Emily Stowe Scholars Program

Emily Stowe Scholar Program logo

The Emily Stowe Scholar Program (ESSP) was named in honour of Dr. Emily Stowe, Canada’s first woman doctor. Dr. Stowe aided in establishing Woman’s Medical College in 1883, Toronto’s first medical school for women. The ESSP assembles a community of individuals, foundations and corporations dedicated to breaking down barriers to careers in academics and health leadership.

Currently in Canada, women, in particular those from diverse communities, continue to be underrepresented at all levels of health sciences senior scholarship and leadership. Without equity and diversity in the academic health sciences community, we simply cannot revolutionize healthcare for a healthier and more equitable world. As home to one of the only hospital-based research institutes in the world focused on the health of women, with women comprising over 50 percent of our scientists and physicians, Women’s College Hospital is at the forefront of the change the health care system needs. With a special focus on removing barriers for individuals from communities that are underrepresented in the health sciences, especially for diverse persons, the ESSP has a collective mission to engage, retain and support diverse scholars from early learning through their careers trajectories

Vision

The Emily Stowe Scholar Program will establish relationships that support, mentor and advance the wholistic development of diverse persons who have been systemically and historically excluded in health care and health science career trajectories.

Mission

The mission of the Emily Stowe Scholar Program is to engage, retain and support the advancement of diverse persons by developing pathways that respect diverse experiences, knowledge systems and skillsets from early learning throughout their career trajectories.

This summer, the ESSP is offering research opportunities to high school, undergraduate, medical, and graduate students who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, trans, two-spirit or non-binary. To see how you can get involved, please visit our Summer Student Research Opportunities.

Funding is also available for WCH post-doctoral fellows and early to late career scientists who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, trans, two-spirit or non-binary. Stay tuned for more details in how you can apply for this funding opportunity.

  • Dr. Rulan Parekh (Senior Fellow) | Supporting communities in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe (Senior Fellow) | Diabetes prevention and management for low-income and racialized populations
  • Dr. Dana Ross (Senior Fellow) | Communities who are disproportionally impacted by trauma
  • Niru Bhanderi (Emerging Leader) | Dismantling systemic racism and oppression in the area of sexual and reproductive health
  • Faith Delos-Reyes (Emerging Leader) | Cardiac rehabilitation specific to Indigenous women

Dr. Rulan Parekh, Vice President of Academics

Maya Strasser, Manager, Faculty, Staff & Trainees

Latest News

Get to know and learn about all the work from our Emily Stowe Scholars!

#ESSPShapers

The Emily Stowe Scholars Program is supporting the next generation of leaders working to shape a more equitable health system. Learn more about some of the 2022 students through their #ESSPShapers profiles:

The Emily Stowe Scholars Program is supporting the next generation of leaders working to shape a more equitable health system. Learn more about some of the 2022 students through their #ESSPShapers profiles:

Matthew Chen, seen from the chest up, wearing a white t-shirt, green collared shirt, glasses, and short black hair

Matthew Chen

Shayna Sharma, seen from the chest up, wearing a white blouse and long black hair

Shayna Sharma

Sruti Prabakaran, seen from the chest up, wearing a black blouse and long black hair

Sruti Prabakaran

Zuha Ali, seen from the chest up, wearing a red blouse and long black hair

Zuha Ali

Molly Gomes, seen from the chest up, wearing a black blazer, long black hair, and smiling

Molly Gomes

Ranya Mistry, seen from the chest up, wearing a grey sweater, long black hair, and smiling

Ranya Mistry

Heba Roble, seen from the chest up, wearing a black shirt

Heba Roble

Afnan Musa, seen from the waist up, wearing a floral shirt and black headscarf

Afnan Musa

Azza Osman, seen from the chest up, wearing a University of Toronto pull over, and medium length brown hair, smiling

Azza Osman

Aishat Adekunte, seen from the waist up, wearing a red shirt, long black hair, and smiling

Aishat Adekunte

Massoma Kisob, seen from the waist up, wearing a white t-shirt and curly black hair

Massoma Kisob

Maia Kelly, seen from the waist up, wearing a white collared shirt and long brown hair

Maia Kelly

Brennen Snow, seen from the chest up, wearing a black t-shirt, short blonde hair, and smiling

Brennan Snow

Sarah Qureshi, seen from the chest up, wearing a white blouse, long black hair, and smiling

Sarah Qureshi

 

 

 

From July 18 – 22, 2022, ESSP students participating in the Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) presented to scientists and staff on a variety of projects, ranging from a study of what lessons can be learned and opportunities imagined with respect to the collaboration infrastructure developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, to understanding the narrative experience of mercury-related headaches in the Grassy Narrows community.

Here’s a sample of the presentations from ESSP students:

Sarah Qureshi, B.Sc: Access and Policy Team

Afnan Musa Heterogeneity Amoung Individuals with Gestational Diabeties

 

 

 

 

 

 

To watch the full presentations visit our event recap.