On October 24 AFHTO named the winners of our thirteenth Bright Lights Awards at our ceremony at our annual conference. These innovators have improved access to primary care through their leadership, outstanding work and significant progress made toward improving the value delivered by interprofessional primary care teams throughout Ontario. Bright Lights Award winners are innovators and team players whose work has an impact on the healthcare system and in the lives of their patients and communities.
The review committees made up of AFHTO members chose the winners from among dozens of nominations. AFHTO gave awards for three of our conference themes, as well as a spotlight award for excellent work by an underrepresented primary care team. The winners will receive a $1000 education grant each courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim.
In addition, AFHTO’s board presented an award to someone who has consistently and unstintingly advocate for primary care throughout her illustrious career.
Board Award: Dr. Jane Philpott
In recognition of: Advocacy on Behalf of Team-Based Primary Care for All
This year, the board has recognized Dr. Jane Philpott, Dean of Health Sciences at Queen’s University and recently appointed lead of the Government of Ontario's Primary Action Team, for her tireless advocacy on behalf of team-based care.
The four recipients of Bright Lights Awards are listed below. Click on the links to read a summary of their achievements:
Award Category: Expanding access to team-based care
Achievement: HPAOHT Heart Failure Program: Revolutionizing Heart Failure Care Through Innovative Team-Based Approach
Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team’s pioneering Spoke-Hub-Node model seamlessly connects primary care with specialist services to dramatically improve accessibility of care and patient outcomes.
Award Category: Investing in digital health of primary care
Achievement: Leveraging Digital Health to Reduce Administrative Burden and Improve Patient Care
City of Lakes Family Health Team leveraged AI to reduce primary care providers’ administrative burden, addressing privacy and equity concerns while improving work-life balance.
Award Category: Mental health and addictions
Achievement: Providing Equitable and Timely Access to Brief Counselling Services and Case Management/ Systems Navigation
Responding to the need for better access to mental health services, Norfolk Family Health Team developed Talk-In, a free service that offers mental health support and help in navigating the system to people without a doctor.
Award Category: Spotlight Award
Achievement: No Resident Left Behind. Access to Care for All Prince Edward County residents
Prince Edward FHT launched its Community Clinic, designed to enable care for all residents but concentrated on those without a primary care provider.
Congratulations to all our winners and nominees! And to see all our nominees please visit the 2024 Hall of Fame.
If you attended the conference and ceremony, we’d love to hear from you! Please fill out any/all the evaluations below:
- 2024 Q&A with Ontario Health
- AFHTO 2024 Conference Day 1 Sessions
- AFHTO 2024 Conference Day 2 Sessions
- AFHTO 2024 Overall Conference
The call for nominations for the 2025 Bright Light Awards will go out in June 2025. All AFHTO members are welcome and encouraged to participate.
