New Academic Lead position will advance equity and diversity efforts in research

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is pleased to announce a new role focused on advancing principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across our areas of research.

Academic Lead – Research Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (AL-REDI)

Associate Professor Sara Guilcher has accepted the new role of Academic Lead – Research Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (AL-REDI) at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. In this role, Professor Guilcher will provide guidance to support advancement of EDI throughout research at our Faculty.

Professor Guilcher brings in-depth expertise to this new position, particularly in the areas of health equity interventions and women’s health. Prior to joining the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy in 2015, she completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship that involved comprehensive training in community engagement and health equity interventions. The program, called The ACHIEVE Research Partnership: Action for Health Equity Interventions, was based at the Centre for Research on Inner City Health (now MAP – Centre for Urban Health Solutions) and was funded by CIHR’s Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR). During her doctoral studies at U of T, Professor Guilcher specialized in women’s health focusing on the health and well-being among women with disabilities.

“We all have a critical role to play, as allies, in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the research space and I look forward to exploring opportunities to improve some of our functions to ensure we are optimizing people’s potential across our community,” said Guilcher. “Research is a powerful tool that can help move health care delivery and policies forward by understanding disparities and informing improvements to reduce systemic inequities that we know exist in society.”

As the inaugural AL-REDI, Professor Guilcher will participate on selected committees to provide guidance and support in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in research, bring forward recommendations for changes to relevant committees as necessary, and make recommendations on the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s recently launched Academic Plan Emerge, Thrive and Lead.  

EDI initiatives at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Learn more about EDI initiatives at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.

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