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Inclusive Professionalism in Medicine
March 5 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
- “As a professional, you need to stay neutral and not advocate.”
- “Don’t show emotions in a professional environment.”
- “Avoid wearing bright colours and dangling earrings if you want to look professional.”
Chances are you’ve been given advice like this at some point. As our working and learning environments become more diverse, it’s worth questioning which elements of “professionalism” are essential for competent and effective education and care, and which perpetuate gatekeeping, exclusion, and various forms of oppression. Join the Faculty of Medicine’s Office of Respectful Environments, Diversity, and Inclusion virtually on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 12:00–1:30 pm. In this It Starts With Us session, we will engage in a conversation with health professionals and educators examining the concept of professionalism. We’ll ask what aspects still matter in today’s diverse environments, and whether professionalism can support fostering inclusive spaces where people can bring their whole, authentic selves to work or study. Or should we move beyond the term “professionalism” altogether and consider other concepts that create thriving contexts for all learners, faculty, and staff?
The panel features Laura Yvonne Bulk (Assistant Professor of Teaching, UBC Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy), Niresha Velmurugiah (Emergency Physician, Vancouver General Hospital, and Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Emergency Medicine), Robert Sternszus (Associate Professor, McGill Pediatrics & Health Sciences Education), and Saleem Razack (Paediatric Intensivist, BC Children’s Hospital & REDI Senior Faculty Advisor). It is co-moderated by Maï Yasué (REDI Associate Director) and Harpreet Ahuja (REDI Equity Advisor).