We are writing today as a group of physicians involved with the CanMEDS 2025 update who are committed to advancing the cause of anti-racism in Canadian medicine. As leaders in medical education, we seek to create a safe and inclusive environment for all healthcare providers, learners, and patients.
Racism is a public health crisis1,2 and it is our responsibility as physicians to address this issue. We cannot let racism continue to harm the health and wellbeing of our patients, communities, and healthcare providers. Both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada3 and the College of Family Physicians of Canada4 have released statements outlining our position on racism in Canadian medicine. Additional work calling for the integration of anti-racism principles into medical education has recently been published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal5 and Canadian Medical Education Journal.6
Unfortunately, leaders of this important work have been harassed. Dr. Amy Tan received death threats that resulted in her stepping down as the co-chair of the CanMEDS 2025 Health Advocate Committee, while Dr. Kannin Osei-Tutu received communications calling for an end to his work. We stand in solidarity with them and fully support efforts to advance anti-racism in medicine. We condemn any form of harassment or discrimination and will address it both through action by calling it out publicly and by explicitly supporting the individuals, initiatives, and organizations moving this work forward.
It is our duty to promote equity and justice in healthcare, and we cannot do this as effectively without broader support and engagement. We urge all members of the greater medical community to work together to advance anti-racism principles. Let us all commit to creating a more equitable and just healthcare system.
References
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- 3.Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada . Statement on anti-black racism. 2020. Available from: https://newsroom.royalcollege.ca/statement-on-racism/ [Accessed on Apr 23, 2023].
- 4.The College of Family Physicians of Canada . CFPC statement on addressing systemic racism on Indigenous people. 2023. Available from: https://www.cfpc.ca/en/policy-innovation/health-policy-goverment-relations/cfpc-policy-papers-position-statements/cfpc-statement-on-addressing-systemic-racism-on-in [Accessed on Apr 23, 2023].
- 5.Osei-Tutu K, Ereyi-Osas W, Sivananthajothy P, Rabi D. Antiracism as a foundational competency: reimagining CanMEDS through an antiracist lens. CMAJ. 2022. Dec 19;194(49):E1691-3. 10.1503/cmaj.220521 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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