A program placing Black medical students in Toronto’s community health centres is expanding to five more centres and offering $5,000 each to students. The initiative, run by the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario (BPAO), allows students to gain valuable medical field experience. The program places students in centres catering to racialized communities, homeless, temporary residents, or refugees. Research shows Black patients often report higher satisfaction when treated by Black physicians. Despite Ontario nominating a record number of healthcare workers through its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), there is still a growing shortage of family medicine residency applicants. Last year, about 12% of all OINP nominations were made to healthcare workers.
