Read on Twitter
about why I - physician, woman, woman of colour, daughter, sister, mother, educator, antiracist, writer - decided to take a job with "the regulator".And more importantly why I need my BIPOC, LGBTQ2S & colleagues with disabilities, to get involved too.
Here goes...1/ https://twitter.com/annekwong/status/1271901103517466625
When the job of Medical Advisor, Anesthesiology, was advertised, a dear friend forwarded me the description and said, "You should apply for this!"
My initial reaction, "Ha, I'll never get this job!" I thought I was underqualified, too young, wrong gender, wrong race, etc etc 2/
My initial reaction, "Ha, I'll never get this job!" I thought I was underqualified, too young, wrong gender, wrong race, etc etc 2/
What I knew to be *actually* true of course, in the secure part of myself, is that I am actually *very* qualified AND could bring the perspective of a woman, a woman of colour, to the organization. The mandate of the regulator is to protect the public interest. The public we 3/
serve is diverse.The physicians in our membership are diverse.We know from literature across multiple contexts that if orgs aren't representative of the people they serve,they cannot successfully fulfill their mandate.
I continued with doubts right up until my final interview, 4/
I continued with doubts right up until my final interview, 4/
despite the advice of mentors swirling around in my head,about all the ways in which I was qualified for this job. But I perservered, and I spoke my truth at every turn. I have been both doctor and patient, both insider and outsider, both accepted and shunned, both celebrated 5/
and denegrated, in my career as a physician, an educator, an academic, an advocate, and in my roles as a caregiver - I was at my Dad's bedside in ICU every day during his fatal illness and I have a sibling with an #IntellectualDisability.
Guess what? The Leadership listened. 6/
Guess what? The Leadership listened. 6/
They saw and understood the value in all of that, as well as the value of having a fresh and different voice at the table. And they continue to listen as I bring forth the necessary but often uncomfortable conversations about looking at ourselves, and asking 7/
ourselves what we are actually *doing* as an organization to represent better the public we serve and our membership in terms of the make-up of our Council & Committees. What are we doing to face our own biases as individuals and our complicity as an organization?
Like any 8/
Like any 8/
organsiation, we are not perfect and we have MUCH work to do. However, in line with the strategic goals of committment to fostering a culture of continous improvement and openness to change, developing open and collaborative relationships, and purposely involving patients 9/
the public and physicians to inform College decisions, we are calling (and yes it is a small step - the first of many) for *diverse* applicants for Council elections in Districts 5 & 10
https://www.cpso.on.ca/About/Council/Council-Elections
District 5 - County of Simcoe, District Municipality of Muskoka 10/
https://www.cpso.on.ca/About/Council/Council-Elections
District 5 - County of Simcoe, District Municipality of Muskoka 10/
and Regional Municipalities of Durham, Peel and York
District 10 - Toronto.
Grateful to so many folks who recognise the need for diverse voices to be heard and valued including President @BrendaCopps, Drs Laredo, Whitmore, @dahets, @lauriecabanas and many more 11/
District 10 - Toronto.
Grateful to so many folks who recognise the need for diverse voices to be heard and valued including President @BrendaCopps, Drs Laredo, Whitmore, @dahets, @lauriecabanas and many more 11/
So, if you are a physician or a public member from one of these districts, please apply. We need your expertise, we need your lived experience. We need diversity and inclusivity more than ever. And we are committed to listening and to learning and to accepting that we have a 12/
LONG way to go. Tagging some folks who can amplify this and share with others
@RicharLisa @DrLisaRobinson @javeedsukhera @NaheedD @NankyRai @MalikaHSharma @RitikaGoelTO @AminaJabbar @UofTBMSA @blackdocscanada @IPACIndigenous @UofTMed_OID @EIOMcMaster 13/
@RicharLisa @DrLisaRobinson @javeedsukhera @NaheedD @NankyRai @MalikaHSharma @RitikaGoelTO @AminaJabbar @UofTBMSA @blackdocscanada @IPACIndigenous @UofTMed_OID @EIOMcMaster 13/
@TChanMD @MacAnesthesia @jaymcv @MMottiar @DeepaKattail @GuscottJesse @innov8doc @Docbode @healthinthehmmr @DocMCohen @tijih_uoft @WomenWhoLead_ @juveriazaheer @MIRI83973098 @SaleemRazack @MaryFernando_ @DrGurdeepParhar @S_Nouman_Ashraf @westernuCERI @thebpao @Kinnon_Ross 14/
