OUR STORY
ABOUT BPAO
The Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario (BPAO) holds significant importance as the premier organization in Ontario supporting Black physicians and our community. BPAO was established in response to the growing presence of Black physicians in the province and the need for targeted support and advocacy. Its formation in 2007 and subsequent incorporation as a not-for-profit in 2015 highlights the organization's commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by Black physicians and improving healthcare outcomes within Black communities in Ontario. Through its focus on support, advocacy, and community health initiatives, the BPAO plays a crucial role in promoting equity, anti-colonial practices, and accessibility in the healthcare sector.
The impact of organizations like the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario (BPAO) in creating pathways for Black students to pursue careers in medicine is truly immeasurable. By addressing inequities and providing support, the BPAO has contributed to record highs of Black identifying medical learners entering medical schools not only in Ontario but across Canada. This achievement represents a significant step towards diversity and representation in the medical field, benefiting not just the Black community but society as a whole by fostering inclusivity and promoting healthcare equity.
We envision a province where Black Ontarians are equitably represented in the field of medicine and racialized health disparities are eliminated.
Board Members
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Dr. Ayodele Odutayo is an Adult Nephrologist. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree at UofT in 2013 and completed his Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Epidemiology from 2013-2017, both at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes scholar. His research focuses on clinical trials examining cardiovascular and kidney disease and is co-funded by the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Research.
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Raquiya Austin serves as in-house legal counsel to Ornge, a provincially funded not-for-profit organization which provides high quality air ambulance services and medical transport to people who are critically ill or injured. Raquiya is passionate about understanding EDI and how EDI plays a role in our community. She previously served as the inaugural EDI Co-Chairs within Ornge. Before entering the legal profession, Raquiya obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Law. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2016. Raquiya also holds an Honours BA in English Literature from York University.
Raquiya is an avid community activist, having held several Board appointments with varying organizations across the GTA.
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Mr. Evol Williams is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and holds Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) designations. Evol has an interest in Black community outreach and intends to use his area of expertise to advance the work of the BPAO.
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Dr. Andrew Thomas is a Family Physician who works in Durham Region. He is originally from Whitby, Ontario. He attended Howard University for medical school. Participating in mentorship and training opportunities through the BPAO motivated him to return to Canada to practice medicine. He served as a co-lead for the Black Health Vaccine Initiative (BHVI) clinic in Durham, and a co-lead for the SMART initiative.
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Dr. Madojemu is a resident physician in Psychiatry at McMaster University. She holds a medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Public Health from Memorial University, NL.Deeply committed to community service, Dr. Madojemu actively supports Black and marginalized communities through various leadership and volunteer roles. She has served as President of the Black Medical Students Association SK and President of the Canadian Alliance of Medical Students Against Human Trafficking. Her dedication extends to immigrant and refugee health, youth, and family support as a board member for Truly Alive Youth and Family Foundation Inc. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for Grants at STEMHub Foundation, to provide access to STEM programs for underserved populations in Ontario.
She enjoys being aunty to many non-bio nieces and nephews, traveling, and binging on Nollywood.
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Dr. Jodie Odame is a Paediatric Haematologist/Oncologist currently working at McMaster Children’s Hospital. After completing medical training at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), she pursued General Paediatrics training at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, followed by Paediatric
Haematology/Oncology training at SickKids. Dr. Odame holds separate
Master of Science degrees from the University of Toronto: one in Physiology
and another in Health Systems Leadership and Innovation.
Dr. Odame focuses on hemoglobinopathies, particularly sickle cell disease
(SCD). She is passionate about advocating for children and young adults
facing systemic challenges, and contributing to the development of policies
that improve health outcomes in marginalized populations.
As an international medical graduate (IMG), Dr. Odame is dedicated to
mentoring other IMG medical trainees through the application and
integration process, bridging global experiences with Canadian healthcare
standards.
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Dr. Mojola Omole is a breast surgical oncologist and general surgeon at Scarborough Health Network in Toronto, and a leading voice for equity in healthcare. As President of the Black Physicians of Ontario, she champions systemic change and advances initiatives that confront anti-Black racism and oppression in medicine and beyond.
