Women’s College Hospital unveils inaugural Black Health Plan
The new plan aims to address inequities and advance the health of Black communities
TORONTO, June 9, 2025 – Women’s College Hospital (WCH) has released its inaugural Black Health Plan – a strategic initiative designed to address longstanding health disparities impacting Black communities.
Anchored in WCH’s strategic plan, Healthcare Revolutionized 2030, the initiative marks the first time an Ontario hospital has launched a formalized Black Health Plan to address system inequities and support healthy Black communities.
“We know that even in a country where we take immense pride in our universal healthcare system that access to safe, equitable care isn’t a reality for everyone,” says Heather McPherson, President & CEO, WCH. “This is particularly true for Black communities who experience the greatest health inequities and disproportionate health outcomes. This is why we are being intentional in our efforts to advance Black health and support healthy Black people, families and communities.”
The Black Health Plan was developed through extensive community engagement and guided by an advisory committee of internal and external experts.
“The WCH Black Health Plan responds to calls to action for health service organizations to work collaboratively with Black communities to address health disparities. It draws from Ontario Health’s A Black Health Plan for Ontario and insights from Black communities, leading researchers and clinicians in Black health,” says Dr. Cindy Maxwell, Vice President, Medical Affairs & System Transformation, WCH.
The WCH Black Health Plan outlines three core focus areas:
- Access to Care – Strengthening ambulatory services, expanding culturally responsive mental health support, enhancing primary care access and creating outreach partnerships.
- Education, Research & Innovation – Advancing race-based data practices, supporting Black-focused research, expanding scholarship and building health competencies across the system.
- System Impact – Amplifying models of care, driving policy advocacy and creating tools for system navigation to empower Black patients and communities.
The plan is also powered by key institutional enablers such as patient experience, staff education and measurable health outcomes – ensuring that progress is tangible and community-led.
The Black Health Plan will be implemented across the 2025 – 2030 timeline with initiatives including:
- Mental Health Initiatives – Enhancing mental health services and improving access for Black patients, including those impacted by trauma and perinatal mental health conditions.
- Race-Based Data Collection – Working to close gaps in Canadian health data for Black populations.
- The Diverse Skin Clinic – Expanding access to the Ricky Kanee Schachter (RKS) Dermatology Centre at WCH, recognized as one of the largest and most diverse academic dermatology clinics in the GTA.
- Black Women’s Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Events – An Afrocentric and community-based approach to create a safe and welcoming space for Black women in the to get screened for breast and cervical cancer at WCH’s dedicated events.
- Black Community Outreach – Building connection though community outreach and education events, including the Black Women’s Healthcare Summit and Best Health for Black Women.
Read the complete Women’s College Hospital Black Health Plan.
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About Women’s College Hospital
Women’s College Hospital (WCH) is a leader in health for women, health equity and health system solutions – a hospital designed to keep people out of the hospital. Guided by its mission to transform healthcare for women and gender diverse people by delivering better outcomes, access and patient experience, WCH is setting a new pace for radical redesign in the health system through equitable and connected care, learning and discovery.
WCH is transforming the patient experience, creating new models of virtual care to improve access, pioneering system solutions that drive efficiencies and leading world-class research. As an academic hospital, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, WCH is training the healthcare providers of the future.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Kabir Shergill
Communications Advisor, Strategic Communications
Women’s College Hospital
kabir.shergill@wchospital.ca / (416) 918-3441