A DOCTOR’S CAMPAIGN FOR EQUITY

On November 20, Dr Graham Sher, the CEO of Canadian Blood Services, posted a video message on YouTube.

In it, he conceded that systemic racism exists in their hiring practices, and that he and their Board will be discussing this in their open board meeting scheduled for December 3.

This is a culmination of a two-year long campaign  for equity and inclusion at the Canadian Blood Services waged by Dr Chandrakant Shah (Grant’s Desi Achiever, 2006).

“The Canadian Blood Services is a non-profit charitable institution, funded by tax dollars from ministries of health from all territories and provinces except Quebec, and has an annual budget of $1.2 billion dollars with over 4500 employees,” said Dr Shah. “It is important that their hiring practices reflect the diversity in Canada’s demographics.”

He recalled visiting their website during the Christmas holidays of 2018, looking for a friend and when he viewed the photographs of their Board and executive management team, he noticed the stark absence of diversity.

This prompted him to write their Board chair about his observation, stating that it is a governance issue and asking for the Board policy on diversity, equity and inclusion, and data on their staff composition for visible minorities, etc.

Dr Shah’s request was met with silence, and he followed up with letters.

“I also wrote twice to their corporate board members about the possibility of systemic racism and I was told that as this being a governance issue, it is the Board’s responsibility. Then in November 2019, I sent a petition to their Board signed by over 1000 Canadians, along with support letters from the mayors of Mississauga and Markham. Again no response,” said Dr Shah.

Finally, he ended up requesting presentation on their upcoming open Board meeting. “And suddenly this statement has appeared, it has many platitudes lacking any action plan.” 

It’s a step in the right direction, nevertheless, said Dr Shah. “I am 84 years old and am leading this struggle because I love Canada.”

Therein lies an important lesson: If something bothers you, don’t hesitate to speak up.

Dr Chandrakant Shah is the recipient of several awards including the Order of Ontario and the Outstanding Physicians of Ontario award (2007) by the Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario for excellence and coming closest to meeting society’s vision of an “ideal physician”.

His textbook, Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Canada, is widely used by Canadian undergraduate and graduate students from a range of health disciplines.