Medventions 2025 Fall Lecture Series

The Medventions 2025 Fall Lecture Series is a hybrid (in-person and virtual) educational experience designed to empower the next generation of medtech innovators with the tools they need to drive real change in healthcare. This dynamic series explores the full journey of health technology innovation, from identifying and validating unmet clinical needs to designing novel medical technologies and planning for their successful implementation in patient care.

Each one-hour lecture is led by experts in the field and provides valuable insights into the medtech innovation process. Select sessions will also feature a 30-minute networking opportunity and a 90-minute hands-on workshop immediately following the lecture. These extended sessions are available exclusively to in-person attendees and include a light meal. Virtual participants will have access to the lecture portion only.

Whether you're a clinician, engineer, entrepreneur, or student, this series offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow at the intersection of medicine, technology, and innovation.

Note: You can register for individual lectures at $10 each or enroll in the full series for $300 to earn a certificate. See registration options below for details.

Offered by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Medventions Micro-Certificate Program is ideal for individuals seeking to deepen their knowledge and gain practical skills in medical technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization.

To earn the certificate, participants must:

1. Attend at least 11 in-person sessions
2. Complete the course capstone project, which includes engagement with clinical mentors at Sunnybrook and participation in the final pitch event
3. Pay the $300 CAD registration fee

The $300 CAD program fee includes:

• Access to 13 expert-led sessions (lectures + hands-on workshops)
• Mentorship and team-based project guidance
• Curated slide decks, tools, and templates
• Invitation to the final capstone pitch event
• A digital micro-certificate and LinkedIn credential upon successful completion
• Access to the Medventions alumni network

To enroll in the Micro-Certificate Program: Register for the mandatory orientation session (scheduled for Wednesday, September 3) via Eventbrite. Please note: The $300 CAD registration fee is payable through Eventbrite at the time of registration. No cash payments will be accepted. Current University of Toronto students and the Medventions fellows enrolled in MBP1408H or MBP1409H are not required to pay this fee.

You can participate in the Medventions 2025 Fall Lecture Series in one of two ways:

Option 1: Enroll in the Full Micro-Certificate Program ($300 CAD)

Best for participants seeking a structured learning experience and certificate. Includes:

• Full access to all 13 expert-led sessions (lectures + hands-on workshops)

• Capstone project mentorship and feedback

• Certificate of completion and digital LinkedIn badge

• Alumni network access

✅ Register only once for the orientation session on Wednesday, September 3 and pay the $300 CAD fee at that time.🚫 Do not register separately for each lecture if you’re enrolled in the full program.

Option 2: Register for Individual Lectures ($10 CAD)

Best for participants interested in select topics without pursuing a certificate. Includes:

• Access to the lecture portion only (in-person or virtual)

• No capstone project, or certificate

🎟️ Register and pay separately for each individual session you wish to attend.

Below is the weekly schedule (subject to change):

Program Dates: September 3 – December 4, 2025

Time: Thursdays, 4:30–7:00 PM

Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, M6-502(Note: Orientation will take place on Wednesday, September 3)

This 14-week in-person program includes a mix of lectures, workshops, and team-based project work. Below is the weekly schedule (subject to change):

Week 1 – Sept 3 Orientation & Course Kickoff

📘 Format: Lecture

Note: Required only for participants enrolled in the micro-certificate program.

Week 2 – Sept 11 Identifying Unmet Clinical Needs

📘 Format: Lecture

🎤 Guest Speaker: Dr. Jonathan Toma, Interventional Cardiologist, Southlake Regional Health Sciences Centre

Week 3 – Sept 18 The Medtech Innovation Ecosystem in Canada

📘 Format: Lecture

🎤 Guest Speaker: Armen Bakirtzian, CEO, Intellijoint Surgical Inc.

Week 4 – Sept 25 Innovation Mindsets & Entrepreneurial Thinking

🛠️ Format: Lecture + Workshop

🎤 Guest Speaker: Sharmila Sriram, Founder & CEO of Spectrum Medical Diagnostics Inc. and ResultsPlus Inc.

Week 5 – Oct 2 Market Research & Opportunity Sizing

🛠️ Format: Lecture + Workshop

🎤 Guest Speaker: TBC

Week 6 – Oct 9 Human-Centered Design & Ideation

🛠️ Format: Lecture + Workshop

🎤 Guest Speaker: Agnes Ryzynski, Director, Sunnybrook Canadian Simulation Centre, and Library Services

Week 7 – Oct 16 Intellectual Property Strategy & Patent Search

📘🛠️ Format: Lecture + Workshop

🎤 Guest Speaker: TBC

Week 8 – Oct 23 Value Proposition, Business Models & Early Pitching

🛠️ Format: Lecture + Workshop

🎤 Guest Speaker: Peter van der Velden, Managing General Partner, Lumira Ventures

Week 9 – Oct 30 Regulatory Strategy & Device Classification

🛠️ Format: Lecture + Workshop

🎤 Guest Speaker: TBC

Week 10 – Nov 6 R&D, Risk Management & Clinical Strategy

📘 Format: Lecture

🎤 Guest Speaker: TBC

Week 11 – Nov 13 Reimbursement & Health Economics

🛠️ Format: Lecture + Workshop

🎤 Guest Speaker: TBC

Week 12 – Nov 20 Venture Finance & Funding Models

📘 Format: Lecture

🎤 Guest Speaker: TBC

Week 13 – Nov 27 Marketing, Sales & Go-To-Market Strategy

📘 Format: Lecture

🎤 Guest Speaker: TBC

Week 14 – Dec 4 Final Venture Pitch Presentations & Feedback

🎤 Format: Presentations

⚠️ Please note that guest speakers, dates, and lecture topics are subject to change as the program evolves.

Host or Publisher Sunnybrook Research Institute