Presenter(s):

Michelle Nelson; Marianne Saragosa, University of Toronto, Canada

Abstract

This 3-hour interactive workshop will equip participants with practical design thinking tools to address the challenge of fragmented health services for older adults. As global populations age, the need for integrated health and social care systems becomes increasingly urgent. Yet many practitioners struggle to convene diverse stakeholders and develop actionable integration strategies. This workshop bridges theory and practice by guiding participants through a structured design thinking process adapted for health system integration initiatives.

Participants will engage in hands-on activities that progress through the key phases of design thinking—discovery, definition, ideation, prototyping, and implementation planning. The workshop begins with an interactive introduction to integrated care principles viewed through a design lens, establishing a shared foundation for subsequent activities. Participants will learn about and have the opportunity to practice three complementary mapping techniques: systems mapping to visualize current care pathways and identify areas for improvement, community asset mapping to uncover untapped resources and potential partnership opportunities, and eco-mapping to document the relationships between older adults and their formal and informal support networks. This multi-dimensional mapping approach enables participants to take a personalized and systemic view of potential solutions to address access to supports and care fragmentation.

In small collaborative groups, attendees will synthesize insights from these mapping exercises to frame integration opportunities using “How Might We” statements. This proven technique transforms complex system challenges into actionable opportunities for innovation. Groups will then apply structured brainstorming methods to generate potential solutions, rapidly prototype selected concepts, and develop preliminary implementation roadmaps that address common barriers to system change.

Throughout the workshop, facilitators will share case examples from diverse jurisdictions where this methodology has successfully advanced integration initiatives. Interactive discussion prompts will encourage participants to consider application within their contexts, while structured networking activities will foster connections among colleagues engaged in similar work.

By the end of this workshop, participants will have gained practical experience with design thinking methods and mapping techniques tailored explicitly to health system integration. Attendees will leave with tangible outputs, including system maps that highlight integration opportunities. These community asset maps reveal potential resources and partnerships, well-framed opportunity statements, prototype concepts for integration initiatives, and implementation roadmaps to advance their work.

This workshop is ideal for healthcare administrators, policymakers, program planners, clinicians, community organizations, and researchers interested in advancing integrated care for older adults through intersectoral partnerships. No prior experience with design thinking is required. Participants are encouraged to bring specific challenges from their practice contexts to work on during the session.

Bio(s):

Dr. Michelle Nelson is an Associate Professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and a Research Investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System. Her research program focuses on developing and evaluating models of intersectoral partnerships in collaborative health services, with a particular emphasis on the engagement of Non-Governmental Organizations and Third-Sector Organizations within healthcare delivery systems.

At Sinai Health System, Dr. Nelson leads Care in Common. This innovative living laboratory serves as a dynamic platform for testing, refining, and scaling partnership models in real-world healthcare contexts. Her work involves designing methodologically rigorous studies to assess the effectiveness of partnerships, knowledge translation between sectors, and measuring the impact of third-sector engagement on health outcomes.

In her academic role, Dr. Nelson supervises graduate students and teaches research methods courses, while also serving as the academic lead for an education and evaluation program focused on integrated care approaches for health system leaders. This unique combination of responsibilities allows her to bridge scholarly investigation with strategic leadership, creating valuable alignment between academic theory and practical applications.

Dr. Nelson cultivates relationships with diverse stakeholders, including healthcare providers, community organizations, policymakers, and funding bodies, to translate research findings into practice. Her multifaceted approach advances understanding of how collaborative, cross-sector approaches can address complex healthcare challenges and improve population health.