Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in Physiology
The Department of Physiology strives to be a diverse, equitable, and actively anti-racist department. It is our goal to welcome all of our students into an inclusive culture where everyone feels safe and supported to thrive.
We acknowledge that significant, ongoing work is required to combat the systemic barriers and discrimination faced by Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour, LGTBQ+ people, disabled people, and women in the sciences.
As part of this initiative, Physiology has an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee comprised of faculty, students, post docs and staff that oversees initiatives around anti-Black racism and other EDI-pertinent issues.
Since its inception, Physiology's EDI Committee has focused its efforts in two main areas:
1. Working toward equitable recruitment practices of both faculty and graduate students
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All faculty search committees must now have a representative from the EDI Committee present for the proceedings.
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Committee members have been instrumental in moving discussions forward on systemic change to graduate admissions practices in the basic sciences at Temerty Medicine.
2. Education for Physiology members
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To date, we have hosted three symposiums on Physiology & Black health. These have brought prominent Black scientists and thought leaders into our community, both from close to home and abroad. Each symposium has been met with excitement and enthusiasm from all attendees. Learn more about each symposium's speakers and focus below.
Our inaugural Symposium focused on exploring how the history of science and anti-Black racism intertwine; the present landscape for Black physiologists; and finally charting a more diverse, equitable future.
Black scholars spoke to cultural, historical, and contemporary perspectives on research, teaching, and health-related pursuits in the sciences. Their presence and perspectives sparked reflection, celebrated diverse points of view, and promoted critical thinking.
This Symposium was centered on representation as a key theme and featured flash talks by trainees.
Learn more!
Click on the resource links for further education and to get involved. Have a resource you’d like to see here? Get in touch!
RESOURCES
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Canadian Medical Association Journal double issue on Black health
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It’s Right In Front of You: Racism, medicine & the body’s largest organ by Cicely Belle Blain, Ripple of Change
- Amyloid PET Imaging in Self-Identified Non-Hispanic Black Participants of the Anti-Amyloid in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (A4) Study by Kacie Deters, Neurology
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Skin colour affects the accuracy of medical oxygen sensors Matthew D. Keller, Brandon Harrison-Smith et al, Nature
- Social Justice Requires Biocritical Inquiry by Terence Keel, Kalfou
- Divine Variations: How Christian Thought Became Racial Science by Terence Keel, Stanford University Press
- There is no ‘African American Physiology’: the fallacy of racial essentialism Jennifer Tsai et al, Journal of Internal Medicine
- A year in review: Are diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives fixing systemic barriers? by Angeline Dukes et al, Neuron
- Patching the leaks: Revitalizing and Reimagining the STEM Pipeline by AJ Hinton et al, Cell
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Laboratory: Strategies to Enhance Inclusive Laboratory Culture by AJ Hinton et al, Molecular Cell
- Collective action is needed to build a more just science system by Aisling Rayne et al, Nature Human Behaviour
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Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race series of podcasts from the Science History Institute.
➡️ An incredible resource for understanding the historical context of race and science and its lasting implications.
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Beyond diversity: building a culture of inclusion in science talk by Dr. Tracy Johnson
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Bridging the racial divide in society and academia talk by Dr. Manu Platt, presented by Medicine By Design’s Healthy & Inclusive Labs initiative
For Students:
Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Faculty of Medicine
Sexual & Gender Diversity Office
Office of Access & Outreach (OAO)
- The OAO runs many excellent programs dedicated to diversifying the STEM pipeline at Temerty and beyond, including the Research Application Support Initiative (RASI) for students belonging to their Community of Support.
- PI's who wish to participate in RASI can also take part in the Mentor 2 Mentor Capacity Building Initiative.
- Learners and others who wish to volunteer for OAO programming can sign up here.
For Faculty and Staff:
Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office
Black in Neuro: Celebrating Black excellence in neuro-related fields
Indigesteam: Indigenous perspectives in STEM & STEAM
Pride in STEM: aims to showcase and support all LGBT+ people in STEM fields.
Trans in STEM: Twitter account for transgender people in STEM to connect, find representation, discuss science, and find mentors
Disabled in STEM: Twitter account providing space for people with disabilities in STEM to connect.
Project Implicit: Non-profit organization of researchers aiming to educate the public about hidden biases