The foundations of health are shaped not only within hospitals and clinics, but also by the environments we live in, the daily conditions we experience, and the communities that support us.
As a hospital focused on moving the needle of health equity and leading the new era of sex and gender in health, Women’s College Hospital wants to be a part of making Toronto a better, healthier place to live. Healthy Cities, Healthy People 2025, now in its third year, brought together a diverse group of presenters and attendees for a lively and interactive program. The event engaged members of the public and local community in thought-provoking discussions focusing on the topic of community-engaged health promotion and prevention.
Opening remarks and greetings were shared by WCH President and CEO, Heather McPherson and Vice-President of Academics at WCH, Dr. Rulan Parekh. The event then transitioned to the TED-Talk style presentations from our five guest experts, offering insights into the transformative potential of community-engaged health promotion and prevention.
- Kimberly Devotta, PhD (she/her/hers), Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Manager, Women’s College Hospital, shared her work partnering with community champions to improve cervical screening through innovative models like at-home testing for HPV that addresses barriers around access.
- Nadha Hassen, PhD (she/her), Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geography & Planning, Institute for Pandemics at University of Toronto, went into her work advancing prevention through equitable access to green spaces, by attending to green social prescribing, environmental and built determinants of health with partners such as Park People.
- Stephanie Hatzifilalithis, PhD (she/her), Scientist, Women’s Age Lab, Women’s College Hospital, presented on her research exploring aging in the right place through intergenerational housing in naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), to prevent precarity, decline, and isolation across generations.
- Vanessa Wright, NP-PHC, MScN, DN (she/her), Nurse Practitioner, Crossroads Clinic, Women’s College Hospital, shared her work in providing primary care for newcomers to Canada by integrating medical, social, and mental health supports within community settings and addressing the health impacts of precarious housing.
- Sara Shearkhani, PhD (she/her), Executive Director, Applied Research, Kids Help Phone and Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto went into her work on bringing economic and policy perspectives to health system design, focusing on neighbourhoods, employment, and community practices for sustainable health.
Common themes that arose during the presentations were how 50 per cent of what makes Canadian’s sick is their life (income, education, gender, race, housing, community belonging etc.). Presenters shared how individuals can take control of their own health by doing things like personally-prescribing green space and the importance of community-shared resources.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Syna Thakur, Chair of Healthy Cities, Healthy People 2025, focusing on community-engaged promotion and prevention and how we can work together to increase access and enhance patient outcomes in a rapidly changing environment, system or city. Attendees had some thoughtful questions for panelists and were eager to share their lived experiences.
During breaks attendees also had the opportunity to participate in some engagement exercises around the theme of the day’s event. Mapping well-being was one of the activities, where guests would mark on a map of Toronto a place where they feel healthy and connected. There was also a Commitment Board where guests indicated a small action that they could take or continue to build a healthier, more connected community.
Attendees were also treated to a digital storytelling experience called Digital Kuumba: Connecting Our Stories, by TAIBU Community Health Centre and The Resemblage Project. This explores the experiences of aging and older age that emerge through digital storytelling methods in Black and racialized older adults, and how community-engaged digital storytelling offers insights into Afrocentric values of intergenerational knowledge exchange. It’s through exercises like this that the event truly encouraged attendees and speakers alike to work together on brainstorming actions towards a healthier society.
As the event concluded, participants were left inspired by the possibilities of a healthier, more equitable future for Toronto and beyond. Women’s College Hospital reaffirmed its commitment to leading this charge, ensuring that the intersection of health, community, and equity remains at the forefront of its work.
