In the first of a planned series, PharmaBrands will bring together stakeholders from across the ecosystem to explore how rare disease teams can deliver more relevant, personalized engagement across increasingly complex patient and stakeholder journeys in 2026.
Please note: This event is for professionals employed by pharma, biotech, medtech, healthcare, or advocacy, who are working to improve outcomes in rare disease.
Special thanks to the event partner:
Samantha is a passionate believer in creating positive patient experiences by improving systems, tools and processes. She has proven commercial success through her ability to achieve sales objectives, launch new products, develop marketing materials, create and execute on team goals and communicate effectively throughout her career. The roles she has taken on span government, pharmaceutical, academia and biotechnology with the majority of her career in biotech/diagnostic sales and is currently a pharmaceutical marketer for rare conditions.
Pavel holds a Master of Science in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto, where he specialized in clinical breast cancer research. He began his pharmaceutical career at Boehringer Ingelheim as a Specialty Sales Representative, promoting therapies across cardiology, respirology, and endocrinology, before moving into oncology as an Oncology Therapeutic Specialist. He later joined AstraZeneca as an Oncology Sales Specialist in lung cancer, before becoming Oncology Capability Development Manager, supporting the development of lung and immuno-oncology sales teams. Pavel then moved to Astellas Pharma as Marketing Manager for the prostate cancer portfolio, leading strategic initiatives to support market growth and brand performance.
Most recently, Pavel joined Celltrion Healthcare, where he leads a national sales team focused on expanding access to biosimilar therapies in gastroenterology and rheumatology.
Muhammad Mamdani is Clinical Lead, AI at Ontario Health, Faculty Affiliate at the Vector Institute, Professor at the University of Toronto, and Director of the Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine. He is also Vice President of Data Science and Advanced Analytics at Unity Health Toronto, where his team connects machine learning and advanced analytics with clinical and management decision-making to improve patient outcomes and hospital efficiency. His work has supported the development and deployment of more than 50 AI solutions in clinical practice. Dr. Mamdani’s research spans pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, drug policy, and the use of advanced analytics in healthcare decision-making. He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed studies, with research appearing in leading journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, JAMA, BMJ, and Annals of Internal Medicine.
Steve Walters is a pharmaceutical commercial intelligence leader with over 12 years of experience spanning industry and entrepreneurship. He spent much of his career at Pfizer in a commercial roles, contributing to the launch of seven drugs across multiple therapeutic areas.
In 2025, he founded Inpharmativ Consulting to help small and mid-sized biotech and pharma companies make smarter commercial decisions through KOL mapping, physician targeting, competitive intelligence, and AI/LLM brand visibility audits. Steve also brings a rare perspective as a rare disease patient, writing for IG Living Magazine, publishing The Zebra Pulse newsletter, and contributing to CORD and Immunity Canada.
Karen is a senior commercial leader with over 20 years of experience driving commercial success across oncology and rare diseases. As Business Unit Head, Rare Diseases at Medison Pharma Canada, she leads a cross-functional team focused on delivering innovative therapies to patients across Canada.
She has a strong track record of building and scaling specialty care businesses, leading complex product launches, and achieving sustained growth in competitive healthcare environments. With experience spanning both Canadian and global markets, Karen brings a strategic, patient-centered approach and is passionate about advancing access and improving outcomes for individuals living with rare diseases in Canada.
Autumn Gehring is VP, Client Partner at ChangeMakers Health, where she helps pharmaceutical and healthcare leaders translate insight into bold, compliant strategies that create meaningful impact. With more than two decades of life sciences and healthcare experience across global markets, she is passionate about using strategy, creativity, collaboration, and emerging technologies like AI to build more trusted, human-centred healthcare engagement.
In Canada, the rare disease journey has too often been marked by uncertainty and delay, but it is being transformed by more accessible insights, faster action, and renewed hope for every patient. I will share a vision on what the future of Rare Disease care could look like.
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Case study on how AI is transforming patient identification and engagement in Canada, and what that means for more timely, targeted rare disease support.
As system pressures rise and patient needs become more individual, stronger collaboration across rare disease stakeholders is essential to improving outcomes. Explore what effective partnerships look like and leave with practical actions to build them.
Hear from leaders on how rare disease support must evolve to become more useful, connected and responsive to real patient and HCP needs in the age of AI and connected health.
This event is for professionals employed by pharma, biotech, medtech, healthcare providers, and advocacy who are working to improve outcomes in rare disease in Canada.
Enjoy stunning views across downtown Toronto from the ChangeMakers Health office.
