Your Health Matters Summit 2025

Inspire Change. Build Connection. Advance Wellness.

Join us for a powerful day of conversations, connections, and real-world strategies focused on whole-person health, community resilience, and practical well-being.

📍 Event Details

Date: June 8, 2025
Location: The Old Mill, Toronto + Virtual Access
Parking: Complimentary parking available; validation provided at the event
Summit: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Networking Reception: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (refreshments provided)
Cost:
- In-Person: $40 (includes gourmet meal, refreshments & networking)
- Virtual (Zoom): Free

🌟 Why Attend

Engage in inclusive conversations with experts, community leaders and advocates
Gain evidence-based insights to support personal and community wellness
Join bold, honest discussions shaping the future of care
Build meaningful connections in a vibrant, stigma-free environment
Enjoy a gourmet lunch and exclusive in-person networking opportunities

📋 Agenda

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Registration and Breakfast

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Welcome Remarks
Sandra Elia (Chair, Obesity Matters) & Andrew Locker (Advisor, Obesity Matters)
An opening welcome to set the stage for an inspiring day focused on community, resilience, and whole-person health.

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
The Heart of Health: Cultivating Love, Compassion, and Happiness
Dr. Sean Wharton & Dr. Gillian Mandich
In this uplifting opening session, Dr. Sean Wharton and Dr. Gillian Mandich will explore how self-compassion, happiness, and purpose-driven living shape our ability to thrive and heal. Discover how nurturing these inner resources can form the true foundation of lasting health.

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Life in Balance: Hormones, Health, and Hope
To be confirmed
From PCOS and fertility to sexual health and menopause, this session unpacks hormonal health through every life stage — with evidence-based strategies for navigating it with confidence and care.

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Morning Break

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
The Missing Link: How Connection Heals Mind and Body
Dr. Peter Selby
In an age of rising stress, loneliness, and disconnection, the toll on our physical health is undeniable. In this thought-provoking session, Dr. Peter Selby reveals how social bonds, emotional safety, and a sense of belonging directly influence our biology — and why restoring connection may be one of the most powerful and overlooked interventions in modern healthcare.

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Reframing Body Image
Dr. Sandy Van & Sandra Elia
This session challenges image-driven health goals and explores why personalized, stigma-free care matters. We’ll discuss how to set realistic expectations and why effective obesity treatment must go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach — addressing the whole person, not just the scale.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch

1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
Changing Systems, One Story at a Time (Fireside chat)
Obesity Matters Advocates
Through raw, honest storytelling, this powerful panel explores how lived experience can shape policy, challenge stigma, and drive system-wide transformation in health.

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Your Voice in Action: Shaping the Future Together (Audience Participation)
Join us for a lively, celebrity-inspired group challenge where attendees take the mic to pitch bold, creative wellness ideas — with prizes, judges, and all the fun of a reality show with real-world impact!

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Afternoon Break

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Rewriting the Playbook: AI-Driven Strategies for Personalized Obesity Care
Dr. David Macklin
Discover how AI, genetics, and data are transforming obesity care. Dr. David Macklin explores how precision tools can help tailor treatment, improve outcomes, and move beyond trial-and-error in clinical practice.

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Final Words and Meeting Conclusion
Priti Chawla
Closing reflections and a look ahead toward building a healthier future — together.

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Reception

Spots are limited — register today!

In-person: On Eventbrite

Virtual: On Zoom

Discover how we can build a healthier future — together!