About the O'Brien Institute Equity, Diversity and Inclusion portfolio
The new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) portfolio of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health recognizes the importance of fostering and sustaining inclusive learning, living and working environments for all. We not only strive to conduct public health research to meet the needs of marginalized groups in our institution and our community at large, but also envision this EDI portfolio as an opportunity for our members to hone in on specific skills, knowledge and ideas about EDI, health, and wellbeing. We acknowledge that people from different backgrounds bring a wealth of knowledge to public health research, teaching and advocacy.
Justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, are important concepts and values of the O'Brien Institute which will be highlighted in existing initiatives, policies and strategic plans as we move forward. We strive to engage all key stakeholders, sustain productive learning and working environments in which there is respect for the dignity of all persons, see people as autonomous beings and promote fair and equitable treatment of all people. Justice, equity, diversity and inclusion can occur in research, administration, teaching and healthcare by actively listening and sharing different perspectives, lived experiences and approaches to projects that may not have been included otherwise.
Portfolio lead
Dr. Aliya Kassam, PhD
Dr. Aliya Kassam, is a non-clinician medical education and health services researcher and the lead for the new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion portfolio for the O’Brien Institute. Her primary role is the research lead in the Office of Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) and Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences.
Aliya has a passion for wellness, advocacy and social justice. She completed an undergraduate honours degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Epidemiology specializing in psychiatric epidemiology. She became interested in medical education during her doctoral training in health services research at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London (London, England). During her doctoral work, Aliya studied under the supervision of British psychiatrist Sir Graham Thornicroft a world-renown mental illness stigma and discrimination expert. For her doctoral thesis, Aliya studied how best to reduce the stigma and discrimination endured by people with mental illness when seeking health care.