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Matters of EngagementAuthor: mattersofengagement
Matters of Engagement examines issues at the intersection of health, health care and society. Including: how people in Canada access and experience health care service delivery and distribution; how those experiences impact both individual and community health; and the multitude of environmental, systemic, and political factors that favour some and disadvantage many. Jennifer Johannesen and Emily Nicholas Angl produce each episode with the aim of illuminating difficult or confounding issues, to provoke much-needed critical dialogue among all stakeholders. Language: en Genres: Science, Social Sciences, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Optics over Impact: Patient Engagement at the Provincial Level
Episode 53
Tuesday, 31 March, 2026
Sangeeta Chopra-Charron came to Ontario Health's Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) with a background in transformational change and a genuine belief that Ontario Health was sincere about partnering with patients and families in system transformation. Four years later, she resigned from the co-Chair role, publicly, with a letter that resonated across the health care sector. Emily sat down with Sangeeta to talk about what she found, what she tried, and why she eventually concluded the council was implemented more for optics than for impact. It seems Ontario Health had built its PFAC around the language of patient-centred design and genuine partnership, and had provided just enough structure to signal commitment... without the governance, accountability, or shared decision-making to back it up. Her experience isn't unique to Ontario Health. It's a pattern that shows up at every level of the health care system. [download transcript] Links: Sangeeta Chopra-Charron on LinkedIn Ontario Health Ontario Health Patient and Family Engagement ---------------------- We reference Sangeeta's resignation letter in this episode, here's the full reprint: "November 14, 2025 Hello Matt, I am writing to resign as Co-Chair and member of the CEO Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), effective December 31, 2025. By providing this notice well in advance, I hope to support a smooth transition and allow time to identify a suitable successor. This decision follows careful reflection on PFAC’s purpose and its alignment with Ontario Health’s mandate to deliver connected, patient/person-centred care. It has been a privilege to serve alongside individuals dedicated to improving patient and family experiences. As both a patient and caregiver, I have been committed to advancing genuine partnership in care and contributing my professional expertise in transformational change. However, it has become clear that the current PFAC structure does not support authentic collaboration. Despite consistent advocacy for shared decision-making, the Council’s influence, even in basic areas such as agenda setting, remains limited. As a result, the CoChair role is largely symbolic, making it difficult to fulfil with integrity. Without meaningful structural and procedural change, PFACs risk functioning as token bodies rather than true drivers of improvement, a concern shared by many members. My experiences within PFAC also reflect broader systemic challenges at Ontario Health. After six years, the system remains fragmented, with weak accountability, limited digital integration, and inconsistent performance reporting. These issues continue to undermine confidence in Ontario Health’s ability to deliver on its transformation mandate. This is a difficult but necessary decision. I remain hopeful that Ontario Health will renew its commitment to transparency, accountability, and genuine patient partnership, not only in rhetoric, but in practice. As I step back, I do so with the same conviction that first drew me to this work: meaningful change is both possible and necessary. I trust that you and your colleagues will confront the hard truths and take the steps needed to build a truly patient/person-centred, integrated, and outcome-driven system. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. Thanks Sangeeta"
