Written by Aaron Andrews, Carmen Duimering, and Megan Matlock Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences students at Western University
Working on this CEL project as a team was an incredibly rewarding experience. From the very beginning, we leaned on each other’s strengths and found that our diverse perspectives helped us navigate the complexity of our task: building an accessible training module for sociodemographic (SD) data collection. Whether it was collaborating on the script, troubleshooting design challenges, or refining our language to be more inclusive, we constantly checked in with one another, offered feedback, and kept the end-users—frontline service providers—at the center of our decisions.
A huge part of our learning came through working closely with our community partner, Christine from CRHESI. She brought invaluable insight from her experience on the ground, reminding us to stay rooted in the lived realities of service providers and the communities they serve. Her thoughtful feedback pushed us to think critically about clarity, tone, and accessibility in a way we wouldn’t have been able to achieve on our own. Christine wasn’t just a collaborator—she was a guide, helping us align our academic goals with community needs.
What stood out most was how much we learned by doing. This wasn’t just about completing a project—it was about learning how to communicate clearly, balance accountability with compassion, and make meaningful decisions as a group. We often found ourselves reflecting on how nuanced SD data collection really is—not just from a systems level, but also from a human one. We learned to think more critically about accessibility, representation, and the real-world application of equity-based tools.
In the end, the process shaped us just as much as the final deliverable. We’re proud of what we created, but even more so of how we grew as teammates, listeners, and advocates for equity in health and social systems.
Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Healthcare: A Step Toward Equity in London, Ontario
Written by Mina Yu, CRHESI Student Collective, Community Engaged Learning placement, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Western University
Systemic racism in healthcare continues to be a significant issue affecting Black communities across Canada. Reports from the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) and Ontario Health highlight the poorer health outcomes experienced by Black individuals due to systemic barriers, racial stigma, and socioeconomic disparities (MLHU, 2023). In London, ON, several healthcare and other health system partners have committed to increasing their understanding of the realities of anti-Black racism, and to take action to make positive change. Some organizations have gathered significant community feedback and have put structures in place to ensure work is guided by individuals from the diverse Black community. Multi-pronged, sustained efforts are needed to confront systemic racism, implicit bias, and structural barriers, increase access to safe and inclusive care, and reduce health inequities experienced by individuals and families from diverse African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities. Health system organizations are working to foster community engagement, increase education, and drive policy changes to create a more equitable and inclusive health system. In recognition that collective efforts are often more effective than working alone, organizations are working together more and more, with several joint initiatives underway. This blog highlights insights shared by Cathy Wood, the Black Health Lead at the London Health Sciences Centre.
Insights from Cathy, Black Health Lead at LHSC
To gain deeper insight into the work happening at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), an interview was conducted with Cathy Wood, the Black Health Lead at LHSC. She and her team are dedicated to improving healthcare experiences and outcomes for Black patients by building trust, forming partnerships, and implementing long-term strategies for systemic change. Cathy emphasized the importance of both qualitative and quantitative measures in evaluating progress. Key indicators include increased awareness among healthcare professionals about Black health disparities, greater confidence among Black patients in advocating for their healthcare needs, a rise in Black individuals seeking healthcare services and employment in the sector, and the creation of safe environments where Black patients and staff feel empowered to express concerns. One significant measure of change is the ability of healthcare professionals to create safe and inclusive spaces for and interactions with patients, family members, and coworkers who are from diverse ACB communities. Equipping healthcare professionals with knowledge, language, and attitudes to prevent harm is essential. Providing the necessary tools to facilitate learning and encouraging open dialogue enables healthcare workers to begin their journey toward understanding and addressing racial inequities. Despite some initial progress at LHSC, several systemic challenges remain. Cathy identified resource constraints and restructuring within large healthcare organizations as factors that slow progress. Additionally, Cathy explained how implicit bias and discrimination continue to impact patient care. Black patients often receive less attention from healthcare providers: nurses and physicians may spend less time with patients, limiting opportunities for relationship-building and a holistic understanding of the patient’s needs. Furthermore, racialized individuals frequently encounter less leniency and patience in healthcare settings. Black professionals in healthcare also report social and workplace exclusion, including microaggressions, cultural misunderstandings, and a lack of belonging, contributing to high turnover rates; as Cathy mentioned, “up to 40% of internationally educated healthcare staff don’t stay for long”.
LHSC’s Approach to Culturally Safer Care
To combat these challenges, the LHSC Black Health Team has implemented several strategies. This includes the development / adaptation of an anti-racism training module for healthcare professionals, partnerships with organizations such as St. Joseph’s Health Care, MLHU, Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion (CRHESI) to expand outreach efforts[CW1] . Lastly, Cathy has played a key role in direct community engagement through local events and collaborations with Black-led or Black-serving organizations, such as the London Black Health and Wellness Fair held on March 29, 2025. “Meeting the community where they are” is a key strategy in ensuring meaningful engagement. Cathy prioritizes direct outreach by connecting with community leaders, influencers within the Black community, and trusted individuals who can help spread awareness and build trust. “This is not a 9-5 job,” as efforts to reach the community extend beyond typical work hours, and engagement happens at galas, festivals, and local events where people naturally gather. The Black Health Team also provides valuable information on healthcare experiences, employment, and volunteer opportunities at LHSC, bridging the gap between the Black community and healthcare resources. This proactive approach ensures that individuals gain access to opportunities they may not have previously known about, establishing greater inclusion and representation in healthcare spaces.
