and co-creation across teams and organizations.
