Collaborative Health Governance
Program Overview
The healthcare sector is facing urgent pressure and scrutiny on systemic issues at every level. Board directors need to think and lead differently to become the drivers of change.
In partnership with the McMaster Health Leadership Academy, the Collaborative Health Governance Program (CHG) has been designed with an understanding of the new world of governance and with the unique requirements of health and social sector boards in mind.
This multi-day virtual program will help directors gain an understanding of the new world of collaborative governance and provide an opportunity to co-design new and innovative approaches to health governance.
Download BrochureProgram Details
This specialized program offers an opportunity to learn from governance and healthcare leaders and make a positive and immediate impact in the boardroom with the ability to:
- Facilitate meaningful collaboration to navigate the line between strategy and operational effectiveness
- Cultivate a learn-by-doing attitude of experimentation, reflection, and iterating approaches to working together to solve problems
- Co-create compelling visions with foresight around emerging issues and stakeholder engagement
- Explore new avenues for creating and supporting sustainable value
- Enhance your ability to engage with management and other key board partners particularly around complex multi-stakeholder issues
- Understand your potential liabilities and exposures as a board director and how to mitigate them
- Contribute to the future of health governance in Canada
Leveraging The Directors College proven delivery model for virtual learning environments, the CHG Program’s experiential approach is to learn by doing through case studies, active dialogue and best practice examples to address key questions.
The Collaborative Health Governance Program is a highly interactive 3.5 day virtual learning experience.
The next program offerings is March 25-28, 2026.
This Program is open to:
- Individuals currently sitting on boards, or who intend to serve on a board, and those who work with boards of directors
- Healthcare leaders seeking to improve boardroom skills, expand knowledge of good governance, and become high-performing board directors
- The Directors College Alumni, graduates of other accredited programs on governance, and those looking to enhance their knowledge on healthcare stewardship
- Current participants in The Directors College who have not yet completed Module 1 of the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) Program
- Individuals who work closely with boards
Select scholarships are available. Please contact us at healthleadershipacademy@mcmaster.ca for more information.
The Collaborative Health Governance Program can be taken as a stand-alone earning a Certificate of Completion, or graduates of the program can also apply to have the program recognized as the equivalent of Module 1 of the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) Program. To be eligible for program recognition, applicants must meet all of the Chartered Directors Program registration requirements and must also complete a mandatory 90-minute governance workshop and associated readings.
$4480.00 CAD
Fee is inclusive of all materials, certification of completion as Health Governance/The Director’s College graduate and participation in HLA, TDC and other relevant alumni events
Testimonials
The skills and experiences I gained from interacting with other leaders in health systems across Canada is truly remarkable. The program fostered creativity in decision making and instilled the fundamentals of collaboration in governance.
Sivajanan Sivapalan
Pharmacist and Member of the Board of Directors, Ontario College of Pharmacists
This program equipped me with a better understanding of the liabilities and exposures that come with being a board director and strategies for mitigating them. I am now better prepared to make meaningful contributions to the world of health governance.
Bernadee Koh-Bilodeau
Director, Ontario Physician Human Resources Data Centre (OPHRDC), McMaster University
Collaborating with others across the country who are working toward the same end created an environment rich with experience and lessons learned.
Ligaya Byrch
Board Chair, Orillia Soldier's Memorial Hospital
The collaborative program deepened my understanding of governance principles, equipping me to address complex healthcare challenges. It particularly empowered me to effectively advance an integrated care delivery system.
Neil Shah
CEO, North York Family Health Team
The Collaborative Health Governance program gave me greater insight into the distinction between Operations and Governance. This will help me to provide more focused ethical advice to the boards I support.
Ann Heesters
Senior Director, Clinical and Organizational Ethics, University Health Network
It was a real pleasure to participate in dynamic and engaging sessions with a diverse panel of speakers. I would highly recommend the Collaborative Health Governance program to anyone involved in health and social care settings.
Kim Delahunt
President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre
Collaborative Health Governance has helped me better understand how we might work together with other relevant parties to meet the needs of our community in achieving population health and well-being.
Gary Hannaford
Vice Chair, Quinte Health Board of Directors
Collaborative Health Governance challenged me to rethink how healthcare can be improved by collective decision making.
Justin Burkett
Assistant Professor, University of Calgary Nursing
Lead Faculty
- Michael Hartmann, Principal of The Directors College, Executive Director of the EMBA in Digital Transformation and Co-Director of the Health Leadership Academy at the DeGroote School of Business
- Jodeme Goldhar, Strategic Advisor, Health Leadership Academy and Co-Program Director for Collaborative Health Governance and National Health Fellows
Program Faculty
- Jodi Butts, Senior Governance Consultant, Watson Advisors Inc
- Rob DeRooy, Vice President Governance and Strategy, Governance Solutions Inc.
- Karima Kanani, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP
- David Kunsch, Associate Professor, St. John Fisher College School of Business
- Sean Park, Assistant Professor, Division of Education & Innovation, McMaster University and Principal of SPARK Design
View from the Top - Event Highlights
Continuing Professional Development
For graduates of The Directors College programs (C.Dir., A.C.C., H.R.C.C.C.) this course qualifies for 15 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).