Chair:

Yinka Macaulay

Yinka Macaulay is a public health professional that is passionate about supporting meaningful change and promoting health and wellbeing for all. Yinka currently works in partnership with organizations to develop and implement strategies pertaining to population health, system transformation, diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism. Yinka has expertise within the areas of strategy, innovation, design and community engagement and has held roles within The Change Foundation, Toronto Central LHIN and health service organizations.Yinka holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Waterloo, post graduate certificates  in Regulatory Affairs,Community Engagement, Leadership and Development. Yinka is also currently a fellow with the Centre for Conscious Design, an international grassroots think tank working to address social issues and public health through conscious design. 

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Flordeliz “Gigi” Osler

Dr. Flordeliz “Gigi” Osler is an Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgeon, an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba, and a dedicated advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion. Born in Winnipeg to immigrant parents from the Philippines and India, her mother encouraged her strength and independence, while her father inspired her to become a physician. In practice since 1998, she has worked to balance life as a surgeon, wife, and mother. 

As the 2021 Federation of Medical Women of Canada President, she serves as a role model and leader for the medical profession and influences medical women across Canada. In 2018, when she was the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) President, she led the development of the CMA’s first ever policy on equity and diversity. She also has leadership roles with the Canadian Medical Forum, the Virtual Care Task Force, the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and the International Federation of ORL Societies. 

Dr. Osler is the recipient of numerous honours and awards, including the University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumni Award, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada May Cohen Equity, Diversity and Gender Award, named to WXN Canada’s 2019 Top 100 Most Powerful Women List, and to the Medical Post’s 2021 Power List. 

Panel Discussion

Panel Moderator:

Ryan Hinds

Ryan Hinds is the inaugural Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH), a role created to develop and implement a cohesive strategy aimed at advancing equity across the DLSPH. Prior to this, Ryan held the role of Community Engagement Lead at Ontario Health Toronto Region (formerly the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network), where he set and executed strategies to embed the voices of patients, families, caregivers and communities into all Ontario Health (Toronto) strategic and other appropriate operations. In this role, Ryan also served as the lead for Health Equity and Indigenous Health. In these capacities he worked with Black, Indigenous and other underserved communities to better understand specific needs and inform system-level responsive strategies to reach better health outcomes. Prior to his time in health system planning, Ryan co-developed a youth mentorship program (Ahead of the Game Mentorship) that engaged racialized and sidelined youth, supporting them to achieve success in multiple facets of their lives

Panelists:

Angela Robertson

Angela Robertson is the executive director of Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre. Parkdale Queen West is a community-based health service organization serving mid and west Toronto. Angela is dedicated to people and communities facing discrimination, poverty and marginalization and working to change those social conditions.

She is a founding member of Blockorama, which focuses on forging spaces for Black and other racialized LGBTQ+ people and allies in Toronto’s Pride, and has served on numerous community Boards, including Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention, Houselink and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Angela has been recognized for her social justice work by the YWCA, Fred Victor Centre, and Urban Alliance on Race Relations, NOW magazine and was honoured by York University in 2017 with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree for her social justice work. 

In response to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on racialized and low-income populations, Angela initiated and co-chair a Black Health Equity Working Group of health sector experts, leaders, practitioners, and researchers concerned with improving the health and wellbeing of Black people. For her work she was recognized by the Alliance with the Denise Brooks Equity Champion Award and the Pillar of the Pandemic recognition award from the U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. 

Richard Jock

Richard Jock is a member of the Mohawks of Akwesasne and serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the First Nations Health Authority.

Richard's portfolio includes Health Benefits, policy, planning, engagement, service improvements/integration, investment strategies and regional partnership implementation. His position also provides leadership for the building, functioning and implementation of strong partnerships within the First Nations health governance structure and within the health system more broadly.

Richard has worked for the past 25 years for First Nations organizations and the federal government, including numerous positions in the health field. Immediately prior to joining the FNHA, he held the post of Chief Executive Officer for the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). Among his other professional roles, Richard has held senior leadership positions at Norway House Health Services Incorporated, Health Canada, the National Aboriginal Health Organization and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.

Richard is committed to his wellness and challenges himself to stay active and spend time outdoors. He wears his FitBit daily, rarely missing his 10,000 steps, and enjoys playing racquetball in his spare time.

Dr. Rani Srivastava

Dr. Rani Srivastava is Associate Professor and Dean of Nursing at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC. A nurse leader with a track record for leading change through building relationships and translating vision into concrete strategies across stakeholder jurisdictions.

Recognized for leadership in bridging academia and practice environments and creating practice based research roles. Her career has included senior Nursing leadership positions in Professional practice and Quality Improvement. She has served on the board of Registered Nurses Association of Ontario; Lambda Pi Chapter for Sigma Theta Tau International; Belmont House (Senior Retirement and Nursing Home); and Aurat Health Services (nonprofit serving SouthAsian women and men) and an executive member for the Academy of Chief Executive Nurses (ACEN) prior to its integration with Canadian Nurses Association Leadership Academy.

Dr Srivastava is passionate about patient and family centered care for culturally diverse and marginalized populations. She is recognized for her leadership and scholarship in the area of diversity, equity and cultural competence education.

For her leadership on Cultural Competence, Diversity and Equity, in 2017 Dr. Srivastava was named by the Canadian Nurses Association as one of the 150 nurses for Canada who are strong public advocates and leaders in advancing patient centered approach to quality healthcare.

Adnaan Bhyat

Adnaan Bhyat is a health systems and operations specialist, having worked within the hospital sector for over ten years in various capacities. He has a special appreciation for complex challenges, and loves working with smart and dedicated people to address them. He is currently a Manager at Women's College Hospital, and serves as a board director for his local Community Health Centre. He has an MBA from DeGroote School of Business and BSc from the University of Western Ontario. He founded the Black Indigenous Professionals of Colour Health Leadership Network (BHLN) in the summer of 2020 with the vision of creating a community of healthcare professionals supporting one another and promoting anti-racism within health systems.

Jackie Schleifer Taylor

Dr. Jackie Schleifer Taylor is the President and Chief Executive Officer of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) where she brings over 25 years of experience in local, regional, provincial and international health sector leadership. Prior to this position, Jackie held the roles of Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice-President and Chief Clinical Officer at LHSC as well as President of the Children’s Hospital at LHSC.

Dr. Jackie Schleifer Taylor, PT, MSc, PhD, CHE, is a registered physiotherapist who is deeply rooted in her clinical background, with an unwavering commitment to interdisciplinary care, quality, equity and patient and health system accountability.

A proven health leader with a track record in health systems innovation and strategy execution, Jackie has brought her expertise to many parts of the health system. She has served on the boards of service provider organizations, been a member of government advisory committees (at the provincial, national and international level), worked with international think tanks and held appointments at several academic institutions.

She holds a Certified Health Executive designation, with academic credentials inclusive of undergraduate degrees in Science, and Health Sciences from McMaster University, (where she graduated from the Physical Therapy program), as well as two graduate degrees (a Master of Science and a PhD) from the University of Toronto.

The event is open to both Longwoods members and non-members.

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