Message from Saroo Sharda, Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion

As Pride month draws to a close, it is important that we remember that 2SLGBTQ+ rights and safety are something we must reflect upon on all year round.

We are very grateful to Dr. Albina Veltman, associate chair of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigenous Reconciliation (EDI & IR) and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, for this article outlining how we can promote positive and affirming cultures and spaces.

Nurse and founder of the Inclusive Care Project, Ellie Reyes’ talk to our Faculty on redefining care for 2SLGBTQ+ communities also offered us pause to reflect and learn about actioning allyship and inclusion for 2SLGBTQ+ patients and colleagues. I am grateful to all who attended and asked insightful questions.

Lastly, I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Jordan Goodridge, a family physician specializing in 2SLGBTQIA+ health and HIV care, about creating inclusive spaces, continuous learning to better support all patients and individualizing care for better health outcomes. If you would like to learn more, please access the episode.

The Faculty of Health Sciences is committed to an inclusive and safe environment for all our learners, staff and faculty members and we recognize it is the responsibility of each one of us to create and uphold these spaces.

Saroo Sharda

Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion
Faculty of Health Sciences