Equity in Healthcare: A Case for Change

Presented on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 by Dr. Katharine Smart

Session Overview

The COVID-19 pandemic brought Canadian healthcare into the hearts and minds of Canadians daily. Effective advocacy and leadership have never been more critical as we face deteriorating healthcare systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and decades of poor planning. The historic investments on the table from the federal government are creating an opportunity to re-imagine and transform healthcare for Canadians. By applying an equity lens to the work across the system and specifically in specialty areas like rheumatology, we can better serve rural and remote communities across Canada.

Dr. Smart will share lessons learned as CMA president, healthcare advocate, and specialist working in the Yukon. She will share her vision of where we need to focus to deliver world-class healthcare to Canadians.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. describe the principles and considerations that must underpin equitable health system change and transformation
  2. recognize key learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic that can be leveraged to improve care delivery in rural and remote communities
  3. explain key advocacy skills to drive an agenda of change

CanMEDS Roles

  1. Communicator
  2. Collaborator
  3. Leader
  4. Health Advocate
  5. Professional

Sessions reviewed via on-demand access may qualify for Section 2 Personal Learning Project (PLP under Section 2:  Self-Learning Activities); for more information, please click here.