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Social Determinants of Health Global Summit: From Grassroots to Legislation!
(Brought to you by Shalom: Eagle's Wings and Ki Leadership Institute)

The social determinants of health vary from country to country but the consensus in Canada is that there are about 12.  The social determinants of health (SDH) refer to "to a specific group of social and economic factors within the broader determinants of health. These relate to an individual's place in society, such as income, education or employment"  (Government of Canada, 2024).

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The SDH are:

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  1. Income and social status

  2. Employment and working conditions

  3. Education and literacy

  4. Childhood experiences

  5. Physical environments

  6. Social supports and coping skills

  7. Healthy behaviours

  8. Access to health services

  9. Biology and genetic endowment

  10. Gender

  11. Culture

  12. Race / Racism

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At this summit we will discuss a few of them (or issues that can be deemed sub-arms) and some call-to-action steps to effect positive changes in society at both micro and macro levels.

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VIP costs ($US47) apply for recordings if desired.

Register: https://social-determinants-of-summit-2604.eventraptor.com/

SPEAKERS

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Dr. Haidong Liang Ph.D.; MA; B.R.M.C.D
Dr. Haidong Liang is a dedicated gerontologist who earned three degrees in aging studies in Canada and seamlessly bridges academic research with real-life practice. He serves as the CEO of Westend Seniors Activity Centre and WESeniors Strathcona County. 
He is the recipient of:

  •  King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025)

  •  Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)

  • Recipient of Minister's Seniors Service Award (2021)

  • Recipient of Edmonton Top 40 Under 40 (2019)

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Prof. Dr. Billy Tang Chee Seng is a regenerative agriculture innovator and Founder of PWD Smart FarmAbility, a social enterprise advancing food security, sustainability, and inclusive economic participation for persons with disabilities. After becoming paraplegic, he transformed adversity into purpose, pioneering regenerative urban farming models such as the Eco-HOPE Box Terrariums and Soil-U-tion Aquaponics System.

 

His work demonstrates how healthy soil, inclusive employment, and community-driven food production can strengthen public health and social resilience. Prof. Dr. Billy also serves as Faculty Head of Sustainability, Food Security and ESG at Wilmington Metropolitan University and actively contributes to global sustainability dialogues.

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Dr. Erica Buchholz is a developmental psychologist and executive coach who specializes in the "exhausterwhelmulation" of the modern workforce, helping high-capacity professionals navigate the high-stakes intersection of corporate leadership and parenthood. With a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology and over 20 years of experience, she bridges the gap between macro-level social determinants of health and the micro-level emotional resilience required to sustain psychological safety in demanding environments.

As the founder of Becoming Playful, Dr. Buchholz consults with global organizations to address burnout through the lens of relational care and systemic health. Her work focuses on the invisible architecture of holding it all together—the finances, family structures, and developmental needs of children—while maintaining professional excellence in an increasingly complex global landscape.

A certified LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator, she brings an evidence-based approach to workplace wellness, advocating for play as a vital tool for social and cultural repair. Her background in higher education and administration informs her deep commitment to disability support services and equitable access to health resources.

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Dr. Cheryl Okoli, DHA MSN BSN RN She is an innovative out-of-the-box Founder, Business Strategist, and Health Care Executive Consultant. She is ALL about the wholeness of individuals and organizations! She enthusiastically describes herself in two ways:  

First, a “Doctor for your health administration needs” and has a Doctor of Health Administration from A. T. Still University. She believes prevention is better than cure, from clinical and organizational development lenses. She is the owner of Shalom: Eagle’s Wings. 

Second, a “Healer” of organizations and employees, one employee at a time.Her latest innovative population health solution to employee health and wellness is Renata Wellness and Recreation Retreat!.  

She is honoured and humbled to have been a recipient of King Charles’ III Coronation Medal in 2025! In addition, she is an Award-Winning Author on her work on conflict resolution. One of her books is “Conflict Resolution in the Operating Room: Fight, Flight, or Growth, and Communication. A Manual for New Employees (Revised): C. Okoli, Cheryl Stella: 9786204198989: Books - Amazon.ca” that has been published in multiple European languages, and another is a fictional audio book on purpose and identity, “The Light: The Lore!”  

