My journey has been one of learning and unlearning. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and spent my early career working as a pharmacist, where I developed a deep understanding of people’s health concerns and where medicine wasn’t supporting them. Looking for a whole-person approach, I studied naturopathic medicine for four years at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, learning whole-person care, integrative approaches, and a commitment to finding root causes rather than suppressing symptoms. And I learned how medicine, even alternative medicine, can replicate harm through hierarchy, paternalism, and the erasure of social context.

My passion for social justice led me to complete a master’s in equity, diversity and social justice at Western University this year. Deepening my understanding of oppression, marginalization and systemic racism has transformed my approach to health care.