Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Temerty Faculty of Medicine Diversity Statement

Our learners, graduates, faculty, staff and partners will be an unparalleled force for new knowledge, better health and equity.

We will cultivate and bring to life ideas that impact scholarship and society through unprecedented collaboration drawing in the diverse voices of our research, learning and clinical network.

In achieving this, we will make inclusion and equity essential components of how we define and foster excellence in scholarship, practice and health outcomes. Individuals across the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, regardless of how they identify, will be invited to have a voice and be empowered to effect change.  Our environment will draw in and draw on our global outlook through diverse perspectives from a range of disciplines. Our graduates will be internationally recognized as a change force for equity.

We work in the context of a university fully committed to principles and programs for equity and diversity (University of Toronto, Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Excellence, 2006).  

Purpose of the University:  “The University of Toronto is dedicated to fostering an academic community in which the learning and scholarship of every member may flourish, with vigilant protection for individual human rights, and a resolute commitment to the principles of equal opportunity, equity and justice.”

The 2017-18 strategic planning process has reaffirmed our commitment to equity and diversity as key factors in fulfilling our social responsibility. We continually reassess our strategic goals and adjust as indicated.  At present, we are identifying three groups for priority attention:

• Indigenous Peoples of Canada (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis)
• People of African ancestry
• The economically disadvantaged

We are also committed to the principles of equity as defined in the policies of the university and provide a welcoming and accommodating environment to all including sexual and gender minorities, racialized people and people with disabilities.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Temerty Faculty of Medicine of the University of Toronto is committed to the principles of inclusion and diversity in all that we do. This includes:

• creating, supporting and maintaining a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying and disrespectful behaviour.
• striving to recruit and retain learners, staff and faculty that reflect the diversity of Canadian society.
• assuring that our programs and curricula prepare our graduates to meet the needs of the diverse communities they will serve in their careers in Canada and around the world,

Although Temerty Medicine has highlighted in its Diversity Statement that three particular groups have been targeted for priority attention (Indigenous, people of African ancestry, and the economically disadvantaged, the Faculty committed to working with all underrepresented/minoritized populations (including 2SLGBTQIA+ people, racialized groups, people with disabilities, those from rural or remote communities, and more) in order to advance all forms of equity, and in particular, health equity.

Temerty Medicine is committed to the principles of allyship, with the acknowledgement that people in positions of privilege must be willing to align themselves in solidarity with marginalized groups.