TORONTO BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK

Dr. Crystal Clark is an internationally recognized psychiatrist in women’s mental health. She is the Canada Research Chair in Reproductive Mental Health, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and Associate Head of Research at Women’s College Hospital. Dr. Clark specializes in mood and anxiety disorders specifically across the reproductive life span (from menstruation to peri and post menopause). Her research aims to address gaps in psychiatric health care through development of identification and prevention strategies for marginalized populations in psychiatry including visible minorities and those with severe mental illness. 

Tanya Hayles is a keynote speaker and strategist who helps people navigate career,

organizational, and identity transitions. Working with teams, entrepreneurs, and

professionals on how to build their next playbook, focused on translating skills and

confidence across roles, industries, life and career pivots. With 20 years of event planning experience, Tanya launched the ioe agency, an event strategy firm supporting global brands, entrepreneurs, and culture-makers create events that are profitable, purposeful, and stress-free.

Lhamo Dolkar is a nurse practitioner (NP) at Lakeridge Health GAIN clinic, ensuring that our seniors are able to live in their own homes safely and independently. Dolkar is a second career nurse and brings her international health-care experience into her Canadian nursing career. She has worked across various sectors, such as multidisciplinary clinics, group homes as youth counselor, acute care, nursing home, public health, and community health care. Dolkar is well aware of the global and local sociopolitical issues as well as the social determinants that impact health. Her passion for improving health for all, community development and advocacy has motivated her to always remain engaged and current.

Measha Brueggergosman-Lee’s engaging personality, exceptional musicianship and powerful voice continue to take her to the major orchestras and concert halls of every continent. In 2024, she became the first black recipient and youngest recipient ever of The Lifetime Achievement Award for Classical Music from the Governor General of Canada. Her recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, PENTATONE, Naxos and Leaf Music have won several awards including several Junos and a Grammy nomination. Measha has survived morbid obesity, divorce, the loss of two babies, two emergency open-heart surgeries and a hip replacement and credits her faith in Jesus for inspiring her to see the joy in all areas of her life.

Emily Mills is the award-winning founder of How She Hustles – one of Canada’s trusted brands to engage diverse women entrepreneurs and leaders. She’s an in-demand public speaker, marketing consultant, digital influencer and event producer. A former journalist, her mission has always been to connect Black and racialized women and amplify their stories. For 15 years, she has hosted sold-out networking events and produced buzzworthy digital content through her company. How She Hustles’ notable projects include HERstory in Black with CBC and the Startup & Slay entrepreneur series with CIBC, Shopify and Rogers Sports & Media.

Jordyn is a birthworker, new mother, and community organizer committed to strengthening systems of care for families. As the founder of the Community Doulas Project, she centers community-led care that uplifts Black birthworkers, Black families, and the villages that sustain them. She believes doulas play a vital role in improving maternal health experiences and reducing racialized disparities, and is committed to scaling community-rooted solutions to make

this vision real.

Jahiem Henry graduated from the Midwifery Education Program at Toronto Midwifery

University in 2025. He completed clinical placements in GTA, and is practicing in the

Hamilton area. Before becoming a midwife, Jahiem developed a strong interest in healthcare and community support, which drew him to a career in midwifery. He is passionate about continuity of care and the relationships built through supporting clients and their families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Jahiem values collaboration and strives to provide compassionate, evidence-informed, and inclusive care to every family he supports.

Dr. Everton Gooden began his tenure as President and CEO of North York General Hospital (NYGH) on December 1, 2023. Everton has held a variety of leadership roles, including serving as Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee, President of the Medical Staff Association, Division

Chief of Head and Neck Surgery, Governor of the North York General Hospital Foundation Board of Governors and Chair of its Governance and Inclusion Committee. Everton is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass is the president of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, the inaugural and Past President of Black Physicians of Canada, and Chair of the Governance Committee of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. A Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada and the UK, Modupe completed her OB-GYN training in the UK and Canada. Modupe has made many media appearances including a CBC documentary series For the Culture with Amanda

Parris exploring Black maternal deaths.