In addition to her clinical and advocacy work, Dr. Omole is a faculty facilitator at Unity Health Toronto/Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Centre for Faculty Development, where she helps shape the next generation of academic leaders. She also serves as Chief Medical Officer and device consultant for the Stage Zero Collection—the first educational bra garment designed to teach people how to recognize breast cancer symptoms on darker skin tones.
Dr. Omole extends her expertise to public discourse as a freelance journalist and co-host of the CMAJ podcast, where she brings critical conversations about health, equity, and society to broader audiences.
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Dr. Chiebere O. Ogbuneke is a Family Physician. He completed his medical degree at Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Dr. Chiebere worked in Africa for a few years before moving to the UK for a Master’s degree in Public Health at Bournemouth University, United Kingdom.
Dr. Ogbuneke is the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Coordinator for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s nine residency program. He is also a Co-founder and CEO of MyTeleMD, a Telemedicine company that provides a platform for physicians to provide medical care virtually. Dr. Ogbuneke’s main interests are on vaccine preventable diseases, vaccine safety and Virtual Health/ Telemedicine.
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Dr. Neil Isaac is a Radiologist currently practicing at North York General Hospital. His academic journey began with an honors Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto, followed by Medical School and a residency in Radiology at Dalhousie University. Dr. Isaac further honed his expertise through a Fellowship in Cardiovascular Imaging at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Isaac has played a pivotal role at York Radiology Consultants, where he currently serves as the President and CEO, overseeing the Quality Assurance initiatives. Concurrently, he holds the position of Division Head of Cardiac Imaging at North York General Hospital in Toronto, ON. He is also a member of the Physicians' Services Committee at the Ontario Medical Association, and is also a member of the BPAO board.
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Dr. Simpson received her medical degree from McGill University and completed her General Pediatrics training and Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto. During her fellowship training, she also completed a Master’s in Public Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as a Global Health Scholar.
Dr. Simpson is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at CHEO and she is also appointed as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. Her major clinical and research interests have centered upon health systems improvement for children and adolescents with sickle cell disease and other chronic hematologic disorders.
In July 2021, Dr. Simpson was appointed as Assistant Dean for the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. In this role, she aims to strengthen faculty-wide approaches for supporting our diverse community of trainees, staff and faculty and to prioritize a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging within the Faculty and greater community.
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Dr. Joel Brown, MD is a family physician and clinical leader practising in rural Ontario, with postgraduate training in the UK and roots in Jamaica. He currently serves as Lead Physician at the Bluewater Area Family Health Team, advising on quality, safety, and team-based care, while providing comprehensive family medicine to a rostered population. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Western University. His work spans primary care innovation, medical education, and digital health, with a strong focus on equity and system accountability. In Huron Perth, he has contributed to local primary care planning, including work supporting the development of a Primary Care Network. He is involved in local physician advisory work and health system leadership tables, bringing a practical, grounded approach to advocacy and governance.
Meet the Team
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Chenai K.
Executive Director
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Carol J.
Operations Manager
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Mary O.
Manager, Medical Learners Affairs
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Lyndberly A.
Coordinator, Learner Affairs
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Kira V.
Social Media & Marketing Manager
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Subhanu Raveendran
Marketing and Social Media Assistant
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Lul M.
Event Marketing Liaison
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Keneisha Stone
Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships & Community Health Initiatives
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Amber Cader
Administrative Assistant
Dr. Miriam Rossi
Dr. Miriam Rossi played a key role as a co-founder of the ABHS and BPAO. Through her senior position as an Associate Dean in the Faculty of Medicine at U of T, Dr. Rossi was able to support the development of many BPAO initiatives coordinating access to spaces with influence, for us to have our voices heard.
As associate dean of student affairs, Professor Emeritus Miriam Rossi advised students on their academic, professional and personal lives. She also fought hard to address the underrepresentation of Black and Indigenous students in medicine.
In 1994, Rossi co-founded the Summer Mentorship Program, which gave high school students a chance to explore a variety of fields in the health sciences. It was a unique opportunity for Black and Indigenous youth to get a taste of the medical field and learn from mentors who with shared lived experiences.
Beyond U of T, Rossi was also instrumental in improving access to care and quality of care for minority communities in Toronto. She was a major champion in establishing the TAIBU Community Health Centre, which provided care to Black communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Thank you to the courageous leadership of our founders, and we hope to follow in your fearless footsteps.
Questions About BPAO?
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