AdvoSci Health

In this episode of the ASH Podcast, Dr. Syed Zafar Zaidi , CEO of the Indus Hospital and Health Network , takes us inside one of the world’s most ambitious healthcare models - a hospital system that provides completely free care at scale . Serving millions across Pakistan, the network is redefining what equitable healthcare can look like. How do you build and sustain a healthcare system where no p...

What happens when a U.S. state joins the World Health Organization — after the United States officially withdraws? In this episode, we unpack New York State’s decision to join the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a WHO-coordinated system designed to detect and respond to disease outbreaks around the world. With the U.S. federal government stepping away from WHO membership, New Y...

In this episode of ASH, we unpack the evacuation of Kashechewan First Nation following a failure of its water and sewage systems and confirmed cases of cryptosporidium, a waterborne parasite. Hundreds of residents were forced to leave their community and relocate to southern Ontario — once again highlighting how water insecurity in Indigenous communities is treated as an emergency instead of a pre...

What does it really take to build a new medical school – and reimagine the kind of physicians our communities truly need? In this powerful new episode of the ASH Podcast , we sit down with Dr. Teresa Chan , the Founding Dean of the TMU School of Medicine . From insights into the inaugural class and honest reflections on leadership lessons to a deep dive into healthcare inequities , this conversati...

In this episode of the ASH Podcast, we break down a troubling finding from the Auditor General of Ontario : the province may not be properly overseeing how doctors bill the healthcare system. What does weak oversight actually mean for public trust, healthcare spending, and patient care? Tune in as we unpack the report, explain why it matters to everyday Ontarians, and explore the ripple effects th...

Alberta is testing a bold shift: allowing physicians to work in both the public and private systems. But is “dual practice” the answer to long wait times - or a threat to universal care? In this week's episode, we unpack the evidence, hear from experts on both sides, and explore what this policy could mean for patients, providers, and the future of Canadian healthcare. Article 1: What Alberta&...

Pakistan is one of only two countries where wild poliovirus still circulates. But the story of polio isn’t just medical — it’s shaped by mistrust, misinformation, community experiences, state policies, and the complex politics of public health. In this episode, we speak with  Hadeed Hassan , a researcher at the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, about vaccine hesitancy, recent attacks on pol...

In this episode of the  AdvoSci Health Podcast , we speak with  Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta , one of the world’s leading voices in global maternal and child health. From South Asia’s remarkable progress to the persistent inequities facing women and children globally, Dr. Bhutta shares insights on bridging research and policy, strengthening health systems, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. 🎧 H...

Global health is facing a reckoning. A new  Health Policy Watch  article —  Global Health Leaders Urge Fewer Agencies Amid Funding Crisis  — reveals a  21% drop in global development assistance for health  and a  67% cut in U.S. funding, totalling more than $9 billion . In this episode we scroll through the article in real time and unpack what these numbers really mean — for HIV programs, child mo...

In this episode of  The Rare Tapes , we explore three moments when patients are forced to fill the cracks in a system that should support them. From families stepping in as untrained interpreters, to patients turning to “Doctor Google” for answers, to those left adrift after rehab with little help to rebuild their lives — these stories reveal how easily care can stop short of compassion. Join Ali...

In September 2025, world leaders endorsed the first-ever UN political declaration integrating noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, a milestone that could reshape how governments, donors, and institutions prioritize funding, accountability, and national health strategies. In this episode, I explored and gave my opinion on what the declaration says, why it matters, which commitments ar...

In this episode of the ASH Podcast, Ali and Omar unpack the lasting effects of COVID-19 on healthcare systems worldwide. From staff shortages and surgical backlogs to rising mental health concerns among healthcare workers, the pandemic reshaped how care is delivered — and many systems are still struggling to catch up. We explore what recovery looks like, why challenges persist, and what lessons ca...

In this special episode of the ASH Podcast, we sit down with Abdullah Haris: a fellow incoming med student at TMU- as he shares his story of living with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) for the very first time publicly. Abdullah opens up about being recently declared legally blind, navigating stigma, and finding strength in visibility. We also dive into what RP is, the importance of advocacy, and the hop...

In our latest Rare Tapes episode of the ASH Podcast, we step into the everyday frustrations patients face in the healthcare system; from endless hold lines, to referrals lost in the “black hole,” to appointments suddenly rescheduled months away. Through immersive storytelling and sound design, we bring these experiences to life, then break them down to uncover the real impact on patient safety, tr...

In this episode of the ASH Podcast, Omar and Ali break down the growing concerns around where Canadian health data is stored - and who really has access to it. From U.S.-based cloud servers to billion-dollar contracts with tech giants, we explore how health data storage impacts privacy, innovation, and rare disease care. What are the tradeoffs between progress and sovereignty? And how can we prote...

In this episode, we are fortunate to have another guest, Amal Qazi. Amal is the Managing Director of the "Medical Innovations and Global Health" (MIGH) Association part of the graduate school at McMaster University. MIGH is an interdisciplinary future-thinking association that is about to celebrate its 1 year anniversary, and we were fortunate to learn more about how the association was created an...

In this episode we introduce a new format called "The Rare Tapes". In the first iteration of "The Rare Tapes" we go through 3 different scenarios focussing on doctor-patient interactions concerning symptom explanations and being believed, while also discussing the ramifications of these instances and our personal experiences.

In this episode we had our first guest of this new podcast series, Haris Ahmad. Haris is an incoming medical student who is passionate about the concepts food security and how that affects the everyday health of the average person. With the help of his family, friends, and community, Haris started a non-profit organization called Zero Food Waste Canada that "connects businesses with excess food to...

An educational conversation on the Family Doctor shortage that currently plagues Canada. Discussion on current experiences, causes, and potential solutions.

In this episode, Cofounders Omar and Ali explore the origins of ASH, reminiscing over its inception and diving into the initiatives that made it the club it is today.

In this episode, a member of the AdvoSci Health team talked with Donna about her experience with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and the challenges she faced.

In this episode, three members of the AdvoSci Health team talked with Holly about her experience with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and the challenges she faced. 

In this episode three members of the AdvoSci Health team talked with Sara about her experience with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and the challenges she has faced.