Nam Kiwanuka is an award-winning journalist and is the host and senior producer of TVO’s bold new project, (MIS)Treated, a podcast on women's health. She hosted The Thread with Nam Kiwanuka, The Agenda in the Summer and was the co-host of The Agenda with Steve Paikin. She also contributes to columns for TVO.org. Originally from Uganda, Nam spent her early years in a refugee camp in Kenya before settling in London, Ontario. She's lived and worked in the UK, the USA and Sierra Leone. Her remarkable career in journalism includes roles as the first Black woman in Canada to host a magazine sports show with NBAXL and CFL Crunch on Sportsnet; as a VJ/Videographer at MuchMusic and writing a column for the BBC’s Focus on Africa.

Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman (she/her) is the President of the Ontario Medical Association and a practicing allergist and clinical immunologist in the Greater Toronto Area. She serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of the School of Medicine at the Toronto Metropolitan University, and an adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor in Pediatrics at McMaster University.

Dr. Abdurrahman earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Toronto and completed her pediatrics residency and subspecialty training in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at McMaster University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Statistics with a specialization in Biostatistics.

Dr. Josephine Etowa, PhD, RN, RM, FWACN, FAAN, FCAN, FCAHS is a Full Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Advancing Black Women’s Health at the University of Ottawa. A globally recognized leader in health equity, she specializes in addressing racism and inequities in healthcare, particularly affecting Black communities, women, and people living with HIV. She is the Founder and Director of the CO-CREATH Lab and has led multi-country research, including a CIHR-funded study spanning Canada, the U.S., and Nigeria. Dr. Etowa has received numerous national and international honors, including the Order of Ottawa and the Trailblazer Award from the Canadian Science Policy Centre. 

Kristyn Wong-Tam is the Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto Centre and a member of the Official Opposition with their fellow Ontario NDP MPPs. They are the Shadow Attorney General with responsibility for 2SLGBTQIA+ issues.

Before being elected as an MPP, Kristyn Wong-Tam was the City Councillor for Toronto Centre for 12 years. Prior to being elected to City Council, Kristyn Wong-Tam was an accomplished entrepreneur and supporter of arts and culture. 

Kristyn has a distinguished track record of human rights advocacy and was a co-founder of Asian Canadians For Equal Marriage, and the past president of the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter that successfully lobbied the federal government for the head tax apology and redress.

Dr. Murti is a public health and preventive medicine physician with extensive leadership experience across Canada and internationally. Prior to becoming the Medical Officer of Health for Toronto, she served as Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Province of Ontario. Her previous roles also include Medical Director of Health Protection at Public Health Ontario and Medical Health Officer with Fraser Health in British Columbia. Internationally, she has served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Dr. Murti holds a Doctor of Medicine degree and a Masters degree in Public Health and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. 

Denise Andrea Campbell is a purpose-driven executive leader with a strong track record in advancing social justice. Appointed Deputy City Manager in March 2025, she oversees Social Development, Senior Services and Long-Term Care, Children’s Services, Indigenous Affairs, and Toronto Employment and Social Services. Since joining the City in 2004, Denise has led major initiatives including the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, SafeTO, and the Community Crisis Service. She holds a Master of Management from McGill and a BA in Political Science from the University of Ottawa.

Dr. Jean-Placide Rubabaza’s entire career has been dedicated to giving his patients the best care possible. His outstanding skills in obstetrics and gynecology, strong foundation in evidence-based medicine and the genuine interest he takes in his patients’ well-being make him one of the most in-demand ob/gyns in Durham. It’s also the reason he is passionate about minimally invasive solutions. Under his care, women struggling for years with gynecological issues they assumed would plague them for the rest of their lives are given options that provide hope and relief. In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Rubabaza is deeply involved in teaching and research.

Alicia St.Hill is the Executive Director of Ontario’s Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN), including the Prenatal Screening Ontario (PSO) program – provincial programs at CHEO (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario). Her career has spanned health policy, care delivery management, quality improvement, and information technology in both the US (Washington, DC) and Ontario. She is passionate about advancing a learning health system that works collaboratively to support care and wellbeing.

