VP Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Nominees
Iryna Savinova
BIO
Hi everyone! My name is Iryna, I was born in Ukraine, grew up in the GTA, and my family now lives in Ottawa. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph in Bio-Medical Science before going on to do my MSc in a physiology lab studying heart failure, cardiac sex differences and the protein erythropoietin. I’ve spent the past year working in research looking into the brain’s unique response to hypoxia and challenging what we currently know about the brain’s physiology. Outside of school I work part-time as an illustrator and enjoy taking part in passion projects where I get to experiment with different art mediums. Last, but not least, I consider myself a picnic enthusiast, and am often accompanied by my dog Caramel, who is my most favourite thing in the world. PLATFORM My EDI platform is built on both my lived and allied experiences. What I have learned from being a charter member of my university’s EDI committee and working with Black in Anatomy (BIA), a non-for-profit organization, is the value of not letting advocacy be the sole responsibility of equity-seeking groups. My goals are 3-fold: on a personal level, creating a safe and approachable space to integrate input shared by all of you in a proactive way; on an institutional level, taking active steps to address disparities and biases within the school and its sub-committees more broadly; and finally, piloting initiatives with new EDI partnerships (e.g.,BIA) that will offer mentorship and professional opportunities, especially to groups historically facing disparities in medicine. I hope that, with this platform, I can meaningfully impact each of your medical school experiences, creating a culture of reflection and inclusivity that sends ripple effects throughout our community. |
Ted Zhou
BIO
Originally from Vancouver, BC, Ted completed his undergraduate at McMaster University. Through various involvements in social issue organizations that tackled problems such as homelessness and immigrant education inequities, promoting diversity and uplifting different lived experiences were common themes that fostered success. Ted hopes that he can work towards: 1) Creating a comfortable and inviting environment for individuals in both the academic setting and inside the student body, and 2) Implement suggestions/recommendations that reduce barriers that impede student success. Always open to talk about his irrational fear of mangoes and his unhealthy relationship with caffeine. PLATFORM Platform is based on three pillars that address different aspects of EDI. Personal Success: - Facilitate and implement anonymous feedback system where students/Interest Groups can comment on behaviour and voice opinions/feelings about issues within and outside the student body - Uplift underrepresented and marginalized groups through resources and ensuring representation in decisions/groups (Ex. Indigenous, LGBTQ+, Black identifying, etc.) - Promote appreciation of different cultures and backgrounds through events and opportunities (Ex. Cultural festivals, human library events, etc.) Learning Environment: - Open discourse on potential biases ingrained in assessments and learning curriculum - Provide resources for students to deal with conflicts (Ex. Racism during patient interaction, instructor/group disagreements, etc.) Involvement Opportunities and Health Research: - Promote research opportunities aimed at systemic health concerns and marginalized/underrepresented populations (Ex. Immigrant health, validation of clinical assessment tools) - Provide volunteer opportunities in the local communities of Hamilton, Waterloo, and Niagara campuses |