Future of Black Health Equity
The work at LHSC aligns with broader anti-racism efforts, including the City of London’s 2025-2029 Anti-Black Racism Action Plan, which presents 61 recommendations for external organizations, including healthcare institutions (City of London). Similarly, the MLHU’s Anti-Black Racism Plan (ABRP) outlines 45 recommendations for eliminating racial disparities in public health services (MLHU). Collective efforts are underway to prepare for an upcoming event in June 2025 that will create an opportunity for key healthcare leaders and over 100 individuals from diverse ACB communities to dialogue about action-oriented and community-led solutions. The event will focus on information sharing to update the community on ongoing anti-Black racism initiatives, amplifying lived experiences to enhance understanding, facilitating dialogue between healthcare providers and the Black community, and developing an action plan with measurable goals and accountability frameworks for healthcare institutions. Addressing anti-Black racism in healthcare requires more than just acknowledging disparities; it necessitates dismantling systemic barriers and implementing sustainable changes to provide optimal healthcare to all.
Acknowledgment
A special thank you to Cathy for her invaluable insights and dedication to advancing Black health equity. Her leadership and commitment to making meaningful change continue to inspire and drive progress in the work to eradicate anti-Black racism in healthcare.
Help Shape the Future of Anti-Hate Efforts in London
Six months ago, the City of London launched the Stop TolerHating campaign — a bold initiative to raise awareness about hate and discrimination, promote allyship, and equip bystanders with tools to respond to hate. The campaign has been supported by many community-based organizations, including the Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion (CRHESI).
Now, we need your help.
In partnership with Senomi Solutions, the City is conducting an evaluation to understand how the campaign is resonating with the public and where improvements can be made. Led by Dr. Nicole Kaniki, this process aims to gather feedback on messaging, accessibility, impact, and future directions.
We invite you to share your thoughts by completing this short survey:
Complete the Survey
Your input will directly inform how the City and its partners shape future anti-hate efforts and ensure that community voices guide meaningful change.
Please share the survey with colleagues, friends, and others in your network. Every voice matters.
For questions about the evaluation, contact Dr. Nicole Kaniki at nicole.kaniki@senomisolutions.com.
Let’s work together to build a city that actively rejects hate and uplifts equity-denied communities.
Advancing Equity in Healthcare Education with the Western Libraries OER Mini-Grant
Authorship:
McKeown, A., Kaltabanis, D., Treesh, R.H., Modanloo, S.
Case studies are an integral tool in healthcare education, providing students with realistic patient scenarios that help them develop clinical reasoning, decision-making skills, and the ability to safely care for patients. Using authentic examples in healthcare education allows future healthcare professionals to engage with diverse medical conditions and social contexts in a simulated learning environment prior to encountering real patients. Unfortunately, the case studies used in healthcare education often fail to represent the full diversity of patients, reinforcing stereotypes, tokenizing equity-deserving groups, and perpetuating oppressive practices through curriculum.
Lack of diverse representation in healthcare case studies carries significant consequences. When healthcare professionals are trained using case studies that feature only white men, for instance, they become ill-prepared to understand and address the needs of women and people of colour, not to mention those of Indigenous Peoples or people with varied gender and sexual identities. Leaving out diverse perspectives and lived experiences in educational materials contributes to gaps in care, cultural misunderstandings, and inequities in health outcomes.
Our project addresses this issue by developing case studies that accurately represent people and groups in all their diversities, helping future healthcare providers learn to offer respectful and culturally safe care. This work is informed by the principles of our Decolonization, Anti-Racism, and Anti-Oppression (DARAO) Committee within the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, where our efforts to challenge structural inequities in education directly influence the development of our inclusive and culturally responsive case studies. Culturally safe care means that patients feel respected, valued, and free from discrimination in their healthcare experience. This shift is critical in fostering more inclusive and equitable healthcare teaching, learning, and practice spaces. Learning from cases that represent diversity will also give students opportunities to practice cultural humility, which in many ways underpins equity-promoting approaches in healthcare.
We are honoured to have received a Western Libraries Open Education Resource Mini-Grant for this work. This grant will be instrumental in the development of a resource aimed at assisting healthcare educators in creating inclusive case studies. The primary focus of this initiative is to ensure the accurate representation of individuals’ lived experiences in Canadian healthcare so that case studies authentically reflect real-world conditions. To do this, we will collaborate with individuals with lived experience, scholars, and community advocates to co-create content that accurately reflects the realities of equity-deserving and underrepresented communities in Canada. To ensure its success, we will seek support from community organizations, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders who share our commitment to equity and inclusion. Their involvement in reviewing our materials, offering feedback, and promoting the resource will be instrumental in ensuring that the project achieves its full potential.
