Montreal hosts 5th Black Medical Students Association of Canada Annual General Meeting

Black students from all 17 medical schools across Canada gathered for the first time in Montreal to strategize around important issues in education and Black health.  The three-day event included keynote speakers, workshops, breakout sessions, a student research showcase, social evenings, and trivia nights.  Growing from 50 to 300 active members in 2024 and divided into regional branches in Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic, the Black Medical Students’ Association of Canada (BMSAC) works to secure equitable representation of Black students in Canadian medical schools and advocate for inclusive medical training to better serve the healthcare needs of Black communities. “Students who go to more diverse school get an enhanced education,” said Dr. Alexandra Bastiany, who gave a keynote address. “They learn how to better care for patients from minority backgrounds. They learn how to care in a culturally safe manner too. It’s super important for students who are not from the minority as well, because they learn how to care properly for patients from the minority.” “We need to have that representation for our patients and for ourselves, for our family, to show little children who want to be what they want to be, that they can be...