Child and Youth Health and Wellbeing Symposium
Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Child and Youth Health and Wellbeing Symposium brings together researchers, clinicians and community leaders to examine pressing health and wellbeing challenges faced by young people and explore ways to address them.
The symposium unites TMU’s cross-disciplinary research strengths through three focused panel discussions spanning mental health and resilience, the social and environmental determinants of wellbeing and innovation in youth-centred care.
Discussions will address topics including health trends among youth, mental health, wellbeing supports, housing security, the impact of digital environments and social media, equity gaps facing marginalized youth, emerging digital health tools, early-intervention models, and considerations of how to meaningfully design research and innovation together with young people.
The event showcases the breadth of TMU expertise in this space, drawing panellists from schools and departments such as Child and Youth Care; Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering; Nursing; Occupational and Public Health; Psychology; Social Work; and Urban and Regional Planning. It reflects the university's approach to youth health and wellbeing as a complex, multifaceted issue that spans clinical care, social policy, urban environments, and intersections with technology.
Event Details
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Event Format: In-person symposium
Location: 63 Gould St., Toronto
Room: Thomas Lounge, Oakham House
Contact
For any questions, please email Gabriele Hale at researchevents@torontomu.ca
Speakers
Keynote Presentation:
Children’s Rights and Relationships in Research: Children and Youth in Research on Health and Wellbeing
Dr. Tara Collins
Child and Youth Care, TMU
Together with youth researchers Raiesha and Tahmeda
Panel 1: Equity, Environment, and Social Determinants of Child and Youth Health and Wellbeing
Moderator: Dr. Annette Bailey
Nursing, TMU
Dr. Shelagh McCartney
Urban and Regional Planning, TMU
Dr. Henry Parada
Social Work, TMU
Dr. Linda Rothman
Occupational and Public Health, TMU
Dr. Jennifer Martin
Child and Youth Care, TMU
Panel 2: Flourishing by Design: Child- and Youth-centred Mental Health Research to Inform Policy and Practice
Moderator: Dr. Nadia Prendergast
Nursing, TMU
Dr. Josephine Pui-Hing Wong
Nursing, TMU
Dr. Priscilla Boakye
Nursing, TMU
Dr. Andrew (Hyounsoo) Kim
Psychology, TMU
Dr. Karen Milligan
Psychology, TMU
Panel 3: Innovation in Child and Youth Care: The Future of Prevention and Treatment
Moderator: Dr. Dafna Sussman
Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, TMU
Dr. Sri Krishnan
Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, TMU
Dr. Naimul Khan
Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, TMU
Dr. Soyeon Kim
Research Scientist, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
Child and Youth Health and Wellbeing Symposium Program
| 8:30 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Welcome Dr. Teresa M. Chan, Dean and Vice-President, Medical Affairs, TMU |
| 9:10 a.m. | Opening Remarks Dr. Steven N. Liss, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, TMU |
| 9:30 a.m. | Keynote Presentation: Children’s Rights and Relationships in Research: Children and Youth in Research on Health and Wellbeing Dr. Tara Collins, Child and Youth Care, TMU Together with youth researchers Raiesha and Tahmeda |
| 10:30 a.m. | Panel 1: Equity, Environment, and Social Determinants of Child and Youth Health and Wellbeing Moderator: Dr. Annette Bailey, Nursing, TMU Panellists:
|
| 11:30 a.m | Break |
| 11:45 a.m. | Panel 2: Flourishing by Design: Child- and Youth-centred Mental Health Research to Inform Policy and Practice Moderator: Dr. Nadia Prendergast, Nursing, TMU Panellists:
|
| 12:45 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:45 p.m. | Panel 3: Innovation in Child and Youth Care: The Future of Prevention and Treatment Moderator: Dr. Dafna Sussman, Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, TMU Panellists:
|
| 2:45 - 3:00 p.m. | Wrap-up and Thank You Dr. Kris Alexander, School of Media, TMU |