Meet the changemakers: The future of health leadership starts here

From left to right: 2025 Tim Smith Health Leadership Scholarship recipients Dr. Jesse Kancir, Dr. Seyi Akinola and Dr. François Fabi.

In health care, leadership can sometimes feel like an uphill climb. But for the inaugural recipients of the Tim Smith Health Leadership Scholarship, it is also a horizon of possibility.

This annual scholarship, supported by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), provides tuition and travel support for three early-career physicians or residents to participate in the National Health Fellows program. The goal is clear: to equip the next generation of changemakers with the tools, networks and vision needed to drive lasting transformation in Canada’s health ecosystem.

Dr. Seyi Akinola, one of this year’s recipients, describes the experience as a turning point. 

“I envision myself as a super-connector, linking stories to systems change. The change we seek is possible if the right people and tools are gathered. Alongside physician colleagues, the cohort brought together leaders from several sectors with a shared commitment to shift the health care narrative in Canada from “talking” to “doing.” Understanding that transformation can start with us, we found ourselves in the right place at the right time.

Her reflection illustrates how the scholarship not only supports individual growth but also creates the conditions for shared purpose, trust and momentum across sectors. 

For Dr. François Fabi, the program offered something rare in today’s leadership spaces: deep trust, diverse perspectives and tangible momentum. 

From across the country, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health in Nova Scotia, Dr. Jesse Kancir, brought both curiosity and conviction to the cohort. As a public health leader in a smaller province, he reflected on the power of proximity and the promise of systems thinking. 

“Nova Scotia’s ability to deliver innovations with fewer barriers than larger systems left me proud of our provincial work and eager to champion advancement locally.

Each of these reflections captures something greater than a personal leadership journey. Together, they form a portrait of what is possible when purpose-driven leaders are invited into a national conversation and equipped to lead it. 

The Tim Smith Health Leadership Scholarship was established to honour Tim Smith’s legacy as the former CEO of the CMA and his deep commitment to advancing collaborative, inclusive, future-ready leadership across health and social care. 

The 2026 scholarship is open for applications.

Three scholarships will be awarded to residents or early-career physicians who demonstrate: 

• A commitment to social purpose and improving health outcomes in Canada 

• Cross-sectoral leadership experience or community impact 

• A readiness to advance equity, accessibility, reconciliation and anti-racism 

• The potential to influence systems-level change 

Scholarship recipients will participate in the 2026 National Health Fellows program, which includes in-person learning in Burlington, Ontario and Vancouver, BC, and connection with a cohort of leaders committed to building a better health future. 

Applications for the 2026 scholarship will be accepted until November 1, 2025. 

Recipients will be announced in December 2025. 

To learn more about eligibility and program dates, visit https://healthleadershipacademy.ca/tim-smith-cma-scholarship/.