Taking Initiative in Addressing Diversity in Medicine

Saddler, Nelson; Adams, Seana; Robinson, Lisa A.; Okafor, Ike

The existence of systemic racism in Canadian healthcare, among other determinants including accessible education, available occupation, and affordable housing, contributes to the racial divide in treatment and poor health outcomes for Black communities. Recent promising work has demonstrated patient-physician racial concordance in populations of colour as a potential area of focus for addressing health inequities for diverse communities. The impact of shared cultural experiences and cultural competency leads to mutual respect, trust, and improved communication between patients and physicians guiding their care. This approach is dependent on the availability of physicians of colour and similarly other healthcare providers. The Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto has attempted to address the deficit in its own community through a two-pronged approach: mentorship through the Community of Support (COS) and the Summer Mentorship Program (SMP), and the implementation of the Black Student Application Program (BSAP). These initiatives have significantly increased Black medical student representation and continue to have considerable impact on Black communities in the surrounding area. Through partnerships with community organizations that support the ethos of these programs, the vision of a more culturally diverse physician workforce in Canada has been reinforced. The adoption of similar programs across Canadian medical schools can lead to better representation within medicine and help contribute to a necessary culture shift within the ranks of medical institutions. These are critical steps in laying the foundation for a medical education grounded in equity, excellence, and strength in diversity, and a healthcare system that truly provides patient-centred care.