For the past six years, I have had the privilege of serving adults with sickle cell disease — an inherited, serious, and multi-system blood disorder. I have witnessed how structural barriers rooted in anti-Black racism shape patients’ healthcare experiences and outcomes. These inequities have driven me to pursue doctoral studies. 

EFFECTING CHANGE

In February of 2025, I received admission into the doctoral program at University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. My research will focus on the healthcare experiences of adults with sickle cell disease in Ontario. This proposal has won the Ontario Graduate Scholarship — a prestigious and competitive award. 

Education is a powerful tool for change. Completing a doctoral degree would enable me to advance much-needed research in social justice, amplifying voices within marginalized communities, and advocating for systemic transformations. It is critical that we address sickle cell disease with the attention and resources it demands. This means not only improving clinical care but also tackling the socio-economic factors and systemic biases that influence health outcomes.

YOUR SUPPORT

As an underrepresented learner and social worker from racialized, refugee, and working class backgrounds, I face systemic barriers across different systems in accessing higher education and making my dreams come true. 

I am reaching out to the community for support. By supporting my academic journey, you are contributing to a broader mission: improving healthcare experiences and outcomes for people with sickle cell disease and catalyzing social change within our healthcare system.

With your help, we can challenge and dismantle the structural inequities that persist in our health institutions and foster an inclusive environment.

Your support can make a significant impact, not just on my academic path but on the lives of many who face inequities in healthcare.

Please sign this petition to help me access the necessary support to complete my doctoral studies. 

MY CONTRIBUTIONS OVER THE YEARS

 

 

 

 

At the European Conference on Social Work Education in June of 2025 in Salzburg, Austria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presenting on the Call-in-Cards for Anti-Black Racism Action in Salzburg, Austria! I share a tool I helped develop with YouthRex to promote critical self-reflection and action on anti-Black racism. This approach is recognized by Ontario Health as vital for improving quality in care for people with sickle cell disease.

 

 

 

 

Speaking on the social context of sickle cell disease in Ontario and steps for change in University Health Network's Health Talks video. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helping organize the Black Legacy Committee event, Anti-Blackness, Disability, and Healthcare. This February 2025 event is part of University Health Network's Colour of Proper Care series. I contributed a case study exploring opportunities for disability justice and anti-Black racism action in healthcare.

 

 

 

 

Presenting my work at the University Health Network on building capacity on recognizing and affirming disability for people with sickle cell disease to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. I share knowledge on how physicians can collaborate with patients and the inter-professional care team to address employment - a social determinant of health - for people with sickle cell disease. Doctoral education would allow me to mobilize this knowledge on multi-disciplinary practice! 

 

 

 

 

Presenting on income support at the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario's 2023 Sickle Cell Symposium. It is a delight to collaborate with patient support/advocacy groups to increase awareness on Sickle Cell Disease! 

 

 

 

 

My mum, a registered nurse of over 30 years, instilled in me my passion for patient-centred care. Here we are at Humber College’s Annual Sickle Cell Disease Symposium! I have been educating nursing students on inter-professional practice for caring people with sickle cell disease since 2021.

 

 

 

 

Speaking about barriers faced by newcomers and racialized people in organ transplant at the University Health Network's 2019 Access Living Donation Symposium on Access and Equity in Living Organ Donation and Transplantation.

SOME OF MY SCHOLARSHIP AND KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION 

1. Whiteout: A Social History of Sickle Cell Disease in Ontario, Canada (Academic Article) 
2. Storied Life: A Narrative Approach to Living with Chronic Illness (Academic Article)
3. Contested Disability: Sickle Cell Disease (Academic Article)
4. The RBCD Hub (Clinic Blog on Sickle Cell Disease, Thalassemia, and other Red Blood Cell Disorders I co-facilitate)
5. Innovation in Education Award (Article about the RBCD Hub winning an award at the University Health Network)
6. Sickle Cell Disease Education Program for Healthcare Professionals (I co-developed a module on Mental Health and Wellness in Sickle Cell Disease for SCAGO's course for healthcare providers)
7. Sickle Cell Disease: Care for People of All Ages (Health Policy Document to which I contributed)
8. Disability, Racism, and the Red Blood Cell Disorders (Blog post about a talk I gave as a key note speaker for the Canadian Hematology Society’s 2024 annual conference) 
9. Doing Right Together for Black Youth (Community Report I co-authored)