During medical school, Zainab demonstrated outstanding leadership and initiative. She organized health literacy workshops for refugees living at Sojourn House, raising funds to support their recreational programming. She also played a key role in developing a global health certificate course for undergraduate medical learners that was accredited by the medical school. Zainab also took the initiative to expand equity content in obstetrics and gynecology within the third-year medical student curriculum and the department of obstetrics and gynecology’s website, ensuring more inclusive education.
In residency, Zainab continued this work through her involvement with the Network for the Advancement of Black Learners (N-ABL) through the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario where she has helped to foster more supportive learning environments for trainees and increase mental health supports. She also initiated an annual drive to collect Toronto Notes textbooks for international medical graduates (IMGs) helping them prepare for their licensing exams. Zainab continues to volunteer in this realm by helping coordinate free CaRMS preparatory sessions for IMGs.
As a member of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Advocacy Committee, Zainab has shown dedication to serving the broader community through the annual holiday drive. She selected the recipient organization Sojourn House and helped collect items as her hospital representative. Currently, Zainab is helping to develop a module on Black maternal health for undergraduate medical students. Her commitment to community and equitable access to care is further exemplified by her ongoing efforts to improve her language skills in French, Spanish, and Arabic in order to better serve Toronto's diverse patient population.
Zainab's global impact extends beyond her local community. At the end of her PGY1 year, a devastating civil war broke out in her native Sudan displacing most of her extended family and causing one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. She channeled her grief into action by volunteering with the Sudanese Canadian Community Association (SCCA). She helped with evacuation efforts for Canadians and securing housing for vulnerable individuals including a mother-daughter dyad whom Global Affairs Canada specifically reached out to Zainab to assist. Zainab had a crucial role advocating and developing a policy that aims to reunite over 3,250 families affected by the conflict. Traditionally, policies at Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) often exclude adults over 22 years old from family reunification programs linked to their parents. Zainab and her colleagues successfully lobbied for the inclusion of women over 22 so that they may be processed for immigration with the rest of their families and ensure that they are not left behind in conflict zones where they may face gender-based violence. Her advocacy also addressed logistical and safety concerns with IRCC and the UN's International Office of Migration (IOM). Through lobbying with MPs and raising her concerns directly to ministers, Zainab and her colleagues have been able to expand refugee programming and secure millions in humanitarian aid for Sudan and the region.
Zainab also led an initiative with the Sudanese Doctors Union (SDU) in Canada to gather online resources in obstetrics and gynecology to aid trainees in Sudan providing emergency care during the war. The conflict interrupted medical schools, shut down hospitals, and forced the few remaining functioning hospitals to operate with reduced staffing. Due to shortages, junior trainees were left to manage many conditions independently and requested more support. To help fill that gap, Zainab and her colleagues gathered online materials that could be easily downloaded between internet blackouts and shared among trainees. The resources covered various topics encountered in the field, ranging from the management of preeclampsia to obstetrical hemorrhages to infectious disease prophylaxis after a sexual assault. While these materials were not a replacement for proper medical training, they helped address the urgent needs created by the extremely challenging circumstances of the war.
Zainab's dedication to promoting social responsibility and advocating for vulnerable populations is exemplary.
What impact has the nominee's service had on the community?
- Health Literacy and Education: Zainab's leadership in organizing health literacy workshops for refugees and her role in developing a global health certificate course for medical learners have contributed to improving healthcare access and knowledge among marginalized communities.
- Equity in Medical Education: She has worked to expand equity content in obstetrics and gynecology education, ensuring that medical education is more inclusive and representative of diverse patient populations.
- Support for Black Learners: Through her involvement with N-ABL and the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario, Zainab has helped foster more supportive learning environments for trainees from underrepresented backgrounds and increase mental health supports.
- Support for International Medical Graduates (IMGs): Zainab's initiative to collect Toronto Notes textbooks for IMGs and lead free CaRMS preparatory sessions demonstrates her commitment to supporting IMGs in their journey to becoming licensed physicians in Canada.
- Language Skills Development: Zainab's ongoing efforts to improve her language skills in French, Spanish, and Arabic reflect her commitment to better serving Toronto's diverse patient population.
- Providing Critical Support During Crisis: In the midst of a devastating civil war that severely disrupted medical education and healthcare services in Sudan, Zainab's initiative with the Sudanese Doctors Union provided critical support to junior trainees who were facing immense challenges in managing medical conditions independently due to shortages and reduced staffing in hospitals.
- Addressing Urgent Medical Needs: Zainab compiled online resources on obstetrics and gynecology topics, including managing preeclampsia, obstetrical hemorrhages, and infectious disease prophylaxis after sexual assault. These served as valuable references for trainees navigating complex medical scenarios with limited resources and support.
Overall, Zainab's exemplary dedication to promoting social responsibility, advocating for vulnerable populations, and channeling her own experiences into meaningful action make her a deserving candidate for the Community Service Recognition Award.