About the EDI Team

Our Mission

We aspire to promote a Department of Surgery in which the core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion shape its academic mission and inspire its members.

The Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto is one of the most accomplished surgical departments in North America - as well as one that is located in one of the most diverse cities in the world. A more equitable and representative Department will further its success beyond academic and clinical innovation; it will allow the Department to best serve the needs of its diverse communities.

Our Goals

We recognize that EDI is a complex and ongoing endeavor. In accordance with the most current Canadian research, the Faculty of Medicine has rightfully identified three immediate areas of focus:

  1. Anti-black racism
  2. Anti-Indigenous racism
  3. Gender and sexuality-based discrimination.

Though we will not limit our work to these areas alone, we will focus initial efforts here in order to effect specific and measurable impact.

Our Directors

Division of Thoracic Surgery
Michael Garron Hospital
najib.safieddine@gmail.com

Dr. Snell

Laura Snell, MD, MSc, FRCS(C)

Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
laura.snell@mac.com

Videos

Readings

Chapter - Canada, Incubator of Black American Surgeons

EDI Taskforce 2021

If you require guidance in navigating concerns, curriculum, or training, the following divisional representatives are available for you (Please note that Laura Snell and Najib Safieddine are serving as the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Division of Thoracic Surgery representatives, respectively).

Representatives are expected to act within the confidential and professional standards of their Terms of Reference as established by the EDI Directors in accordance with the University of Toronto and Faculty of Medicine.

Bouchard, M

Maryse Bouchard
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery
The Hospital for Sick Children

ravi

Bheeshma Ravi 
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Chung

Jennifer Chung
Division of Cardiac Surgery
UHN - TGH

al-omran

Mohammed Al-Omran
Division of Vascular Surgery
St. Michael’s Hospital

Kumar

Ashish Kumar
Division of Neurosurgery
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Kulkarni, A

Abhaya Kulkarni
Division of Neurosurgery
The Hospital for Sick Children

Lee, Jason

Jason Lee
Division of Urology
UHN - TGH, SMH

Maryam Faiz

Maryam Faiz
Division of Anatomy
IMS

Kennedy

Erin Kennedy
Division of General Surgery
Mount Sinai Hospital