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 Speaker | April 7, 2026, 12-1PM
Join us in person at 489 College Street, Suite 400, or virtually at the link below.
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.
We Want to Hear from You!
Have a topic you’d love to see covered — or expertise to share? We’re always looking for speakers and ideas at the intersection of healthcare, innovation, and society. Our sessions thrive on diverse perspectives and real-world insight.​
​We’re currently accepting submissions for stories about your biggest project flops! Part show-and-tell, part group therapy, our May in-person Open House will be a candid conversation about the mistakes we’ve made at work — and how those missteps have shaped what we know now. Submit your pitch by April 1, 2026.
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
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.