Tuesday, June 7 | 7 p.m.
Virtual

Click here to join the session.

Dr. Alika Lafontaine, incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), will be presenting a session to Saskatchewan physicians titled Hostility in Healthcare: Racism, Working Environments and Culture Change.

Dr. Lafontaine will share his insights on systemic racism in Canada’s health care system and discuss how his experiences have shaped his role as an advocate in this space. He will also highlight how health care professionals and organizations can better promote equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and drive forward change in medical culture.

The session moderator will be Dr. Barb Konstantynowicz, a Regina-based family physician, past-president of the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) and chair of the SMA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. This presentation is the first in a series of educational opportunities the SMA will organize to help build awareness about issues of racism, diversity, and inclusion in the medical profession. It is part of the EDI Committee’s work and will be an excellent opportunity for physicians to share experiences and explore the issues with colleagues.

Dr. Lafontaine was born and raised in southern Saskatchewan with a mixed Indigenous ancestry of Metis, Anishinaabe, Cree and Pacific Islander. He is an award-winning physician, social innovator, and the first Indigenous doctor listed in Medical Post’s 50 Most Powerful Doctors. Dr. Lafontaine has served in provincial and national medical leadership positions for almost two decades. In August 2022 he will become the first Indigenous physician to serve as president of the CMA. He is a respected authority on health systems, change management, social innovation, anti-racism, and reflective practice.

The Saskatchewan Medical Association appreciates funding from Scotiabank, MD Financial and the Canadian Medical Association as part of their Physician Wellness+ Initiative to address the urgent, ongoing health and wellness needs of our medical community. The Physician Wellness+ Initiative supports various SMA initiatives.