OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Scotiabank and
MD Financial Management Inc. (MD), in collaboration with the
Canadian Medical Association (CMA), are announcing a $1 million commitment over five years in support
of the Black Physicians' Association of Ontario (BPAO). The funding will advance
BPAO's efforts to champion equitable representation and promote the
wellbeing of Black physicians across the province and throughout
Canada.
"Scotiabank is deeply committed to advancing diversity and
inclusion in the communities in which we live and work," says
Glen Gowland, Group Head, Global
Wealth Management at Scotiabank. "We are pleased to support BPAO's
important work to advance the representation of Black Ontarians in
the field of medicine and to eliminate racialized health
disparities, for every future."
BPAO's mission is to cultivate an active and engaged network of
training and practising Black physicians, provide opportunities for
professional development and improve health outcomes for Black
Ontarians.
"The wellbeing of physicians is a key pillar of the quality of
healthcare in Canada and we
recognize that more must be done, especially for groups confronting
inequities," says Daniel Labonté, President and CEO of MD. "We are
proud to support the work of BPAO and are confident their efforts
will help build more inclusive physician communities, and in turn,
better the quality of healthcare for all Canadians."
"While we strive to build a healthcare system that truly meets
the needs of all Canadians, currently our reality falls short of
this aspiration," says Dr. Ann
Collins, President of the Canadian Medical Association.
"Systemic racism continues to be an entrenched challenge that must
be more broadly acknowledged and combatted. The CMA is very excited
to support BPAO and their bold plan to break down barriers, reframe
medical culture to promote inclusion, and ensure that Black
Ontarians are equitably represented in the profession and
racialized health disparities are eliminated. The leadership of
BPAO on this issue will prove beneficial in Ontario and beyond by creating a model that
can be applied to other communities."
"The events of 2020 have made it more apparent to society that
anti-Black racism is a problem in Canada, and more specifically in the field of
medicine," says BPAO President Dr. Onye
Nnorom. "Racism is a form of stress, impacting Black
Canadians, including Black physicians, who are then tasked with
supporting a community that is experiencing disparities, as
demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will allow BPAO
to become a stronger, more sustainable organization that can better
support Black physicians and trainees to amplify our work –
mentorship, advocating for equitable representation, creating
strong networks of peer support and educating all physicians on
Black health matters. We as Black physicians need to be well in
order to better serve our communities and act as champions of
health equity for society."
The funding is part of the 10-year, $115 million pledge by Scotiabank, together with
MD and the CMA, to support physicians, medical learners and the
communities they serve across Canada. The collaboration has committed
$37.1 million to date, supporting a
wide range of professional development activities, scholarships,
and health and wellness initiatives for physicians across the
country.
About Affinity Contributions
Scotiabank, MD Financial
Management Inc. (MD) and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA)
together are firmly committed to supporting the medical profession
and advancing health in Canada. As proof of this commitment,
and in collaboration with the CMA and MD, Scotiabank is investing
$115 million over 10 years to support
physicians and the communities they serve across Canada, with $37.1
million committed to date. To learn more, please visit
md.ca/physicianwellness.
About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is a leading bank in the
Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our
customers, their families and their communities achieve success
through a broad range of advice, products and services, including
personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private
banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.
With a team of approximately 90,000 employees and assets of
approximately $1.2 trillion (as at
January 31, 2021), Scotiabank trades
on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit
http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter
@ScotiabankViews.
About the Canadian Medical Association
The Canadian
Medical Association is the national voice of Canada's medical profession. We work with
physicians, residents and medical students on issues that matter to
the profession and the health of Canadians. We advocate for policy
and programs that drive meaningful change for physicians and their
patients.
About MD Financial Management Inc.
With more than 50
years of physician-focused experience, MD Financial Management Inc.
(MD) is dedicated to providing financial peace of mind to
Canada's physicians and their
families, so they can enjoy what matters most to them while
achieving their career and life goals. MD had more than
$56 billion in assets under
management as of February 11, 2021.
MD Management Limited was the first of the MD Group of Companies to
be founded, in 1969. MD Financial Management Inc. wholly owns or
has a majority interest in its seven subsidiaries (the MD Group of
Companies). It provides financial products and services, is the
fund manager for the MD Family of Funds and offers investment
counselling services. For a detailed list of the MD Group of
Companies, visit md.ca.
SOURCE Scotiabank