Racism

Breaking the cycle of racism and bias in health care

COVID-19 has laid bare racial disparities in health. Three medical professionals talk about the structural racism in health care they have seen during the pandemic – and what needs to be done to address it.

Why Peter Bryce’s legacy still matters today

Physician John O'Connor received an award honouring the legacy of Peter Bryce, a government doctor who sounded the alarm over the high death toll in residential schools. Who has the courage to be the next?

Recent stem cell transplant raises hope for sickle cell cure

A recent stem cell transplant has cured a man of sickle cell disease, raising hopes among patient advocates. However, they emphasize that, for now, improving care for most patients requires removing racist barriers in health care.

‘It’s hell for inmates in there’: COVID precautions in prisons are worsening mental health

COVID-19 precautions in prisons, such as extended lockdowns and reduced visits, are taking a serious toll on prisoners' mental health

Tackling racism in health care

Health-care institutions must reflect critically on whether they're ready to make the commitment necessary to do antiracist work by investing time and money to bring about systemic change. Anything less is performative.

Celebrating the richness of plural identities

A South Asian woman reflects on how "a coalition of young Brown women" and Black neighbours helped her grow into herself while studying for her master's of public health in Harlem.

‘Painful and difficult’: A BIPOC woman’s journey in medicine

Navigating the medical profession has been a painful and difficult journey. How far have we come in ensuring that women can thrive within the system?

Addressing racism in Indigenous health – Moving beyond systemic reassurance

Reassurances from different levels of governments create the illusion that systemic racism is being addressed despite the lack of tangible results.

Vaccine messaging must address grim history of race-based experiments

Pharmacare: A prescription for addressing racism we can actually fill

Social prescribing: The next step for equitable healthcare

Breath and Blood

Protests paving the way for racial justice in health care

Valuing life the only guarantee of a just system

Navigating systemic racism in Canadian healthcare

Toronto Board of Health recently voted to recognize anti-Black racism as a public health crisis, calling for policy support of Toronto’s racialized communities. This piece explores how what needs to be addressed is the ongoing climate of prejudice in Canada.

‘Defund the police, resource our communites:’ A call for structural change

Addressing systemic racism in healthcare

Protests and pandemics: Matters of life and death