Episode 24 – Standard of Care: A Documentary Series About Healthcare Disparities!

On this episode of the Peer Med Podcast, we welcome, Nancy Pickett, a filmmaker living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and several comorbidities. She started Standard of Care, a documentary series in response to the bias she faced as a chronically ill young woman, and to highlight the experiences of others who have faced barriers to quality medical care due to their identity/circumstances. She speaks about her experiences as a patient, producer, journalist and young advocate fighting for greater health equity!

Episode 23 – Don’t Forget Them, An Award-Winning Documentary About Refugees in Kurdistan!

On this episode of the Peer Med Podcast, we feature Dr. Jose Polo, an HIV specialist in Florida, USA. From his mission trip to Kurdistan to his adventures in the country, his documentary film “Don’t Forget Them” serves as a reminder of the importance of caring for those beyond our borders!

Episode 22 – Eliminating Shame, Stigma & Sexism from Health Experiences: Medical Herstory

On this episode of Peer Med, we welcome Medical Herstory, Tori Ford, Kainaz Gandhi & Ezy to speak about their award-winning youth-led not-for-profit organization, their activities and the importance of eliminating shame, stigma and sexism from health experiences. Committed to fighting for gender health equity, Medical Herstory though storytelling, medical education, and patient advocacy serves as a call to action for more compassionate and comprehensive medical care. Ever since writing publicly about her experiences, Tori removed the burden of shame she had been carrying and allowed herself greater healing. Soon she learnt she wasn’t the only one and ever since has inspired others’ stories which motivated her to launch this platform, movement and greater change for gender health equity!

Episode 21 – The South Asian Health Research Hub: “For the Community, By the Community”

On this episode of Peer Med, we welcome Public Health Scholars from the South Asian Health Research Hub, Dr. Ananya Tina Banerjee, Shudipta Islam & Amina Khan to speak about their organization, their activities and the importance of understanding the social determinants of South Asian health in Canada. As researchers, they design health promotion programs that produce positive change and health equity. All of their work is guided by the principles of the socio-ecological framework, intersectionality, community-based participatory research and cultural safety. South Asian Health Research Hub exists because they believe that research ought to be shaped “For the Community, By the Community”!

Episode 20 – Fighting for Menstrual Health Equity in Canada: Monthly Dignity

On this episode of the Peer Med Podcast, we welcome Co-founders of Monthly Dignity, Chloé, Anaïs & Sophia to speak about their not-for-profit organization, their activities and the importance of fighting for menstrual health equity in Canada. Through environmental and financial sustainability as well as a tripartite collaborative model with menstrual hygiene producers (FEMPRO & OrganiCup), Moisson Montreal (for storage and deliveries) and Montreal women’s shelters and day-centers (for distribution) they provide menstrual hygiene products to those who are unable to afford them in Montreal. Monthly Dignity exists because they believe that adequate access to menstrual hygiene products should be a right, not a privilege.

Episode 19 – Addressing Healthcare Disparities in Canada: The BIPOC Women’s Health Network

On this episode of the Peer Med Podcast, we welcome Executives from The BIPOC Women’s Health Network, Claire Dong & Whitney Ereyi to speak about their organization, their activities and the importance of caring for vulnerable populations as future physicians. They aims to provide healthcare resources to serve racialized & Indigenous women in local Canadian communities and believe that providing information that is culturally-sensitive, anti-oppressive, multilingual, feminist, and pro-choice is crucial to addressing healthcare disparities faced by BIPOC women. As medical students who comprise the organization, they are dedicated to accomplishing these goals by providing education for health care providers, medical students, and patients to provide culturally-safe environments essentially empowering women to take control over their health.

Episode 18 – From Global Health to Human Rights: Impala Global, Ensuring Technology is at the Forefront of Innovation

On this episode of the Peer Med Podcast, we welcome Co-Founders of Impala Global, Maud Kadye & Tafadzwa Kadye to speak about their organization. As an independent Think Tank, this episode dives into the work the organization does, using research to develop and strengthen the human rights and global health frameworks within tech. Acknowledging that disciplines such as digital health will continue to rise they provide us with insight into the importance of technology in our everyday lives, and essential to understand how interactions with technology, global health and human rights impact people everywhere.

Episode 17 – Humanity In Health: Increasing Cultural Competency in Future Healthcare Professionals

On this episode of the Peer Med Podcast, we welcome high-school student and Founder of Humanity in Health, Sreenidhi Saripalli to speak about her initiative. Living in the United States of America, a place that is home to so many people of different backgrounds, cultures, religions and ethnicities, this episode dives into the work the organization is doing to tackle the lack of cultural competency in healthcare. Inspired by her school’s Health Occupations Students of America chapter which exposed her to cultural diversities and disparities, Sreenidhi realized the role racism and culture have in influencing individual perceptions and access to healthcare. On a quest to answer: “why do healthcare disparities occur?” she now educates her peers through a variety of workshops, informative blogs and podcast conversations with physicians, where she invites them to join her in becoming more culturally competent.

Episode 16 – The Inclusive Care Project & LGBTQ+ Healthcare with Ellie Reyes

On this episode of Peer Med, we welcome LGBTQ+ Healthcare Educator, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant and Health Equity Advocate, Ellie Reyes. As the founder of the Inclusive Care Project, an online instagram community this episode captures the two in conversation about the Inclusive Care project, LGBTQ+ Healthcare and calls for the greater need for culturally competent health professionals. In order for our health providers and health systems to be more equipped to care for a variety of populations and individuals from across the gender spectrum, Ellie highlights in this episode the importance of a more equitable healthcare system and compassionate professionals now more than ever.

Episode 15 – An Innovative Health App: EatSafe – An Approach to More Informed Food Choices

On this episode of the Peer Med Podcast, we welcome University Graduates from Concordia University, Saad Brown & Lamine Kone who speak about their initiative, an innovative health app called EatSafe. Inspired by the pressing nature of and increased consumption of unhealthy foods in America and around the world, together with a team they decided to venture and live out their entrepreneurial mindset. EatSafe aims to guide the general population into making better healthier more informed decisions in terms of food consumption. With updates on the way and much more in store, listen to hear them enlighten us on what got them started.