She is a former TV show host of  “The Dancing Negotiator with Dr. Cheryl Okoli, DHA on the Win Win Women Platform” that ran for 4 years on media like Roku Tv and more where she provided strategies for conflict (task, process, value, system) resolution for leaders as it pertains to issues at both micro and macro population and system levels-

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Jeff Rubin serves as a U.S. Liaison for the Pass-It-On Network and a recently appointed PION representative to the UN’s Stakeholders Group on Ageing. A speaker, author, and positive aging advocate, Jeff believes that every individual has the right to be heard and the power to make a difference—especially when decisions affect the quality of a person’s life. A champion for inclusion and collaboration, he sees both as essential to creating productive and lasting change. His book, Wisdom of Age, continues to serve as a sounding board for advancing insights, ideas, and actions among multi-generational audiences.
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Scott MacAfee - Hanwell, New Brunswick

Chairperson (full time)

Scott is a lifelong learner, a facilitator, a coach and a connector. He spent almost 20 years with the Government of New Brunswick where he worked on poverty reduction through the department of Social Development and the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation.

Scott has chaired OMISTA Credit Union, Falls Brook Centre, New Brunswick Food Security Action Network and the Fredericton Loyalists Rugby Club. He has also sat on the boards of the Atlantic Summer Institute, the Healthy Eating Physical Activity Coalition and Team Rural NB.

Scott is passionate about community, storytelling, innovation, belonging and supporting others.

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Nicole Vergos

Nicole specialises in Quantitative consumer insights and has worked across a range of industries, including FMCG, Beauty, Automotive, Telecommunications and Sports. Over the years, Nicole has gained valuable experience executing various consumer insight studies. 

In 2019, Nicole won the top prize of 'Most Impactful Presentation’ at SAMRA (South African Market Research Association) for her research paper among people with disabilities and what steps companies can take to be more accessible. She continues to do work in this space and aims to raise awareness and shift mindsets on disability.

Nicole has developed strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the aim of growing in social and cause-driven research. In 2022, she founded Conscious Research, a research and data analytics consultancy. Conscious Research helps clients achieve better results by elevating decision making with actionable insights.

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Michelle Buckland is committed to creating meaningful change and help shape the future ensuring accessibility is in the equation of companies’ products and services. Michelle is a seasoned Learning and Development Professional for over 25 years within numerous industries, an award-winning Accessibility Advisor for 10+ years, and award-winning Keynote Speaker.

She founded EMBRACE 2 Learn Inc. with the vision to make accessibility a fundamental part of an inclusive culture and the mission to educate and prevent accessibility barriers to ensure people with visible and invisible disabilities have equal access and continuously participate within the workforce, community and society. This includes accessibility legislation integration, digital accessibility, web accessibility, training and curriculum development via an accessibility lens, and keynote.

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She also sits on numerous Accessibility Advisor Steering Committees such as Metrolinx, City of Brampton, and Accessible Canada Roadmap to achieve a barrier-free Canada by 2040.

As an ally, ambassador, and Accessibility Champion – she has received national awards and global recognition. Some are: 1. 2021 Accessibility Award for City of Brampton

2. Top 100 Black Woman to Watch for 2025 Award Recognition via the Canadian International Black Women of Excellence

3. 2024 Top 100 Honouree as a Black Community Builder and Black Champion 4. 2021 Top 150 Women of Inspiration Finalist Award

5. 2018 Michele Edwards Award as a Black Female Advocate for People with Disabilities 6. Top 25 PDF Accessibility Remediation Vendors (North America)

With her personal disability experience, she continues to help build awareness of accessibility, be a voice to the “voiceless”, and transform mindsets to accept disability as a natural part of life.

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Dr. Axel Meierhoefer is a former U.S. Air Force officer turned real estate investor, mentor, and host of The IDEAL Investor Show. After more than two decades of strategic investing—utilizing tools like 1031 exchanges, turnkey properties, and diversified portfolios across the U.S. (Ohio, Idaho, Illinois, Florida) and internationally (Belize, Panama, Spain)—Axel achieved his own financial freedom point, escaping the traditional time-for-money trade-off.

Today, he guides individuals, startup founders, and leaders in Fortune 1000 companies toward the "Time Freedom Point" through value-asset building, as detailed in his book The Ideal Wealth Grower. Financial stability and employment independence are essential to holistic health and well-being: they alleviate chronic stress, enable better work-life balance, foster mental resilience, and unlock space for personal growth, relationships, and self-care in an era of rapid change.