The resource will use various formats, including text-based, video, and arts-based storytelling, to promote diverse forms of knowledge and honour diverse perspectives. The second phase will focus on providing healthcare educators with a practical guide for creating inclusive case studies that avoid stereotypes and oversimplifications while reflecting a range of real-world patient experiences.
We are excited to be at the forefront of a groundbreaking initiative. By collaborating with individuals with lived experience, we are creating a resource for healthcare educators that integrates these diverse lived perspectives into case studies. This collaboration brings much-needed authenticity and depth to healthcare education and challenges traditional frameworks to ensure that all voices are heard and represented. We are excited to introduce this innovative approach to the development of clinical case studies, offering educators a resource that reflects the true diversity of patient experience in Canadian healthcare spaces.
We are confident that this project will help to create a more inclusive curriculum that addresses health equity when training future healthcare professionals. This initiative aligns with Western Libraries’ Knowledge Justice Curriculum, as we are developing resources that ensure inclusivity and representation in healthcare education. It also supports the mission of Western’s Decolonization, Anti-Racism, and Anti-Oppression (DARAO) Committee by reinforcing our shared commitment to fostering equity and justice in healthcare education. We thank the Western Libraries for this grant, as it enables us to take a significant step toward transforming healthcare education into a more inclusive, representative, and equitable space.
CRHESI at Engage Western 2025: Showcasing Equity, Health, and Community Impact
The Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion (CRHESI) was proud to participate in Engage Western 2025, Western University’s annual celebration of community-university partnerships. Held at London’s RBC Convention Centre, Engage Western brought together more than 50 community organizations, Western leaders and researchers, and students to showcase projects that strengthen communities, drive innovation, and create meaningful social change.
This year’s event emphasized the power of collaboration between universities and community partners. In their opening remarks, London Mayor Josh Morgan highlighted the importance of working alongside academic institutions to address pressing community challenges, including housing, healthcare access, and social inclusion. Western University President Alan Shepard emphasized that universities have a responsibility to engage beyond campus boundaries, using knowledge, research, and innovation to contribute to positive change across the region. The energy in the room reflected a shared commitment to equity, impact, and collective action.
CRHESI hosted an interactive booth at the event, offering visitors a deeper look into several ongoing projects. A key highlight was the launch of CRHESI’s new online learning module, “What Gets Counted, Counts: Safely Collecting Sociodemographic Data to Drive Equitable Change.” Developed in collaboration with interdisciplinary medical sciences students, this module equips organizations with tools to safely and ethically collect sociodemographic data. It aims to foster equity-informed decision-making by helping service providers understand the importance of asking identity-related questions in ways that respect dignity, build trust, and improve services. The module was officially launched at Engage Western and is now publicly accessible through CRHESI’s website.
In addition to the module launch, CRHESI showcased its leadership in three other critical areas of work. First, through its Health & Homelessness Research and Evaluation Initiative, CRHESI contributes to understanding the needs of unhoused populations in London and evaluating community responses. By developing frameworks that bridge academic research with frontline knowledge, CRHESI supports data-driven improvements to health and housing services, helping to guide the evaluation of the London’s Whole of Community Response to Health and Homelessness.
We also presented our contributions to the City of London’s Stop TolerHating campaign, a city-wide initiative to address and prevent hate and its impacts. CRHESI’s work in this space includes creating educational tools, supporting public awareness campaigns, and hosting critical conversations that challenge racism and promote inclusive communities, especially as related to health care experiences. By partnering with the City, CRHESI is helping drive systemic change toward a safer, more welcoming London.
CRHESI’s Newcomer Clinic Evaluation, which partners with London InterCommunity Health Centre and the Cross Cultural Learners Centre, highlights efforts to examine access to health care for government-assisted refugees in London. Through storytelling, interviews, and journey mapping, the evaluation captures newcomers’ experiences accessing culturally safe and trauma- and violence-informed health and settlement supports. This work is helping build and sustain more responsive, integrated care models for newcomers in the city.
Speaking about CRHESI’s presence at Engage Western, CRHESI Academic Co-Director Nadine Wathen said “CRHESI is already well-known in the community; in many ways, an event like this allows us to show our campus colleagues how Western’s research and knowledge mobilization efforts can benefit all of London.” Similarly, Heather Lokko, CRHESI Community Co-Director emphasized the importance of connecting community-engaged research, regardless of topic, to practical action for equity and inclusion.
Through initiatives like these, CRHESI continues to bridge the gap between research and community needs. Its presence at Engage Western 2025 demonstrated the powerful role that academic-community partnerships play in creating a healthier, more inclusive, and more equitable London.
For more information about CRHESI’s work, visit: crhesi.uwo.ca