In 1861, Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbot made history as the first Black Canadian-born doctor to graduate from the Toronto School of Medicine, an institute that preceded the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. His supervisor, Dr. Alexander Thomas Augusta, was U of T’s first Black medical student, graduating with a bachelor of medicine degree in 1856 from Trinity College.
In 1995, Black History Month in Canada began, thanks to the efforts of Rosemary Sadlier, president of the Ontario Black History Society, and Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to federal Parliament.
The Faculty recognizes the need for continuous critical dialogue from all levels of our institutions to address unacceptable forms of discrimination, recognizing its adverse effects on the wellness of Black learners, staff, faculty, and patients.
It also means acknowledging that structural racism within medicine still exists today.
Anti-Black racism continues to persist within health systems, and the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded its harmful effects on Black Canadians.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario created the Black Health Vaccine Initiative.
Temerty Medicine faculty members have helped lead this initiative, which has aimed to increase vaccination rates to address gaps in COVID-19 health outcomes for Black Canadians.
The Faculty’s upcoming Anti-Black Racism in Medical Education report will provide an overview of work done at Temerty Medicine to combat anti-Black racism so far.
The information shared within the report will acknowledge steps made, and will reiterate the commitments Temerty Medicine is making to improve the experience of Black community members.
We encourage all members of the Faculty to reflect on how they can eradicate forms of anti-Black racism.
Please reflect on what your active role is in the process.
