Black Physicians of Canada Mentorship program
Are you a Black resident, fellow or early career physician currently enrolled in a Canadian program or work for a Canadian instition?
In 2020, a short survey was done where 95% of Black residents identified a desire for race-concordant mentorship. We realize that residency, fellowship and early career development are three stages in one's medical career where support is needed to deal with on going challenges.
Details of our program:
- Framework: Nation-wide one-on-one mentorship
- Black staff physicians mentors paired with Black resident/fellow/early career physicians
- Duration: annual and on a rolling basis - you can sign up any time of the year and choose a mentor you would like to connect with out of a list of possible Black staff physician mentors. You can choose based on any criteria you wish, whether that is location, specialty, etc!
- Demographics: residents, fellows and early career physicians. At this time we do not mentor medical students but we will be more than happy to direct you to potential mentors if you are a Black Canadian medical student looking for mentorship
- Format: virtual + 1:1 if possible
- Fees: No cost to mentees
- Database: Actively recruiting both mentors (staff +residents) and mentees (Black Canadian residents, fellows, early career physicians currently enrolled in a Canadian program or working in a Canadian institution)
- Compensation: Mentors are compensated annually with a small honorarium as a token for our gratitude!
Please email info@blackphysicians.ca for more information or if you have any questions!
BLACK PHYSICIANS MATTER
Excerpt from a letter written by Dr. Kwadwo Owusu-Akyaw
You have overcome near insurmountable obstacles to reach this point. Undoubtedly, your community of family, friends, mentors, advocates and allies is overwhelmed with pride in your accomplishments. We hope to not only to add to the chorus of congratulations, but to ignite a fire of self-determination in the very depth of your being. We need you. We need you, because past and present injustices contribute to the denial of basic human rights in Black communities, even in a country celebrated as the standard bearer for equality and freedom. We need you, because access to medical education for Black individuals is at a historic low. We need you, because Black bodies continue to be underestimated, undervalued and under-treated at a level tantamount to a public health crisis.