Fall 2021 (Volume 31, Number 3)
Leading the Way for Change
By Tooba Ali, MBBS, FRCPC
Download PDF
I am a visibly Muslim woman of colour. I
have been an immigrant in this country
for fewer than 10 years. I am a rheumatologist
serving a predominantly rural
community east of the Greater Toronto
Area (GTA). My practice is not very diverse
in terms of racial and ethnic background—
fairly typical for rural Canada in my experience.
My patients range from retired university
professors to firefighters, registered
nurses, farmers, beekeepers and small business
owners.
Islam teaches universal equality and justice. Imam Ali
AS said “A person is either your brother in faith, or your
equal in humanity.” My religion demands I demonstrate excellence
in equity and inclusion every day. It preaches tolerance
for alternative points of view. As a physician I have
an obligation to treat everyone under my care with respect
and dignity and to honour their autonomy.
In this age where differences in race, sexual orientation
and religion continue to be focal points of strife in our
communities, we can all choose to be agents of change.
We can participate in active fashion by contributing to
organizations, collective mobilization and demonstrations
against injustice. Or we can act in passive yet important
ways — learning more about what we don't know regarding
an alternative point of view, and being the change
that we would like to see in the world.
Often, as I step into an exam room to meet a patient for
the first time, I wonder what they think of me when they
see me — a visibly Muslim woman of colour. Sometimes I
can spot the hastily covered-up expressions of surprise on
their faces — I wonder if they were expecting a white male
doctor instead. Some patients are bold enough to outright
say so. However, invariably, once the conversation begins
we are both reminded that despite the differences between
what we look like or what we may believe of the world, the
human-ness that connects us is deeper. My ability to listen
respectfully, to offer sincere advice and demonstrate true
concern can be a more powerful catalyst
of changing stereotypes about people who
look like me than any public relations (PR)
campaigns.
While historically medicine was the
work of the privileged few — the demographics
of doctors have changed dramatically
across Canada. I am avidly aware of my
privileges every day. That a little girl born
across the world in a society not keen on
the education of young girls gets to be a
rheumatologist in Canada within 30 years
of life is no small privilege — given to me by God and the
hard work of my parents. We each have a life of privilege
in some way — we each have a responsibility to create a
better, more just society for others. We have heard that diversity
is a great strength of our country — let us demonstrate
that by welcoming voices different than our own in
conversations around us.
While some days I tire of the burden of always being
identified as an ambassador of my faith, I remind myself of
my duty to God, to be the change I wish to see in the world.
I am a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Task Force of the CRA, an organization run by enthusiastic
physicians across Canada — working to improve the culture
of the CRA and to dismantle systemic racism that may have
crept into our organization. I am humbled to see the work
and efforts put in by my colleagues on this task force as they
each work to be the change they wish to see in the world.
I invite everyone to learn more about EDI and how it can
affect those around them, and I invite everyone to participate
in the EDI Task Force at the CRA — either by being
a member, attending a workshop or just sending us your
thoughts on the subject. Let us all work on being agents of
change in our own capacity.
Tooba Ali, MBBS, FRCPC
Rheumatologist,
Oshawa, Ontario
|
