Winter 2021 (Volume 31, Number 4)
Update from the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force
By Nicole Johnson, MD, FRCPC
Download PDF
Over the past year, the Equity,
Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Task Force of the Canadian
Rheumatology Association (CRA) has
been working to establish collaborative
relationships with the various CRA
committees to help embed diversity
within CRA projects.
Early progress from the Task Force
was featured in the Fall 2021 edition
of the Canadian Rheumatology Association
Journal (CRAJ). We have collaborated
with the Human Resources Committee
regarding the workforce survey with
respect to data around diversity and
look forward to the final publication.
Through dialogue with the Communications Committee,
we have helped to highlight and plan for diversity topics.
You can listen to the previously recorded Around the Rheum
podcast on Indigenous Health by Dr. Cheryl Barnabe that
highlights issues around health inequities. In collaboration
with the CRA Board, the Task Force was able to recommend
a training session from an external presenter, Dr. Tanya
de Mello, on unconscious bias to the CRA's Directors and
Committee Chairs.
The Task Force is pleased to see the Annual Scientific
Meeting theme being centered around equity, diversity and
inclusion: “Towards Equity: Rheum for Everyone.” Members
of our Task Force will lead engaging workshops at the Annual
Meeting. We look forward to enhancing the knowledge of
the participants and to shared learning
around the diversity topics of Allyship
and Cultural Competency in
the Care of non-binary patients.
We continue to work on incorporating
feedback from the Joint Count
survey on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
(the summary of which was
published in the Fall 2021 issue of
the CRAJ) and the annual needs assessment
data to inform next steps
for developing strategic goals for the
CRA specific to diversity and inclusion.
A future goal is the development
of organizational values relevant to
diversity and inclusion. We also hope
to partner with external diversity professional(s) to work
in collaboration with the Task Force to help guide the CRA
further on our inclusive journey. We are also still looking
for additional members to join our Task Force, so please
reach out if you would like to join our team. You can reach
out to Kevin Baijnauth at kbaijnauth@rheum.ca if interested.
Nicole Johnson, MD, FRCPC
Pediatric Rheumatologist,
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Calgary
Chair, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, CRA
Calgary, Alberta
|
