In this episode, breast surgical oncologist and president of the Black Physicians' Association of Ontario, Dr. Mojola Omole, joins us to talk about her advocacy work. She shares how she aims to increase the percentage of Black physicians in Ontario, reduce systemic barriers and racism in medicine, and support Black mental health. We also discuss the need for more robust data that accounts for racial differences to inform screening recommendations.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:50: Dr. Omole shares her reasons for specializing in breast cancer, emphasizing her enjoyment of its multidisciplinary approach and the opportunity it presents for impactful advocacy and community outreach

04:31: Dr. Omole discusses the systemic barriers preventing Black individuals from entering the medical field

06:08: Dr. Omole talks about her work with the Canadian Medical Association Journal

07:10: Dr. Omole explains the misconceptions around 'over-screening' and emphasizes the importance of recognizing biological differences across populations in medical treatment and screening practices

09:15: Dr. Omole discusses the lack of training in medical schools regarding the variations in disease presentation across different populations, emphasizing the need for medical education to incorporate diverse biological and social contexts

11:15: Dr. Omole discusses the Canadian taskforce on preventative health care’s recommendations on breast cancer screening, arguing they do not reflect the earlier ages at which women of certain ethnic backgrounds typically present with breast cancer

13:20: Dr. Omole suggests that economic considerations heavily influence national screening recommendations in Canada, which may lead to later diagnoses and poorer outcomes in underrepresented populations

15:00: Zoe reflects on the conversation, noting the critical shortage of family physicians in Canada, which impacts routine screening and health care access

15:19: Dr. Omole offers advice to other health care providers on staying informed and understanding the unique risk factors and needs of diverse patient populations to provide better, more personalized care

16:19: What our hosts learned from this episode

Contact Our Hosts

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

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