Skip to main content

Beyond the Data: 

Implementing Heart Knowledge for Health Workforce Sustainability and Patient Dignity

By Brenda Gamble & Kienan Williams | May, 2026

Heart-empowered workforce is a strength to invest and build upon, with advances in technology and mountains of administrative data available to track everything from wait times, retention rates, and budget deficits. Behind every data point is a human being. On May 27th, 2026, at the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) conference in Ottawa, a unique workshop centred participants in an immersive, reflective experience. Hosted by CAHSPR’s Health Workforce Theme Group and the Canadian Health Workforce Network, this "idealization lab" introduced a powerful concept to research leadership: Quantitative Heart Knowledge.

Why "Heart Knowledge"?

CAHSPR is inherently data-informed, but massive datasets can inadvertently erase individual humanity. "Heart Knowledge" is about relational accountability. We invite researchers and policymakers to look at statistical data and ask: What story do these numbers tell us about how we are caring for our relations—our patients, marginalized communities, and healthcare workers?

To bridge the gap between data and kind-hearted care, participants were asked to reflect on three core questions:

  1. What does heart knowledge mean to me?
  2. What role can heart knowledge play in my research or decision-making?
  3. What strategies can I use to bring heart knowledge into my daily workplace?
Fostering a Safe, Inclusive Space

The 75-minute session brought together 25 trainees, researchers, providers, and decision-makers across four tables. Because discussing "heart" in a highly analytical field can feel exposed, the room was intentionally structured as a democratic, judgment-free reflection space. Using a "lightning round" strategy across 13 distinct circles, everyone had an equal chance to speak. There was no crosstalk or interruption. Instead, participants could "piggyback" on previous comments, building a collective wisdom. To ensure psychological safety, every participant maintained the absolute autonomy to pass or participate in any round.

The Journey of the 13 Circles

The workshop moved rapidly through four distinct phases:

  • 1. Defining Heart Knowledge (Circles 1-3):

    The session opened with four high-energy activities designed to help people relax and know who was at their table, building a foundation of trust before sharing personal perspectives on what heart knowledge meant to them.

  • 2. Heart Knowledge at CAHSPR (Circles 4–5):

    Tables identified real-time examples of empathy, connection, and heart knowledge already being demonstrated throughout the broader conference.

  • 3. Identifying Barriers (Circles 6–10):

    Participants shared challenges, brainstorming the concrete systemic barriers and existing supports to implementing this framework in their current workplaces.

  • 4. Actionable Priorities for Leadership (Circles 11-13)

    Planning for the future of Canada’s health workforce requires forward-thinking data strategies. Anticipating trends, modeling scenarios, and preparing for system shocks are all crucial areas for development.

The session ended with a formal closing circle, giving every individual one last opportunity to speak, ground the shared experience, and prepare to bring these human-centered priorities forward to the broader health system leadership.

Preliminary Workforce Generated Heart Knowledge Results:

Participants provided 12 worksheets from 4 groups identified:

  • 75 supports,
  • 65 barriers, and
  • 19 priorities.
Next Steps

Panelists made the commitment to data clean and analyze the Workforce Generated Heart Knowledge and return to CAHSPR 2027 account for the themes and results. There will be an opportunity to review existing literature aligned to the priorities shared by participants to the CAHSPR leadership, through the CAHSPR Health Workforce Sub-Theme Group.

Contact Us