Social Accountability in Action
Equity, diversity, inclusion, and antiracism are foundational in making real our commitment to being a more inclusive School. We are working diligently to ensure that everyone finds a home in our enterprise. It’s the only way we can maximize our potential. As highlighted by the stories below, we are making strong and steady progress toward our goal of bringing these values to life – on campus and beyond.
Social Accountability in Numbers
Attracting students from under-represented groups
132
of 190 MD students who self-identify as racialized in 2023
Serving communities in need
77%↑
More children treated in 2023 through the Dentistry Surgical Care Unit, which serves children who face barriers accessing dental care
Nurturing excellence in postgraduate medical education
1
Renovation of the Paediatric Dental Clinic to make it more accessible for children with special needs
Improving access through financial assistance
891
Financial awards for Medicine and Dentistry students in 2023
Enhancing interdisciplinarity in our graduate programming
$6.9
million
Total financial assistance for Medicine and Dentistry students in 2023
Strengthening learner assessment
23%↑
Increase in financial assistance in 2023 for Medicine and Dentistry students over previous year
275
Needs-based financial awards for Medicine and Dentistry students in 2023
7.5%↑
Increase in needs-based financial awards for Medicine and Dentistry students in 2023 over previous year
Addressing the distinct health needs of Southwestern Ontario
1
New resident training elective – the Shelter Health initiative – established at Windsor campus to bring much-needed care to those experiencing homelessness
Improving student access for under-represented and equity-deserving groups
1
New immersive summer program (X-Labs) created to make biomedical sciences more accessible for high school students from diverse backgrounds
Addressing climate change and sustainability and their impacts on human health
1
Newly-signed Declaration on Planetary Health, recently launched by the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), to build sustainable and climate-resilient health systems
Nurturing excellence in postgraduate medical education
1
Schulich leader appointed to World Health Organization’s New Advisory Group on “Embedding Ethics in Health and Climate Change Policy” to help navigate ethical issues across the health and climate change field. (Nicole Redvers, associate professor, Western Research Chair and Director of Indigenous Planetary Health at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry)
Social Accountability in Action
World AIDS Day: Reflecting on a career of impact in probiotics research and community health
December 01, 2023
Professor Emeritus Gregor Reid, PhD, is being honoured with the creation of a new award - given out in his name - that recognizes his work in low- and middle-income countries through Western Heads East.Medical students’ initiative hopes to improve health-care services for Canadian refugees
November 07, 2023
A shared passion has led Class of 2024 medical students Lotus Alphonsus, Amalka De Silva and Penelope Neocleous to create a service that helps newcomers to Canada take control of their health-care needs.Pathology professor contributes to ‘sacred work’ of investigating missing Indigenous children
September 25, 2023
Forensic pathologist Dr. Rebekah Jacques is providing support and guidance to Indigenous families and communities as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials.Breaking Down Barriers on the Path to Better Care
September 20, 2023
The experiences of two Schulich Medicine & Dentistry alumni have led to the Thakur/Jayaraman Family Bursary in Medicine, and a way to bring students from diverse backgrounds into a career in medicine.Opening Wider
September 20, 2023
Federal plans to fund more patients mean both opportunity and disruption for Schulich Dentistry. And that’s a good thing, as the School expands its service-learning opportunities.Less is More
September 20, 2023
COVID-19 showed us how quickly innovation can happen, when demand for traditional medical supplies and devices outstripped supply. What would happen if we applied that same ingenuity and energy to health-care challenges in remote and resource-constrained places?Seeing with Two Eyes
September 20, 2023
Nicole Redvers brings an Indigenous perspective to the effects of climate change on our health.Collaboration is key for Frugal Biomedical Innovations program
July 31, 2023
New technology developed for fraction of cost without compromising qualityFunding fuels medical technology innovation for remote and low-resource communities
July 26, 2023
Nine research projects at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry have received catalyst grants through Western University’s newly established Frugal Biomedical Innovations program.Study reveals link between food insecurity and mental health and substance issues in children
July 24, 2023
Children in Canada face uncertain access to adequate food, leading to more visits to an emergency room or hospitalization, says Schulich Medicine study.Pioneering program opens doors to new opportunities for high-school students from diverse backgrounds
July 20, 2023
Through a new Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry program designed to make biomedical sciences more accessible for students from diverse backgrounds, the trio are among the first group of local high-school students experiencing first-hand what their future in science could look like.A microscope that makes diagnosing malaria easier and cheaper
June 02, 2023
A student team from Western, including Justin Yang, a Bachelor of Medical Sciences graduate at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, is taking their malaria diagnostic innovation into the finals of the World’s Challenge Challenge.Fardowsa Abdullah Halane: Personal experiences fuel the drive for change
