Over the past year, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has made significant strides upholding our fundamental commitment to providing equitable health care by introducing the Black Health stream within the Office of Inclusion and Social Accountability. The Office of Black Health is helping us to address critical health disparities and enhance access to quality care for the Black community.
Led by Cathy Wood, Senior Director of Black Health, the team engages with Team LHSC, patients, and community members to build trust and address barriers faced by Black individuals in the health-care system.
Cathy Wood, Senior Director of Black Health
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead LHSC into the future of Black Health," Wood shared. "We have much work to do to address the inequities and disparities faced by Black individuals in the health-care system, and I am confident that we can achieve this transformational work through close collaboration with community organizations, patients, staff and members of the diverse Black communities we serve."
The Office of Black Health acts as a catalyst in our efforts to identify and dismantle the many barriers that have historically prevented members of the Black community from accessing health services. The department's education and consultation services have been instrumental in supporting hospital leaders, physicians, and staff to build capacity in providing care that is culturally relevant and sensitive to the needs of Black patients.
Education has been an important step forward.
In February 2023, LHSC launched a new e-learning module for all team members titled "Introduction to Anti-Black Racism." This training was developed by Women's College Hospital and Dr. Notisha Massaquoi, in partnership with the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network and Ontario Health - Toronto Region.
The Black Health team at LHSC customized the content of this learning module to best suit the needs of Team LHSC and was supported by the Learning and Development department to implement the training. All executive leaders and Board members were also required to complete the e-learning module.
Top (from left): Hilreth Jackson, Registered Nurse, and Destiny Gardiner, Recruitment and Compensation Specialist. Bottom (from left): Dr. Jedrin Ngungu, Medical Director of Psychiatry for the Psychiatry Liaison Consultation Service, and Naomi Esume, Registered Nurse.
Celebrating Black members of Team LHSC has also been an important way to recognize the contributions of Black staff, physicians, dentists, midwives, researchers, learners and volunteers to our health-care system.
For the first time, during Black History Month in February, LHSC highlighted the personal journeys and reflections of four Black members of Team LHSC. Their stories showcased the challenges, contributions, and triumphs of Black individuals in the health-care sector.
"By sharing these personal stories, LHSC is taking an active approach to dispel stereotypes, challenge biases, and create greater understanding among our colleagues and community," said Wood.
In February 2024, we were proud to join children's hospitals from across the province in renaming a cardiac procedure to honour the groundbreaking contributions of Black surgical pioneer Vivien Thomas. To recognize the indispensable role he played in the development of a paediatric cardiac surgery, the previously titled Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt was officially renamed the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig (BTT) shunt at all five Ontario children's hospitals.
The BTT shunt is a lifesaving surgical procedure performed on babies with heart defects that affect blood flow to the lungs. While the procedure is not performed at Children's Hospital at LHSC, the new name of the procedure is now reflected in LHSC's documentation systems.
"Alongside our provincial partners, Children's Hospital at LHSC was proud to support the renaming of the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunt," said Nash Syed, President of Children's Hospital at LHSC. "This important renaming helped ensure that Vivien Thomas receives the recognition he deserves for his contributions to the medical field."
Within the health-care system, Black individuals continue to face many inequities and encounter systemic, attitudinal and racial barriers when receiving care and building careers. LHSC remains committed to dismantling systems of oppression, discrimination, racism, and bias so that future generations of Black Canadians will not be faced with the same inequities and disparities their ancestors have had to endure.
Through the Office of Inclusion and Social Accountability, the Black Health team is continuing to engage with community organizations, patients, staff, physicians, dentists, midwives, and members of the diverse Black communities we serve. These valuable relationships will help us learn more about the experiences of Black individuals at LHSC and ensure that we are responsive to their needs.