The Medventions Fall 2026 Lecture Series is an educational series designed to equip the next generation of medtech innovators with the knowledge and skills they need to transform healthcare. The Lecture Series offers an excellent opportunity to learn about health technology innovation, how to validate healthcare needs, invent new medical technology products, and plan for their implementation into patient care.
Each one-hour lecture is led by experts in the field and provides valuable insights into the medtech innovation process. Select sessions will also feature a 30-minute networking opportunity and a 90-minute hands-on workshop immediately following the lecture. These extended sessions are available exclusively to in-person attendees and include a light meal. Virtual participants will have access to the lecture portion only.
Whether you’re a clinician, engineer, entrepreneur, or student, this series offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow at the intersection of medicine, technology, and innovation.
Weekly sessions on Tuesdays at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
5:00–6:00 PM | Lecture
6:00–6:30 PM | Networking Break:
6:30–7:30 PM | Interactive Workshop (dependent)
Note: You can register for individual lectures at $20 each or enroll in the full series for $500 to earn a certificate. See registration options below for details.
Offered by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Medventions Micro-Certificate Program is ideal for individuals seeking to deepen their knowledge and gain practical skills in medical technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization.
ABOUT THE SESSION
The Orientation and Kick-off Session will provide an overview of the Medventions Micro-Certificate Program, including the instructions and guidance for the Capstone Project.
Open only to MBP students & Micro-Certificate Program participants.
ABOUT THE LECTURE
Learn how meaningful healthcare innovations begin with identifying important unmet clinical needs. Topics include clinical observation, needs finding, problem validation, and developing strong need statements.
Note: This will be a remote lecture and therefore only conducted online via webinar. There will be no in-person component.
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Medical Innovator, Former Stanford Biodesign Fellow
ABOUT THE LECTURE
Dr. Kamran Khan will share his entrepreneurial journey, lessons learned from building BlueDot, and practical advice for aspiring clinician and health technology entrepreneurs.
This lecture will be followed by a workshop titled, “The Art of the Start – entrepreneurial tips & exercises” and will be facilitated by Dr. Ahmed Nasef.
Founder & CEO, BlueDot
Co-Director, Medventions
ABOUT THE PANEL LECTURE
An overview of Canada’s medtech ecosystem, featuring perspectives from clinicians, industry, investors, and health system leaders. Topics include commercialization, investment, innovation adoption, ecosystem enablers, current challenges, and opportunities for Canadian health technology companies.
Co-Director, Medventions
Principal, Genesys Capital
Former CEO, Medtronic Canada
Director of Operations, CAN Health Network
ABOUT THE LECTURE
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Part-time, Strategic Management, University of Toronto
ABOUT THE SESSION
Introduction to design thinking methodologies, creative problem solving, and structured ideation techniques for developing innovative healthcare solutions.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Applying human-centred design principles and collaborative ideation techniques to participants identified clinical needs.
Toronto-based Designer & Researcher
ABOUT THE LECTURE
An introduction to the intellectual property considerations that shape early-stage medtech innovation. Topics include different forms of IP, patent fundamentals, public disclosure, filing a first patent application, and patent searching.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Participants will complete a guided patentability search and work through a practical case study exploring inventorship, ownership, patentable subject matter, strategic partnerships, and inadvertent disclosure, with additional discussion on AI use in the IP process and available IP grants.
Partner / Patent Agent, Aird & Berlis LLP, Commercialization and IP Strategist
ABOUT THE LECTURE
This session will explore how the financial value proposition of a medical technology shapes broader business strategy. Participants will examine the elements of a strong financial value proposition, the evidence and validation required to support it, and how the cost and timing of that validation can influence financing needs, market entry, adoption, and business model decisions. The session will also highlight an often-overlooked challenge in medtech commercialization: preparing for the hospital purchasing and adoption process.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
In the interactive workshop, teams will develop and deliver a short pitch to a simulated hospital Value Analysis Committee, focusing on why their technology should be adopted, what value it creates, and what evidence would be needed to support that value.
