Dr. Leah Jones, a family physician, is striving to improve access to, equity in, and inclusivity of medicine for Black Nova Scotians.
Being the first Academic Director of Black Health at Dalhousie Medical School, Dr. Jones assists African Nova Scotian and Black students in their education. She said that Student experiences are everything. “We’re working with students to ensure they have the resources they need to get through successfully.”, she said.
To encourage medical students to stay in Nova Scotia for the long term, it is important for them to feel respected and valued at the institution and, by extension, within the medical community.
Dr. Jones is a member of Dalhousie University’s School of Medicine’s Department of Community Partnerships and Global Health, which is run by Drs. Gaynor Watson-Creed (Associate Dean of Serving and Engaging Society) and Shawna O’Hearn (Director of Global Health). Dr. Brent Young, the Academic Director of Indigenous Health, collaborates with her. She said that she is joining a stellar team doing anti-oppression and anti-racism work to help change the culture of the university.
Dr. Jones, who was born and raised in Dartmouth, graduated from Dalhousie University with undergraduate degrees in biology and medicine. As a result, she has a firsthand understanding of the difficulties Black students have. She also added that they have shared lived experiences.
Breaking down obstacles for Black students applying to medical schools is another aspect of Dr. Jones’ efforts. She is performing this effort as the chair of the Black Learners Admissions Pathway Subcommittee. The group anticipates having its suggestions accepted for the cycle of admissions in 2023–2024.
Her assistance with curricular revisions for Dalhousie University’s medical program is another area of interest. Dr. Jones contributes her expertise as a Black doctor to initiatives intended to directly affect the health of Black patients. She said that the curriculum is needed to reflect the actual population they’re serving.
To see more Black and African Nova Scotians working in healthcare, mentoring is also essential. Dr. Jones is co-chair of PLANS, a Dalhousie initiative that offers Black youth initiatives to increase their interest in health occupations. The Sophia B. Jones Mentoring Program, which matches Black doctors with Black medical students, falls under this category.
Dr. Jones is a committed family doctor, academics aside. At Direction 180 in Halifax and the opioid treatment program in Dartmouth, she provides addiction medicine.
Also, she offers primary care via the Nova Scotia Sisterhood, a brand-new initiative by Nova Scotia Health that assists women in the province’s long-established Black communities.
Not only would having more Black healthcare professionals in Nova Scotia help with that goal, but it will also help with the province’s retention and recruitment issues.
More to this inspiring story at https://www.yourdoctors.ca/blog/health-care/drleahjones
Reference:
https://www.yourdoctors.ca/
Photo credits to: https://educationnewscanada.com/
