Avis Favaro will emcee ICAIR 2025, and Dr. Helen Papagiannis, Dr. Andrew Boozary and Dr. Chet Moritz will present
The International Conference on Aging, Innovation & Rehabilitation (ICAIR) has announced its lineup of keynote speakers for 2025. This year, the conference will feature three leading researchers who will cover a wide range of topics, including advancements in spinal stimulation, the use of artificial intelligence, and the importance of health equity. Renowned journalist Avis Favaro will serve as the event's emcee, facilitating discussions during the event at the Calu on May 1 and 2.
The presenters include:
Dr. Andrew Boozary
Dr. Andrew Boozary is a primary care physician, policy practitioner, researcher, and founding executive director of the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine at the University Health Network. His work at the intersection of health policy, social justice and equitable health-care delivery aims to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations.
Dr. Boozary is the youngest physician recipient of the Louise Lemieux-Charles Health System Leadership Award and was named one of the Toronto Star’s Vaccine Heroes and one of the most influential Torontonians in 2024 by Toronto Life.
Dr. Chet Moritz
Dr. Chet Moritz is an award-winning neural engineer, neuroscientist, physiologist, academic and researcher at the University of Washington. He is the Co-Director of the Center for Neurotechnology and director of the Restorative Technologies Laboratory, which develops neuroprosthetic technology to treat paralysis and other movement disorders.
He recently co-led a multi-site clinical trial of spinal stimulation to restore hand function for people with spinal cord injury, leading to FDA approval. He and his team are currently studying spinal stimulation to improve walking after spinal cord injury and for children with cerebral palsy, as well as optogenetic stimulation to guide neuroplasticity and recovery in the injured spinal cord of animals.
Dr. Helen Papagiannis
Dr. Helen Papagiannis is a globally recognized thought leader in immersive technologies, specializing in AI and spatial computing and their transformative impact on industries. She is a bestselling author of Augmented Human: How Technology is Shaping the New Reality; the founder of XR GOES POP, a consulting firm focused on experiential retail, luxury lifestyle, and popular culture; and she has spoken at such leading conferences as TEDx, SXSW, and AWE. Her TEDx talk is celebrated as one of the top 10 talks on augmented reality and gamified life.
Avis Favaro (emcee)
Avis Favaro is an acclaimed medical journalist with decades of experience uncovering and reporting health stories that matter to Canadians. Favaro was Canada’s longest-serving television Medical Correspondent with CTV News. She is currently a host of The CHIP, a podcast by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and is also a senior advisor with Santis Health. Favaro has been recognized with a multitude of awards, along with an honorary PhD from McMaster University.
She is also among the large cohort of aging Canadians, so this conference is – in her words – “a perfect fit!”