Events in recent months have highlighted the pressing need to acknowledge and correct long-standing racism in Canada. Excellent and equitable healthcare for all depends on embracing diversity and promoting cultural safety. We must face up to our systemic social challenges by understanding their origins, gaining cultural literacy, and committing to improving conditions in our communities and healthcare systems.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session the participant will be able to:
Acknowledge racism as a systemic social problem in Canada that leads to health inequities for Indigenous People.
Recognize ingrained and acquired biases that contribute to racism in our communities and healthcare systems.
Identify strategies to oppose racism and improve the quality of and access to healthcare for all.
Develop a personal plan to act as an effective and supportive ally for Indigenous Peoples.
Jessica Danquah completed a Bachelor of Science in the Physician Assistant (PA) Education Program at McMaster University. Since graduation, she has worked at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, managing the care of acutely ill cancer patients. Alongside her clinical practice, she serves as the PA Lead for her department and is the PA representative for both the Wellness and Caregiver Advisory committees at Princess Margaret.
Prior to her work as a Physician Assistant, she completed a Masters of Public Health at the University of Queensland in Australia, specializing in Infectious Diseases. Upon completion of her degree, she returned to Canada; her continued interest in the area of infectious disease prevention lead to research work with the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centres. Her work focused on HIV prevention in vulnerable female populations. Her public health interests expanded to an international level, and she followed this by working with the Canadian International Development Agency and Youth Challenge international, helping to implement a health education initiative for the prevention of HIV/AIDs in Ghana, West Africa. Additionally, she has worked in the area of cancer genetics research at Women’s College Hospital, tying together her academic and research interests in the areas of oncology and infectious disease.
Jessica has a strong interest in the management of complex care in immunocompromised patients and in the future, hopes to develop interventions aimed at improving access to care and health outcomes in vulnerable at risk populations.
Sarah Flanagan is a Canadian Certified Physician Assistant, practicing in the areas of primary care and general obstetrics. She works at Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre in Kitchener, Ontario, where she leads the Prenatal & Postpartum Care Program. She is a graduate of the PA Consortium, Class of 2016. Prior to pursuing a career as a physician assistant, Sarah completed graduate studies in medical anthropology, undertaking field work examining the political ecology of health in isolated Guaraní communities in Paraguay. She also worked for several years as a research and clinical assistant in optometry. Sarah enjoys working with a culturally and ethnically diverse refugee patient population, addressing social determinants of health while helping newcomer families welcome their first Canadian babies and lay down roots in their new home country. Outside of clinic hours, Sarah enjoys spending time with family, travelling & learning new languages, and attempting to teach her husband and seven-month-old daughter medical Arabic.
Dr. Courtney Campbell Leary is an Indigenous family physician in her home community of Norway House, Manitoba and is also a member of the Norway House Cree Nation. Dr. Leary attended the University of Manitoba after graduating from Norway House High School & Warren Collegiate Institute where she obtained a Bachelor of Science 4 year major in Microbiology and minor in Psychology. She then attended and graduated from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine in 2008 and pursued post-graduate training in Family Medicine. Dr. Leary also attended and graduated from the University of Manitoba CCFP-Emergency Medicine post graduate training. She practiced emergency medicine at the Thompson General Hospital and in 2014, Dr. Leary became employed by Ongomiizwin Health Services (formerly J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit) in her home community of Norway House. She is the medical education lead for the Norway House family medicine training site for the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. She has also developed a program to introduce Traditional Indigenous Healing practices into the curriculum for medical learners who visit Norway House. Dr. Leary’s goal is to showcase the diverse experiences and resiliency of the Indigenous population in her home community and to encourage other young Indigenous scholars to pursue careers in the health care fields. Dr. Leary is also the Chief of Staff of the Norway House Hospital and the Senior Medical Advisor to Norway House Cree Nation.