February 17th, 2027 | 1:00pm-3:00pm ET

While professional regulation exists to protect the public, research reveals that overly ‘hard’ and punitive approaches to addressing complaints and professional conduct can take a severe toll on practitioners' mental health and well-being. Compounded by post-pandemic workforce pressures, rapid technological advances like artificial intelligence, and a pressing need for equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism, regulators are being challenged to reassess traditional models. In response, "compassionate regulation" has emerged as a collaborative, human-centred alternative, yet its uptake and implementation in Canada remains largely unexplored. This session presents preliminary findings from a sequential mixed-methods study, including results from a national survey and qualitative interviews with Canadian regulators across provinces representing various professions. The session will explore how the concept of compassionate regulation has developed globally, and its current understanding, scope, application, and potential benefits within the Canadian regulatory landscape. 

Moderator:
Sophia Myles, University of Regina, CPE Board of Directors

Presenters:

Patrick Chiu

Dr. Patrick Chiu, PhD, RN, is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta, with experience across diverse settings, including clinical practice, government, nursing regulation, professional associations, and academia. His research focuses on generating evidence to transform how the health workforce is regulated, organized, and empowered. He has led several studies focused on professional regulation and nursing workforce development. He is a trusted advisor to system partners, providing strategic leadership on complex issues related to the health workforce, professional practice, regulatory frameworks, and association governance.

Geetanjali Sharma

Dr. Geetanjali Sharma, PhD, is a legal and public policy scholar specializing in health workforce governance, professional regulation, and evidence-informed policy. She currently holds research appointments at Athabasca University and the University of Alberta, where she works on federal projects examining licensure reforms for internationally educated nurses, regulatory performance frameworks, and compassionate regulation in Canada. Dr. Sharma holds a PhD in Public Policy from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge, UK and an undergraduate degree in law and humanities from India.