On Thursday, March 30, 2023, the Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers at Women’s College Hospital (WCH) in partnership with the Olive Branch of Hope, the Canadian Cancer Society and ReThink Breast Cancer hosted Best Health for Black Women: A Conversation About Breast Cancer and Gynecological Health.
The evening featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Aisha Lofters, medical director of the Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers and family physician at WCH, discussing the breast journey of Black women. This was followed by three uplifting digital stories from women with lived experience and then two panel discussions on breast cancer and gynecological conditions respectively. Resources tailored specifically for Black women were shared throughout the event; and attendees were encouraged to pose questions to the speakers through the chat, which saw an impressive amount of engagement.
The panels were made up of medical experts and community members with lived experience speaking to the specific conditions being presented. A strong theme of being your own advocate was threaded throughout the evening. The insights and stories shared resonated with the audience, who felt comfortable sharing their own questions and experiences through the chat.
Thank you to everyone involved in making Best Health for Black Women a resounding success, including the moderators, panelists and storytellers:
Dr. Aisha Lofters, Dr. Andrew Thomas, Dr. April Swoboda, Chantal Sorhaindo, Elysia Bryan, Dr. Juliet Daniel, Dr. Nazik Hammad, Laura Moore, Michelle Audoin, Dr. Cynthia Maxwell, Dr. Modupe Tude-Byass, Chantal Sorhaindo, Cristel Cuffy, Dr. Crystal Clark, Jaime Sterling, Sharon Cumberbatch, Dawn Barker, Nadia Headley and Janelle Griffith.
And the planning committee:
Dr. Aisha Lofters, Amanda Etty, Dr. Cynthia Maxwell, Dawn Barker, Donavan Miller, Elaine Gouldbourne, Jasmine Sikand, Laura Burnett, Laura Moore, Leila Springer, Melessa Carlson, Nicole Bourgeois, Patricia Rabel and Suzanne Charles Watson.