Medical Device Consultant,
Board Chairman, Exact Imaging
ABOUT THE LECTURE
This session will look at how medical device regulation shapes a product’s path to market in key jurisdictions. Participants will learn how to classify medical products in each jurisdiction to determine the regulatory pathway, the evidence requirements, and the corporate obligations (i.e. quality systems) requisite for market authorizations and product release. The session will also cover how to efficiently use regulators’ pre-submission and scientific-advice programs to obtain early feedback on development plans. It will close with practical tools and strategies for turning a product concept into an effective regulatory plan for each key market.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
In the hands-on workshop, participants will apply the Canadian and EU classification rules step by step, using a worked example to show the importance of intended use and labelling for defining the risk class of devices that are the same or similar. They will then use the FDA Product Classification Database to locate product codes, relevant standards, guidance documents, and submission summaries for comparable marketed devices.
Experienced Health Technology Strategist & Independent Consultant
ABOUT THE LECTURE
This session will explore how early-stage medtech companies can develop an effective R&D and clinical strategy as their technology evolves. Participants will consider how product development, technical validation, clinical evidence generation, and key development decisions should align with the maturity of the technology and the broader path toward commercialization.
Medtech Executive & Biomedical Engineer
ABOUT THE SESSION
Explore how reimbursement, health economics, stakeholder needs, health technology assessment, and evidence requirements influence adoption and commercialization. The session will include an interactive workshop focused on applying these concepts to early-stage medtech projects.
President,
Janus Life Sciences Consulting
ABOUT THE LECTURE
A practical look at why marketing and sales strategy should start earlier than many medtech founders expect, including customer and buyer identification, positioning, go-to-market planning, early customer engagement, and preparing for successful commercialization.
Chief Marketing &
Strategic Development Executive
ABOUT THE LECTURE
A practical discussion on the business and financial realities of building a medtech company, including fundraising, financing strategy, business development, capital requirements, and lessons from scaling and financing medical device ventures.
Medical Technology Executive &
Board Member
ABOUT THE LECTURE
To be announced
Commercialization Professional Research Mentor
Ahmed managers the Sunnybrook Medventions training program. He also manages the networking, outreach, and training programs at INOVAIT, a Sunnybrook-led pan-Canadian network in image-guided therapy and artificial intelligence. Ahmed is an enthusiastic clinical entrepreneur who brings more than 11 years of lived experience in healthcare innovation, health science research, and technology commercialization. Ahmed holds an Adjunct Lecturer appointment at the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. Ahmed earned his MD degree from Cairo, Egypt and holds an MBA in healthcare management and technology innovation from Schulich School of Business, York University.
Technology Innovation Industry Leader
Ahmed managers the Sunnybrook Medventions training program. He also manages the networking, outreach, and training programs at INOVAIT, a Sunnybrook-led pan-Canadian network in image-guided therapy and artificial intelligence. Ahmed is an enthusiastic clinical entrepreneur who brings more than 11 years of lived experience in healthcare innovation, health science research, and technology commercialization. Ahmed holds an Adjunct Lecturer appointment at the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. Ahmed earned his MD degree from Cairo, Egypt and holds an MBA in healthcare management and technology innovation from Schulich School of Business, York University.
Program Lead, Sunnybrook Medventions
Ahmed managers the Sunnybrook Medventions training program. He also manages the networking, outreach, and training programs at INOVAIT, a Sunnybrook-led pan-Canadian network in image-guided therapy and artificial intelligence. Ahmed is an enthusiastic clinical entrepreneur who brings more than 11 years of lived experience in healthcare innovation, health science research, and technology commercialization. Ahmed holds an Adjunct Lecturer appointment at the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. Ahmed earned his MD degree from Cairo, Egypt and holds an MBA in healthcare management and technology innovation from Schulich School of Business, York University.
