The Future of Health for Black Canadians | February 14, 2022

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: The Future of Health for Black Canadians As has been brought to light in recent years, any system designed by one does not fit all.  Canada’s healthcare system is no exception.  Like many institutions, the Canadian healthcare system has been recognized for having failed our BIPOC communities in areas such as accessibility, culturally- adapted therapies and delivery methods, diagnosis, and quality of care (to name a few), creating devastating disparities along racial lines in the health outcomes for Canadian populations.   Indeed, The Commonwealth Fund’s 2021 report records this issue, ranking Canada 10th out of 11 high income developed nations in the area of healthcare ‘equity’. The disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on Canada’s Black communities, as well as risk of psychosis and likelihood of death from breast cancer further indicate a fractured healthcare system. There are many reasons as to why these gaps exist despite having a universal healthcare model, not the least of which includes a lack of representation and formal training for medical practitioners about racialized populations. The Empire Club invites you to join us as we hear from some of those trying to make a difference in the healthcare space for Black Canadians and eliminate the hurdles experienced by Black populations in receiving equitable quality of care. Our speakers have contributed to advancing health outcomes for Black individuals in a number of ways: from creating a culturally competent vaccine distribution clinic to support and educate Black Canadians, to founding initiatives designed to transform medical and health professional education. Moderator: Paul Bailey, Executive Director, Black Health Alliance Speakers: Sume Ndumbe-Eyoh, Director and Assistant Professor, Black Health Education Collaborative, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto Adaoma Patterson, President, Jamaican Canadian Association *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*