How Unity Health is combatting anti-Black racism

Today marks the start of Black History Month – an opportunity to celebrate, recognize and learn about the achievements and contributions that Black people and their communities have made to the history and growth of Canada and around the world. It’s also an opportunity to amplify Black voices, understand the challenges faced by Black people and further action towards ending anti-Black racism.

Our health care system in Canada is anchored in a long history of colonialism, segregation and white supremacy. Unity Health Toronto is not exempt from the harms caused by these systems of oppression.

In the summer of 2020, Unity Health established anti-racism as a formal strategic priority and committed to tackling racism more directly than we have in the past. As the executive sponsor for this work, I’m accountable to all of you to make sure that this work continues. It’s important to note that the anti-Black racism components of this work are informed and directed by Black staff, physicians and leaders across the organization. Today, on the first day of Black History Month, I’d like to provide an update on our efforts this past year and let you know what we plan to accomplish in the year ahead.

What we accomplished in 2022

The following is a list of actions completed in 2022:

1. We launched a Black affinity group, also known as a community of inclusion or employee resource group, to create affirming and safer spaces for Black staff to share their experiences and lean into collective wisdom for celebration, empowerment and action.
2. We introduced targeted leader education on anti-Black racism in partnership with the Black Health Education Collaborative. The first session took place on Jan. 25 and focused on understanding privilege and critical allyship.
3. For the first time in our history, we collected data on the racial representation of Unity Health staff and physicians. This data will be used to identify targeted strategies, including those needed to address gaps in the underrepresentation of Black leaders and physicians.
4. We hired several new staff, including health equity specialists and data and evaluation specialists, to support our work towards ending anti-Black racism and other equity objectives. One person cannot drive systemic change; commitment requires funding and resources.

Unity Health also recently signed the BlackNorth Initiative Pledge – established by the BlackNorth Initiative – committing our organization to seven goals intended to move Canada towards ending anti-Black systemic racism and create opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Concrete actions that Unity Health will be taking in 2023

Unity Health has committed to several other actions to create a more inclusive, anti-racist and equitable culture and experience for Black staff, patients, residents and community members. The following are two critical items that we’re committed to this year:

1. Formalize our anti-racism policy and framework, which seeks to establish a commitment and approach to identifying, addressing and eliminating structural, institutional and personal mistreatment on the basis of race. The policy and framework will include guidance for the full scope of activity at Unity Health, including interactions with patients and community members.  
2. Introduce anti-Black racism training for all Unity Health staff. Unity Health is adapting an online training module from the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) to include personalized examples for Unity Health staff. The training will be launched this spring.

Unity Health understands that training and workshops are not a singular solution to the many barriers to Black staff. Education can exacerbate issues of racism unless partnered with a strategy for systemic change. These two items will proceed simultaneously and ladder up to our larger anti-racism strategy.

Concrete actions for individuals

Anti-Black racism is systemic but it’s also prevalent at the individual and interpersonal levels. As we advance our efforts as an organization, we need to remember that change starts with each of us. The following is a list of resources, recommendations and events to help you honour the contributions of – and self-reflect on the racism and injustices committed against – Black people:

1. Attend a Black History Month event in the community. If you’re in the GTA, you may wish to check out one or more of the following:
   • Celebrating Black history and culture with the Toronto Public Library
   • Black History Month at the University of Toronto
   • Black History Month at the AGO
   • Toronto Black Film Festival
   • Kuumba Black Futures Month at Harbourfront Centre
2. Read about the experiences of Black staff at Unity Health in their Behind the Mask profiles, which will be published and shared on our social media channels throughout the month
3. Learn about the experiences of Black nurses and physicians in Canadian health care:
   • For 100 years, Black nurses have offered exceptional care and leadership at Unity Health hospitals. Here’s how they challenged the status quo
   • Dr. Alexander Augusta sought medical education in Canada but became a medical educator in America after the Civil War (co-authored by Dr. Nav Persaud, St. Michael’s physician and researcher)
4. Read the essay White Privilege in a White Coat: How racism shaped my medical education. Then, reflect on how White privilege may have impacted your work.
5. Learn and participate in the International Decade for People of African Descent. Proclaimed by The UN General Assembly, the theme for the International Decade, which runs from 2015 to 2024, is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”

When we started our foundational work towards recognizing and dismantling anti-Black racism in the summer of 2020, I referred to this work as a journey. While we all crave quick fixes, we need to consider that progress isn’t linear and systemic change doesn’t happen overnight. You may not see the impacts of this work tomorrow, but please know that we’re taking steps every day to advance these efforts.

Wishing everyone a reflective and meaningful Black History Month.

Sincerely,

Tim Rutledge
President and CEO
Unity Health Toronto