Employee Spotlight Series: Meet Waldo Beauséjour, Senior Research Specialist

At Canada Health Infoway, our employees are at the heart of what we do. Through our Employee Spotlight series, we’re showcasing the talented individuals who are helping to advance digital health interoperability in Canada. 

We sat down with Waldo B. , Senior Research Specialist, to unpack how his passion for using data-driven insights to inspire change is helping shape the future of digital health and Connected Care in Canada.

Q: You’ve been with Infoway for over five years now. What brought you here? 🤔

A: Three elements of the role caught my eye in the job posting: national surveys, data analysis, and econometric modeling. I felt these elements aligned with my professional background and interests perfectly. Coming from a role focused on international development, I was drawn to the opportunity to use data to improve access, equity, and patient outcomes in Canadian healthcare.

Q: You’ve led the development of some major national surveys. How do you go about designing surveys that deliver real-world insights? 🗳️

A: It starts with strong research partnerships that help us ask the right questions. We ask questions like: “what kind of data is needed to inform our decision-making?”, “what are the current gaps in our data repository?”, “how can we address them?”. From there, we create clear, practical survey questions that produce data which can be used by a wide range of people and organizations to better inform decision making and health system planning.

One simple test I use is to ask myself whether my grandmother would understand the question. If the answer is yes, then we’re on the right track!

Q: Can you share an example of recent work that you’re most proud of? 👍

A: An example of a recent survey I’m proud of is Infoway’s 2024 National Survey of Canadian Physicians. This survey explored physicians’ perspectives on the use and impact of digital health information technologies in practice, uncovering insights related to clinician burnout and administrative burden that helped inform the development of Infoway’s AI Scribe Program. It’s rewarding to see how research findings can help shape national programs and real-world outcomes.

Q: With digital health landscape constantly evolving, how do you ensure your research stays current and relevant? ⏱️

A: It’s important to keep a pulse on current events and emerging trends. We work closely with researchers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and patient advocacy groups, who help ensure our work reflects what’s happening on the ground.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched a weekly tracking survey, which gave us important insight into how Canadians were staying safe during the pandemic and opting for virtual care services. Staying responsive to the evolving healthcare landscape, as we did during the pandemic, is essential to keeping our research relevant and aligned with real-world needs.

Q: What’s one surprising insight you've uncovered through your work that has really stuck with you? 💡

A: While Canada’s digital healthcare landscape has evolved over the years, there is still a lot of opportunity to improve access to health information.

When I first immigrated to Canada, I assumed that Canada’s health system was well-integrated. Despite the progress in technological innovation, there are still barriers to fully unlocking the potential of digital health data.

These barriers drive a lot of our work at Infoway, as outlined in the Shared pan-Canadian Interoperability Roadmap. Learning about the current barriers in access to care has shaped how I view the role of digital health in helping to bridge these gaps.

Q: You're also bilingual! Quels conseils donneriez-vous à quelqu'un qui veut travailler dans le domaine de la recherche en santé numérique ? ⚕️

A (French) : Je dirais que la curiosité constante et l’adaptabilité sont clés. Avec l’évolution rapide du secteur de la santé numérique, il faut être prêt à explorer de nouvelles méthodologies, à intégrer des technologies émergentes et surtout, à écouter les besoins des populations mal desservies. La collaboration interdisciplinaire est aussi essentielle, parce qu’elle offre un mélange de perspectives qui permettent d’avoir un impact concret sur la santé numérique au Canada.

A (English): I’d say constant curiosity and adaptability are key. The digital health sector is rapidly evolving, so we need to be open to learning about new research methods, emerging technologies and, above all, the needs of underserved populations. Interdisciplinary collaboration is equally essential, because it allows us to rely on various perspectives that enable us to have a real-world impact on Canadians.

Q: You're the subject matter expert for the upcoming 2024 Canadian Digital Health Survey. Can you give us a sneak peek into what makes this year’s survey unique? 🔎

A: This year, we’re diving deeper into AI in health care and how access to personal health information is evolving. The 2024 Canadian Digital Health Survey explores patient-reported experience measures, with a renewed focus on the patient voice.

One key finding: Canadians are open to clinicians using AI tools if it leads to better care and more face time with providers. Insights like this can help to accelerate responsible adoption of innovative and AI-powered technologies that will support the care experience. At the same time, we also need to remember that interoperability isn’t only about enabling healthcare providers, it’s also about empowering patients with access to their own health information.

Q: You recently co-emceed the 2024 Infoway Partnership Conference. What was that experience like for you? 🎤

A: It was such a fun and energizing experience. I had the opportunity to connect with an amazing community of digital health leaders, innovators, and change-makers. We even had a lighthearted moment on stage when we accidentally skipped an intro due to a mis-ordering of speaking notes but turned it into a joke about why paper systems need to go! It was a great example of how even small moments can drive home the need for digital solutions.

Q: If they were to make a movie about your career or work in digital health, who’s playing you and what’s the title? 🎬

A: I'd say Denzel Washington—he brings the kind of gravitas I’d want for a movie about digital health. The title would be Healthcare Innovations That Work for Everyone because I care deeply about digital health equity. I always find myself asking: Is this innovation closing gaps or creating new ones? New innovations have to work for everyone, especially the underserved.

Q: Finally, what do you like to do for fun outside of work? 🚴

A: Lately, I’ve started exploring the outdoors more. Whether it’s cycling or running, I enjoy being active and spending time outside. It’s a great way to recharge!

Thank you for joining us in this edition of our Employee Spotlight series. We hope you enjoyed learning more about the incredible work happening behind the scenes at Canada Health Infoway and the dedicated professionals driving digital health interoperability forward!

Stay tuned for more stories from our talented team as we continue to showcase the passion, expertise, and innovation that are helping to shape the future of Canadian healthcare.