Laurie-Ann Hintzen is a dedicated healthcare professional of mixed Guyanese descent, born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Her passion for prenatal care and childbirth began early in life, inspired by stories shared by her grandmother, mother, and aunts about midwifery practices in Guyana. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1996 and went on to complete a Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery at McMaster University in 1999, earning her designation as a Registered Midwife. In 2001, Laurie-Ann co-founded the first Black-owned midwifery practice in Scarborough, helping to expand access to culturally responsive care in the community.

Soniel Gordon is an entrepreneur, financial professional, and community advocate. As the owner of Sunny Boy Farm, he promotes healthy living and sustainable eating while leading youth programs that support at-risk individuals through farming and mental health workshops. He also helps individuals and families manage and build financial stability, and hosts events focused on financial awareness for families and young adults. As a devoted husband and new father, Soniel is committed to building a strong foundation at home while empowering others to do the same.

Dr. Cindy Maxwell is Vice President, Medical Affairs & System Transformation and Lead Medical Executive at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto and is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.  Dr. Maxwell co-leads The Black Reproductive Health Working Group in Ontario, N-ABL, the provincial network to support Black medical learners and is a past-President of the Black Physicians Association of Ontario. Dr. Maxwell is a Director on the Board of Directors of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. In 2026, Dr. Maxwell was recognized as a 100ABC Accomplished Black Canadian Women.

Dr. Natasha Williams is a Radical Self-Care and Leadership Expert, Registered Psychologist and one of the founding clinical directors of Allied Psychological in Toronto.  Dr. Williams is also an international professional speaker, trainer, best-selling published author and a certified Diversity, Equity and Inclusion facilitator.  Dr. Williams was a regular contributor to the Marilyn Denis show in Toronto and she is currently a media expert with CTV News, CTV Your Morning and the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).  She has also been featured in several publications such as Chatelaine, Reader’s Digest, The Globe and Mail, The National Post and the Huffington Post.  Dr. Williams has written several books including “Embracing Selfishness, it’s not what you think” and “You are not Every Woman!”.

Dr. Mona Loutfy is a recognized leader in women’s health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and HIV. She is a Full Professor at the University of Toronto and Senior Clinician Scientist at Women’s College Hospital, where she founded the Women and HIV Research Program in 2006, grounded in community-based, feminist, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist principles. She is an Infectious Diseases specialist providing care in Toronto, Ontario and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and oversees clinical trials through Maple Leaf Research.

Kambili Husbands is a Registered Midwife with The Midwives Clinic of East York Don Mills (TMC), holding privileges at Michael Garron Hospital and the Toronto Birth Centre. Along with Maeghan Macpherson and Teresa Cheng, Kam manages the Women's Health in Women's Hands (WHIWH)/TMC midwifery program, delivering free and accessible midwifery care to WHIWH clients. Kam is a graduate of the Midwifery Education Program at TMU. Before pursuing midwifery, she graduated with a BA in Women & Gender studies at Trent University and an MA in the Special Individualized Program at Concordia University. Her areas of interest include healthcare for immigrant and uninsured communities, informed choice in healthcare provision, and reproductive justice across intersecting identities.  

Maeghan Macpherson is a Registered Midwife at the Midwives’ Clinic of East York Don Mills, holding privileges at Michael Garron Hospital and the Toronto Birth Centre. Maeghan is part of the team delivering midwifery care to clients of the Women’s Health in Women’s Hands CHC. She also works part-time at the midwifery-led Family and Newborn Clinic at Michael Garron Hospital. Maeghan graduated from TMU with a BHSc in midwifery. She also holds a degree in public affairs and policy management, specializing in human rights from Carleton University. She is committed to providing midwifery care aligned with the values of reproductive justice to her clientele of predominantly immigrant and uninsured communities. Maeghan is also interested in midwifery-led research and policy to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Mohamed (Mo) joined the City of Toronto in 2012 and over the years has been a driving force behind transformative City initiatives. He joined SDFA in 2018 in the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit and was instrumental in embedding the Action Plan across the corporation. In his recent role as Director of Community Safety and Wellbeing, Mo led the implementation of the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS), Canada’s first community-based response to 911 mental health crisis calls. To date, the TCCS has responded to more than 20,000 calls for service, successfully diverting mental health calls from police response and connecting residents to community supports. Since April/2025, Mo is the Executive Director of Social Development.

