At the Max Rady College of Medicine, we are committed to creating a climate that is equitable, diverse and free of racism. Over the past several months, we have taken important steps to address racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. These initiatives build on the work the college has already undertaken.
In 2020, the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences became the first faculty or post-secondary institution in Canada to pass a “Disruption of all Forms of Racism” policy. It sets the framework for a safe and welcoming learning and work environment, equity of opportunity, and fair treatment for all.
The actions outlined below reflect our ongoing dedication to listening, learning and taking steps to effect change. By promoting dialogue, expanding mentorship opportunities, and developing new educational programs, we are equipping our faculty, staff and learners to confront all forms of racism and shape a more inclusive future for health care.
1) Listening Circles – In June, the Max Rady College of Medicine held Listening Circles with independent, third-party expert facilitators. The initial round of six Listening Circles was a first step in sharing information to promote learning and growth, build trust between diverse communities and administration, and provide support for leaders when tensions are high.
All medical students, residents, faculty and staff were invited to participate. Recognizing power imbalances, organizers offered a range of sessions aimed at distinct groups such as students/residents or faculty/staff who identify as Jewish, Muslim or neither.
The affinity circles were meant to create “a psychologically brave space for those who may be feeling grief, anger and pain over current and past events.”
2) Diverse Physician Mentorship Program – The Max Rady College of Medicine recently launched a new diverse physician mentorship program. To start, six physician mentors will provide identity-based mentorship to the diverse medical student body. The new roles are: Black physician mentor, disabled physician mentor, Filipino physician mentor, Jewish physician mentor, Muslim physician mentor and 2SLGBTQIA+ physician mentor.
3) Lecture Series on Antisemitism – The Max Rady College of Medicine has invited Dr. Catherine Chatterley, renowned historian and founding director of the Canadian Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, to lead a lecture series on antisemitism to faculty and staff in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. The sessions will delve into the phenomenon of antisemitism, exploring its definitions, historical roots and contemporary implications.
4) Grand Rounds and Workshop Series on Islamophobia and digital hate – In January, Foundations for a Path Forward, an anti-racist and solutions-focused resilience building non-profit organization based in British Columbia, will give a one hour Grand Rounds-type of presentation and two half-day workshops on Islamophobia and digital hate.
5) Anti-racism education for medical learners – The Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) is developing an anti-racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate speech curriculum for all UM medical learners to foster a more inclusive and compassionate learning and practice environment. Multiple stakeholders have been engaged to create a robust and meaningful curriculum.
Currently, one hour has been developed on antisemitism, and one hour on Islamophobia, including actions in Manitoba and Canada, for all first-year learners. This is followed by another hour specifically on online hate speech and how to combat it. Speakers for these sessions are external to UM with international reputations on combatting hate speech.
In second year, another three hours are under development that deal with professional identity, advocacy and hate speech, including how to actively address hate speech, and how online behaviour can result in failure to meet professional standards of practice. This will roll out in 2025.
The third-year curriculum will focus on applying anti-racism strategies in the workplace. UGME hopes to address this with an interprofessional education focus involving other health profession learners. This two-hour session is still under development and will roll out in 2026.
6) The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ Offices of Anti-Racism and Equity, Access and Participation have been leading the anti-racism and social justice work in our faculty, and provide educational resources and opportunities such as the anti-racism learning module and anti-racism social justice toolkit.
Dr. Peter Nickerson
Vice-provost (health sciences)
Dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Dean, Max Rady College of Medicine