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Jason A. Studley, DHA, FACHE, is a mission-driven healthcare executive and consultant known for leading hospitals, health systems, and emerging healthcare ventures through transformation, operational discipline, and strategic growth. Over the course of his career, he has guided rural and safety-net organizations across the country, helping them stabilize finances, strengthen clinical operations, and build sustainable pathways for long-term success. As the founder of Studley Holdings, LLC, Jason partners with boards, executives, and frontline teams to deliver hands-on leadership, turnaround expertise, and practical solutions that elevate performance and expand access to care.Jason’s professional journey is grounded in a strong academic foundation. He earned his Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA), complementing earlier graduate and undergraduate studies that shaped his approach to systems thinking, organizational behavior, and evidence-based leadership. His commitment to lifelong learning continues to inform his work as a mentor to emerging healthcare leaders and as an advisor to organizations navigating complex operational challenges.Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jason’s life is anchored by his family. He has been married to his wife, Jennifer, for 23 years, and together they have raised two children, Bryce and Samantha

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Mr Jan Robberts is known as a Global Influencer & self-Leadership Strategist. He is co-Founder of Ki Leadership Institute Pty Ltd & Founder of JRs Speakers Club, based in South Africa and Scotland. He is an International Leadership Keynote Speaker, Coach, Self-care Encourager, Behavioural Analysis Consultant & Values Based Leadership Specialist. His focus and vision is, to impact and transform millions of people, by providing sustainable solutions using world class, innovative methods that are proven internationally. He uses Values Based Leadership, with its powerful Transformational Round Tables process, to impact many organisations from Governments & Corporations, Universities, Colleges, and Schools to NGO’s and Communities seeking upliftment. As an intentional leadership coach for the last 14 years, he has discovered tools and techniques to realign positive growth, personal development, confidence building, powerful communication, and self-leadership for individuals in their personal lives, their businesses and their social environment. Jan has spoken on 4 continents on a variety of subjects, worked in over 10 Countries, and managed multi-million-dollar projects in the Oil Industry. He believes that positive culture change is key to make people feel valued, honoured, and respected as human beings regardless of Race, Culture, Religion, Gender, or Historical Difference
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Dr. Ann Ingraham is a minister, author, healthcare transformation executive, and founder of Goshen Apostolic Institute. She equips leaders to navigate times of disruption with spiritual discernment, practical wisdom, and a deep commitment to preserving life.
With more than fifteen years in healthcare leadership, Dr. Ingraham brings together executive experience, systems thinking, and biblical insight. She is the author of Joseph’s Wisdom: How to Survive and Thrive in Goshen During the Era of the New World Order, a book that calls leaders to discern the times, steward resources with courage, and lead with preparation, compassion, and integrity.
Her message is especially meaningful in conversations about health and well-being. Dr. Ingraham teaches that leadership is not only about vision or influence, but also about helping create the conditions in which people, families, and communities can endure, recover, and flourish. She highlights the importance of attending to the spiritual, relational, and environmental realities that shape human well-being.
Through Goshen Apostolic Institute, she prepares leaders to navigate wilderness seasons, resist distraction, and remain aligned with divine purpose while building places of refuge, order, and preservation. Drawing deeply from the life of Joseph, she presents a model of leadership that sees ahead and responds wisely in times of uncertainty. Her work challenges people to ask what their wilderness is producing, how they are stewarding what has been entrusted to them, and how they are preserving life within their sphere of influence.
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Dr. Mary Grogan is an educator, consultant, counsellor, coach, author, and reflective practice facilitator committed to social justice and a humanistic leadership style. She is a curious and lifelong learner with a BA in sociology, an M.Ed. in applied psychology (counselling), and a PhD in Educational Leadership.

 

She has led diverse learning communities in Toronto and abroad, delivering professional development programs both locally and internationally in the Caribbean and Europe. She developed a peer mediation program for students in the Toronto Catholic School Board and a reflective practice program for medical students in Dominica. As a teacher, counsellor, and principal, she has supported many children and immigrant /refugee families to acculturate and heal from the trauma of conflict, abuse, and war. She has taught at faculties of education at U of T, York U, Ross Medical School, Johns Hopkins and George Brown College. She is a part-time professor at George Brown College and a board member of an Educational NGO in Africa. Her book, The 7 Cs of Global Leadership, helps people tap into their leadership potential to make a difference wherever they stand.

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