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Description There is a need for structured collaborations that embed human factors (HF) principles directly into healthcare delivery systems to improve outcomes. The University of Toronto’s Centre for Healthcare Engineering (CHE) and William Osler Health System (Osler) launched Ontario’s first Academic Practice Partnership (APP) focused on integrating HF into acute care settings to enhance patient safety, efficiency, and innovation.The APP involves three pillars:Education: Developing placement pathways for engineering studentsPractice: Integrating HF into patient safety and innovation initiativesResearch: Establishing new research opportunitiesEarly outcomes include: implementation of dedicated student placements in clinical environments, initiation of joint research projects addressing critical issues, and enhanced professional development opportunities for staff.Structured, interdisciplinary collaborations can effectively bridge the gap between HF theory and clinical practice. Key lessons include establishing clear frameworks for student engagement, fostering mutual understanding and respect in teams, and prioritizing translation of research findings.The APP serves as a model for integrating HF into healthcare, highlighting the potential for such partnerships to drive meaningful improvements in patient care, quality, and safety.