School of medicine welcomes Indigenous and Black Health leads
Dr. Jamaica Cass and Dr. Trudy McFarlane will contribute to TMU’s mission to establish a medical school founded and intentionally built upon the foundations of social accountability, equity, diversity and inclusion, and reconciliation.
I’m pleased to announce that the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) School of Medicine has welcomed two leads this month in the areas of Indigenous Health and Black Health. These pivotal positions will advance the school’s aim to effectively serve the needs of diverse and equity-deserving communities and its commitment to an anti-racist perspective.
Dr. Jamaica Cass, Indigenous Health Lead
As Indigenous Health Lead, Dr. Jamaica Cass will participate in providing guidance in all aspects of work at the school of medicine. This will include working with the executive committee to develop an Indigenous admissions policy, pursue Indigenous community engagement and develop an Indigenous Health curriculum.
A member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Turtle Clan, Dr. Cass practices Indigenous Health as a primary care physician on-reserve at Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. In addition, as an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Queen's University, she currently supervises both undergraduate clerks and family medicine residents.
Dr. Cass completed her family medicine residency at the University of Calgary, where she served on the Indigenous Health Working Group in the department of Family Medicine. Prior to her residency, Dr. Cass spent four years in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she completed her Medical Doctorate at Tulane University.
With an extensive background in science, Dr. Cass earned her PhD from Queen's University in breast cancer molecular biology before pursuing a career in medicine. She was recognized with several institutional, national and international awards, including the American Association for Cancer Research MICR Scholar-in-Training Award, the Terry Fox Foundation Transdisciplinary Award and the Robert Sutherland Fellowship. While a student at Queen's, she was active in Indigenous mentorship and advocacy, serving on the Indigenous Council of Queen's University and the Native Students' Association, and mentoring Indigenous undergraduate students.
Dr. Trudy McFarlane, Black Health Lead
As the school of medicine’s Black Health Lead, Dr. Trudy McFarlane will oversee the advancement of the school's commitments to implement an anti-racism approach and combat anti-Black racism.
A member of the senior leadership team and executive committee, Dr. McFarlane will be involved in all facets of the school of medicine, including the provision of leadership with respect to a Black Learners admissions stream and Black Health curriculum. Dr. McFarlane will also establish a long-term strategy and action plan to address anti-Black racism, and further the school’s efforts to establish and maintain strong relationships with Black communities and relevant Black-focused organizations.
Dr. McFarlane is a family physician, general practitioner, psychotherapist and medical consultant. She completed her family medicine residency at Dalhousie University, where she served as an assistant professor with the Faculty of Medicine and as a mentor for Black medical students through the Sophia B. Jones Mentorship Program.
Passionate about advocacy, mentorship, diverse representation in leadership and health equity for racialized communities, Dr. McFarlane hopes to work towards implementing changes within medical education and health care that will result in better outcomes for racialized communities.
A co-medical lead with Peel Public Health’s Black, African, Caribbean Communities Action-Planning and Strategy Committees. Dr. McFarlane also serves as a representative of the Black Physicians of Canada, as a co-chair of the Black Physicians of Nova Scotia and a member of the Black Physicians Association of Ontario. She previously served as a physician lead for VaxFacts for Black communities and has contributed to recommendations and guidelines for equitable primary care.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Cass and Dr. McFarlane and wishing them the best with their exciting and essential portfolios.
Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano
Interim Provost and Vice-President, Academic