Nataly is a Chartered Director and Certified Health Executive with over 20 years of senior leadership experience across acute care, long-term care, and community health in Canada and internationally. She is recognized for her expertise in governance, risk management, emergency preparedness, and evidence-based practice integration. As Director of Healthcare Safety and Risk Management at HIROC, Nataly partners with boards and executive teams nationwide to strengthen governance, enhance risk management practices, and advance cultures of safety and accountability across the healthcare system. Nataly brings significant governance experience, having served as a Board Chair in the community care sector and currently as Chair of the Governance, Human Resources, and Nominating Committee for a long-term care organization.

Born and raised in Jamaica, Chevoy Hickey moved to Canada at the age of 11. With his Caribbean roots, he knew education was the main option to be successful in this country. With that in mind he dedicated his time to his two passions for helping individuals and finance. Chevoy is driven by a belief that financial literacy provides a foundation for a healthier and more fulfilling life. Fast forward and Mr. Hickey is a dedicated financial advisor with Sun Life, committed to helping individuals, families, and small businesses build & secure financial futures. With a strong focus on protection and long-term planning, Hickey provides guidance on life insurance, health insurance, and income protection solutions such as short-term and long-term disability coverage.

Matthew is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and

Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the founder of a private psychotherapy practice where he provides compassionate, evidence-informed care to individuals, couples, and families. With over a decade of clinical experience, Matthew has supported children, youth, adults, and families from diverse communities across a broad spectrum of mental health concerns—including depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, ADHD, personality and mood

disorders, self-harm, grief, divorce, and domestic abuse. His practice is grounded in

culturally responsive, trauma-informed care.

BEE QUAMMIE is an award-winning writer, media personality, and public speaker. With a degree in Health Sciences from Western University, Bee spent over a decade in the healthcare industry working in mental health research, international health, and acquired brain injury work before transitioning to writing and media. She has hosted radio shows on Global News Radio and Flow 98.7FM and is a regular guest on CTV’s The Social and CBC Radio. Bee has written for publications like The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and Refinery29, among others, on topics such as culture, parenthood, and health and wellness. Bee is the author of The Book of Possibilities, published by Penguin Canada in 2025, an essay collection that explores possibility in our individual and collective lives. She lives in the Greater Toronto Area.

Shellene Drakes-Tull is a Canadian writer, educator, and storyteller whose work spans journalism, creative nonfiction, and fiction writing. With a background in communications and community-based storytelling, she has built a career amplifying Black Canadian voices and exploring the intersections of race, identity, and belonging. Her writing has appeared in publications such as the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and ByBlacks.com, where she shares narratives that challenge assumptions, spotlight underrepresented perspectives, and invite dialogue. Shellene has been a keynote speaker as well as led workshops at the United Way of Greater Toronto, Procter & Gamble, The Region of Durham, Durham Catholic District School Board, and others.  

Gillian Thompson is a Nurse Practitioner and Team Lead in the Young Families Program and Sexual Health Clinic in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children where her clinical, educational and research activity is focused on adolescent parents and their children. She has a clinical appointment with the University of Toronto, Faculty of Nursing involved with graduate education and Nurse Practitioner mentorship. She is an advocate of Social Paediatrics, facilitating the integration of developmental, physical and mental health services for families facing health inequities and adversity.

Oluwadara Ayoola (known as Dara) is a Registered Nurse with Toronto Public Health, where she has worked since 2014 across Reproductive Health, Early Years, the Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program, and currently the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program. In her current role, Dara provides intensive, relationship-based prenatal and early-years support to pregnant people under the age of 21, with a focus on prenatal health, perinatal mental wellness, breastfeeding support, parenting education, and strengthening long-term family outcomes through home visiting. Dara began her nursing career in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at what is now Toronto East Health Network and later worked in an inpatient mental health unit at Humber River Hospital.