May 26, 2023
Fardowsa Abdullah Halane brings a passion for change to her time in the Master of Public Health Program at Schulich Medicine. Find out more about her journey.Family medicine residents join alliance to improve health of those experiencing homelessness in Windsor
May 18, 2023
The Shelter Health & Social Medicine Family Medicine residency elective at Windsor campus promises to bridge this health-care gap and enrich learning experience for medical traineesSchulich Medicine & Dentistry joins historic pledge to preserve planetary health
May 17, 2023
Academic health institutions, including medical schools in Canada, are agreeing while caring for human health is a priority, it’s equally important to “do no harm” to the health of the planet.Abdifatah Fiqo: Changing careers for the better
May 03, 2023
After working for 10 years, Abdifatah Fiqo brought his desire to help a broader audience to the Master of Public Health Program. And he’s never looked back.Study explores link between neighbourhoods and heart health
February 24, 2023
New research looks at national health data, community well-being and neighbourhood information to study effects of social environment on cardiovascular healthBringing Indigenous stories to the table in environmental health policy
February 23, 2023
Gerald McKinley, PhD, will spend a year in the U.S. as a Harkness Fellow. He will study methodologies to bring Indigenous voices to the development of environmental health policy.Empowering careers through an immersive African experience
February 17, 2023
Learn about the amazing experiences students had in Africa as part of the Global Skills Opportunity and the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program.Dentistry Community Clinic
February 07, 2023
A partnership with Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry has helped Oxford County Community Health Centre’s dental clinic expand its dental services to address the unmet treatment needs of Oxford County residents.Peer support program now available for physicians at Windsor campus
January 16, 2023
Peers for Peers provides one-on-one support for physicians suffering the mental and emotional stresses of a high workload. Now the program has rolled out to Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s Windsor campus.App helps create strong bonds between students and community
November 23, 2022
Using a new app, Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) students at Schulich Medicine are gaining important skills outside of the classroom while meeting volunteer needs in London and area.Africa experiences connect students to challenges of dentistry in the context of global health
November 10, 2022
For the first time, students from Schulich Dentistry travelled to Africa to provide oral health-care services and learn from global health experts in Uganda and Rwanda through the International Oral Health Service Program.Grants to help with dental needs and in understanding impact of community service learning in undergraduate curriculum
October 24, 2022
New grants support Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry researchers in meeting the oral health-care needs of under-served populations and understanding the impact of community service learning.Health-care pioneer inspires a new generation of medical student
August 25, 2022
Gavin Raner, now entering their third year Medicine, has received the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) Award. Raner finds inspiration in a CMHF laureate from more than a century ago.Feature: Returning home to help
August 05, 2022
First-year medical student Laney Beaulieu, a member of the Dene and Métis people, grew up in a small community in the Northwest Territories. Her Discovery Week experience took her back to the Northwest Territories to gain hands-on experience in remote medicine.Master’s student recipient of 2022 Women’s Health Scholars Award
August 02, 2022
Jahin Khan’s research examines the mental health of migrant women. She is one of eight across Ontario to be recognized for ground-breaking women’s health research.Pathology professor to provide forensic expertise to investigate missing Indigenous children
July 28, 2022
Dr. Rebekah Jacques, a Métis forensic pathologist and professor in pathology and laboratory medicine, is offering her expertise as an appointee to the new National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials.Feature: Following a dream to serve vulnerable populations
July 20, 2022
Winifred Twum-Ampofo, a student in the Master of Public Health program, is combining her medical dreams with a passion for addressing health disparities among vulnerable people, especially women and children.Social Accountability: Building knowledge and trust to support refugee care
June 20, 2022
Dr. Kevin Pottie has co-authored a curriculum framework to provide medical students with evidence-based guidelines for treating refugees, as well as a grounding in trauma-informed care.Social Accountability: Scholarships strengthen support for promising, diverse students
March 18, 2022
Two new scholarships are improving student access for under-represented and equity-deserving groups.Research: Understanding the correlation between HIV and oral health
March 03, 2022
In a study recently published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved,Dr.Abbass Jessani examined the oral health and rates of Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) of persons living with HIV who received treatment at an inner-city dental clinic in Saskatoon, Sask.Social Accountability: Holding ourselves accountable
October 26, 2021
At Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is more than a moral aspiration. It’s a foundational building block in the mission to educate socially responsible leaders in human health.
