Dean’s Corner May 2022
Dean’s Message: May 2022
May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and I’m sure many of you like me, are horrified at the recent rise in anti-Asian violence particularly in North America. Eradicating this kind of vitriol and hate is something we must all actively work towards as allies, and as a community. Throughout the month of May, U of T recognizes and celebrate the contributions and achievements of Asian Canadians. I invite faculty, staff, and students to register for an educational workshop led by the Hong Fook Mental Health Association on Confronting Anti-Asian Racism: Tools, Strategies, and Discussions. https://antiracism.utoronto.ca/2021-asian-heritage-month/
On May 10, we welcomed international researcher Professor James Buchan who gave our keynote lecture on the impact of the pandemic and the nursing workforce for National Nursing Week. Attended online by close to 140 people, Professor Buchan’s discussion laid bare the state of nursing on a global scale, and illustrated how Canada’s nursing workforce compared to other countries, with panelists Ru Tagger and Donna Duncan providing a local Ontario perspective. For those who missed it, you can watch the entire lecture online. If you haven’t already, I also recommend reading our Q & A with Professor Buchan where he talks about retention strategies, the devaluation of the nursing profession, and what countries need to do to build back better.
As we at Bloomberg Nursing also aim to build back better, I am pleased to share that the Faculty’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Indigenous Reconciliation Committee (EDI&IR) has recently decided upon two of their key priorities that will focus on improving recruitment and hiring processes of faculty and staff as well as student recruitment and admissions. Both these areas require work in eliminating bias throughout the application process, and in creating a more welcoming and diverse recruitment campaign, that will help students and prospective faculty or staff, feel like Bloomberg Nursing is a place where they do belong. I would like to thank the co-Chairs of the EDI&IR Committee Chantal Sorhaindo and Ashley Ahuja, for their continued work on the goals of the committee and their commitment to ensuring Bloomberg Nursing does its part in dismantling historic discrimination.
As May winds to a close, I hope that you all take some time to enjoy the weather, the beginning of a new season and continue to stay well.
Sincerely,
Linda Johnston PhD FEANS FCAHS FAAN
Dean and Professor
Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing