Transforming Healthcare: Care for NovaScotians, Powered by Nova Scotians highlights thepeople, teams and ideas helping move healthcare forward across the province.

Behind every improvement in healthcare arepeople you know, neighbours, family members, friends and colleagues who live in the communities they serve and are working every day to make care better forNova Scotians.

Join Nova Scotia Health Administrator Chris Power, and President and CEO of Nova Scotia Health as they discuss highlights of the 2025/2026 year in healthcare, and the people across the province who made the year possible.

Read the 2025/2026 Annual Report.

What does it take to improve access to care, reduce surgical wait times, and get patients back on their feet - literally?

In this episode of Chats on Change, guest host Dr. Todd Howlett is joined by orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Brendan O’Neill and physician assistant Stephanie Konway from Dartmouth General Hospital. Together, they share how with the care and expertise of physician assistants, patients can be assessed sooner and move more quickly toward surgery and recovery.

Physician assistants are a growing part of Nova Scotia Health’s care teams, working alongside physicians to expand capacity, improve patient flow and strengthen continuity of care. In orthopaedics, that means faster assessments, more coordinated care, and helping patients get back on their feet sooner.

Hear how this collaborative approach is making a difference for patients — and what it means for the future of care in Nova Scotia.

In celebration of African Heritage Month, guest host Candace Thomas, Nova Scotia Health’s Vice President of Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, sits down with the Honourable Twila Grosse, Nova Scotia’s Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and Minister of the Public Service Commission.

Together, they share an honest conversation about identity, representation and the realities of leading as Black women in the public sector. From navigating expectations and public scrutiny to carrying the responsibility of “see it to be it,” this episode explores what leadership looks like when it is rooted in community, resilience and hope.

Links:

• Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia
• African Nova Scotian Affairs

Have a question or suggestion for a future guest? Email podcasts@nshealth.ca