London Health Sciences Centre has announced Suishanie Brooks’ role as a Black Health Navigator on Thursday, providing guidance and care from a culturally sensitive approach.
Black Canadians experience “health and social inequities linked to processes of discrimination at multiple levels of society, including individual, interpersonal, institutional, and societal discrimination,” said a 2020 report from Statistics Canada.
Suishanie Brooks, Black Health Navigator (left) working with Jenna Newton, Clinical Navigator (right). (Credit: LHSC website)
Due to this, Black communities are largely under-treated in hospitals and health care settings while facing healthcare discrimination, said the report.
LHSC is “taking steps to address these inequities and ensure Black patients and families receive equitable, culturally safe care at every step of their journey,” said a hospital release.
The role of the Black Health Navigator is to aid in communication between families, patients, and workers, while ensuring understanding of healthcare options.
“There have been moments when I walk into a room and there’s an immediate sense of relief,” said Brooks in a release.
“Sometimes I don’t even need to speak. Just being there lets them know that they are not alone.”
This announcement comes during Black History Month, a time that is meant to educate, listen, and reflect upon Black history, culture, and next steps to further inclusivity.
Brooks’ care will help teams “better understand the cultural needs and nuances of caring for patients from Black, African, and Caribbean communities, and help patients feel comfortable enough to ask questions they might otherwise hold back,” said a statement from Cathy Wood, Interim Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at LHSC.
“It helps create culturally affirming spaces for patients, while supporting staff on their learning journey around anti-Black racism, cultural humility, and equity-informed care.”
More information on how to connect with Brooks and the Black health care team can be found here.
