First students admitted through the Black Candidate Pathway celebrate milestone, advancing representation in health care
When 91˿Ƶ’s graduating medical students cross the stage this spring, the cohort will include the largest number of newly minted Black medical doctors in the University’s history.
It’s also a milestone for the Black Candidate Pathway, a merit-based initiative designed to remove barriers and provide more equitable access to medical school.
In fall 2022, 24 students were accepted through the pathway, a more than 400-per-cent increase from previous years, when fewer than five Black students typically were in the roughly 200-student incoming class. Twenty-one Black students are graduating this spring.
Representation matters from the start
Randy Ngalamulume Mukengeshayi said he immediately noticed a difference when he started at 91˿Ƶ in 2022, having often been one of the only Black students in the room during his earlier education.
“When I arrived at orientation, I looked around and almost every table had a Black student sitting there. It was the first time I really felt that sense of community,” he said.
The community continues to grow, as the total number of Black medical students in the University’s four year program surpassed 100 for the first time this year.
Ariane Songa-Côté, who also entered through the pathway in 2022, said the lack of representation shaped her early dreams of becoming a doctor.
“I almost never encountered Black doctors. As a child, medicine didn’t feel like something that was achievable for me,” she said.
The changing face of medicine is important not only for aspiring students, but for patient care as well, she added.
“Having physicians from diverse backgrounds can help provide more culturally adapted care and a deeper understanding of patients who may have difficulty connecting with the health-care system,” said Songa-Côté.
Patient care and health disparities
Black Canadians face the highest rates of in the country and less access to a primary care provider compared with non-racialized Canadians.
Mukengeshayi, who will specialize in urology, said he’s motivated by the opportunity to address these disparities.
“Black people are more affected by prostate cancer and other prostate diseases, and being Black is a risk factor for these conditions. I see a chance, as a Black urologist, to raise awareness about these issues, which are often still stigmatized and difficult to discuss,” he said.
Soon-to-be graduate Laury Gueyie said she has already seen how meaningful representation can be for patients during her clinical training.
“Sometimes I would enter a room, and a Black patient would be so proud and happy to see someone they could connect with,” she said.
Passing the torch
Gueyie credits the (BMSA) for connecting her with peers and mentors who supported her throughout her journey.
Now serving as the BMSA representative for this year’s cohort, she is passing the torch herself and started mentoring students herself.
The student group hosted an event on March 21, bringing the graduating cohort together to celebrate their achievements and giving younger students a chance to connect with them before they move on to the next stage of training.
“The advice I give is to remind them ‘You’re not out of place. you belong here,’” said Gueyie. “Work hard as you usually do, but just as importantly, surround yourself with peers and allies who support you and understand your experience.”