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Q&A Stella Ng Research Highlights

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

To address health care labour shortages, Canada
Why education research? encourages the immigration of internationally
As a kid, I liked all the school subjects, so I always trained professionals. However, barriers faced
wanted to blend the arts and sciences. This area by these individuals are hindering them from
of research does that, with the added benefit of achieving their full potential in Canada.
enabling me to make positive changes to how
health care is taught and ultimately practiced. A study led by Drs. Tim Mickleborough and Tina
Martimianakis reveals how systemic racism is
What was your childhood like? being fuelled in the healthcare system.
I grew up in Timmins, Ontario. Compared to
Toronto, it was definitely cold, yet the winters The team used an approach called spatial analysis,
were beautiful because the snow would fall...then it which can define how social and cultural norms
would stay. No slush. I have fond memories of blue affect interpersonal dynamics. They uncovered the
skies and snowshoeing during gym class. following barriers:
• foreign-trained knowledge and practices are
Can you tell us about a role model? often seen as less valid than local equivalents;
While growing up, my sister was my role • visible minority groups, particularly those with
model. From the age of three, she wanted to be foreign accents, often contend with impressions
a veterinarian. And that is what she is now. Her that they are less competent;
dedication and hard work towards achieving her • after completing relicensing—an important
goal really inspired me. process for ensuring quality and safety in
the Canadian health care workforce—health
How did you find your way to research? professionals continue to experience stigma.
My journey has had a lot of twists and turns. I
started working in a lab that was developing tools “These practices create workplace hierarchies that
to help kids with hearing loss. This piqued my are highly racialized,” says Dr. Martimianakis.
interest in becoming a clinician, so I became a “Only when we understand how health care spaces
pediatric audiologist. Then, I started to confront are culturally and socially produced will we be
challenges in the healthcare system and ended able to make the evidence-based changes necessary
up going back to school because I wanted to help to truly meet our goals of supporting diversity and
solve those problems. I really did find my dream inclusion,” says Dr. Mickleborough.
job—one that enables me to improve health care Full Story / Scientific Article
and make it more compassionate and collaborative.

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