Dr. Amr Elmaraghy facilitates a saw bone simulation surgery with LIFT students to teach them basic technical skills and surgical practices. 

The Leading Inclusive Futures Together (LIFT) program at St. Joseph’s Health Centre invites local grade 9 and 10 students who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of colour (BIPOC) to immerse themselves in the world of medicine. 

Now in its third year, with two cohorts offered in the summer, students spend a full week getting first-hand experience working in a hospital by shadowing physicians, participating in hands-on simulations and engaging in team problem-solving activities. The overall goal of the program is to reduce barriers for underrepresented racialized students who wish to pursue careers in healthcare, providing them with mentorship, resources and opportunities to navigate this career path. 

“Extensive research has shown that when a care team reflects the social identities of its community, health outcomes improve for those community members and patients,” said Allison Needham, Director of Anti-Racism, Equity and Social Accountability at Unity Health Toronto.

The steering committee that created LIFT chose to recruit grade 9 and 10 students, a group with limited program options. It’s an important time for students because as they start to consider their career and course selection options, they may face barriers like financial constraints, limited opportunities and limited first-hand access to medical professionals. 

The program aims to help students overcome some of these barriers in a number of ways. This includes providing a meaningful stipend for attending the program and by connecting them with medical students who can provide guidance about applying to medical school and help them make informed choices about their future. 

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The program’s curriculum is designed to introduce students to multiple specialties within healthcare. Each morning, students team up with a physician mentor to observe clinical activities and learn about different aspects of the job. The curriculum also includes hands-on activities to teach technical skills required for any specialty. 

“I learned a lot about patients and how the interactions go beyond just common injuries like breaking bones and sprains, there’s psychological help too,” said Alex Craig, a student in the LIFT program. “I also learned that a lot of doctors have extracurriculars that they enjoy, such as playing sports to decompress, and that they’re very well-rounded people.”

Beyond shadowing and hands on sessions, the program strives to show other parts of the hospital world, such as quality improvement, Indigenous wellness and connecting with community partners. 

In a previous session, Nolan Blodgett, Equity Specialist, Anti-Racism, Equity and Social Accountability at Unity Health and a co-organizer for the LIFT program, led an activity where students visited the Parkdale Intercultural Association to learn how local organizations support newcomers to Canada. This provided them with an opportunity to explore how settlement services, language supports, social connection and community belonging influence health and wellbeing.

“Building those relationships not only serves the purposes of the program, but we’re able to better serve our community and be more connected to it,” said Blodgett. “It’s a small part of a bigger strategy where we’re trying to improve our relationship with communities who may have been underserved or harmed by healthcare.” 

Most of all, the LIFT program is meant to help students feel inspired and empowered to pursue a career in healthcare. It’s a nurturing environment where students can leave with the knowledge, confidence and connections to support them in their next steps. 

“My number one take-home message for the students is that they should visualize themselves practicing or leading a life that would make them fulfilled,” said Dr. Amr Elmaraghy, an orthopedic surgeon at St. Joseph’s and a mentor in the program. “If their eyes light up, through access and exposure to our program, and they start to see themselves potentially enjoying medicine as a career, then I’m hoping that will be the flame that will guide them through their academic pathway and ultimately make them successful.”

How LIFT started

The initial funding for the LIFT program was raised in 2023 through a Cycle 4 St. Joes fundraising campaign called Team EDI and led by Dr. Elmaraghy. It raised over $71,000 and has provided the seed funding for this initiative. A steering committee was then formed, including: 

  • Allison Needham, Director of Anti-Racism, Equity and Social Accountability 
  • Amanda Pickup, Youth Coordinator
  • Jeff Dionne, Director of Mission, Organizational Development and Spiritual Care
  • Dr. Amrit Kang, Nephrologist at St. Joseph’s

When the committee compared physician data to census data in neighbourhoods near St. Joseph’s, it was proven that Black, Indigenous, and Southeast Asian groups were underrepresented among staff at the time. This inspired the team to develop a mentorship program catered to these communities, encouraging recruitment of underrepresented groups into the program and, eventually, into the medical profession. 

By Lois Lee

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