Don't miss out! Our fabulous Women in Policy and Leadership Panel event is now on YouTube. If in Canada, join together in the action suggestions. If beyond Canada - adapt to your geo-political contexts. Times are concerning, and we can turn this around. Together! #WomenLead #Equity

And the 2025 Women in Policy and Leadership Panel has officially ended! We learned that women’s participation in politics and policymaking is critical for creating inclusive, equitable systems. “If you want to see change, be the change.”

Meryem Benslimane from Conseil des Montréalaises says: “Leadership is creating systems where everyone is included.” She reminds us to co-create policies with those affected and challenge discrimination wherever it exists.

Get involved, volunteer, vote, and put your name on the ballot! Emmanuella Lambropoulos draws on her own experience in local politics in her advice to students. If you want to make societal change, connect with the people around you and your elected official!

Anuradha Dugal tells the students of HSEL 308 tells students to “look back to look forward.” There are excellent ideas out in the world and it is about putting into place things we already know. Everything is political so find your people and enact the care in your community.

We start our final round of comments from our panelists. The Honorable Eleni Bakopanos calls on students to “be the one for change.” Be authentic, brave, and compassionate. And vote! Democracy is participatory and our biggest problem is the current apathy we see in elections.

Honourable Eleni Bakopanos shared a strong message: “We’re not asking for more rights, just equal ones.” Women’s advocacy in policy has made gains like pay equity and early child care programs.

Anuradha Dugal responds to a question from one of our students discussing social media. She calls for Meta to reintroduce self-management with more education on how online abuse is just as dangerous as real life abuse.

Emmanuella Lambropoulos gives encouraging words for young women to get involved in politics! Believe in yourself and don’t let go of an opportunity!

“Inclusion is a journey and it’s everyone’s responsibility.” Meryem Benslimane emphasizes that change starts with learning: read, listen, attend workshops, and act with awareness. We are eager to learn when we have the structures in place.

Emmanuella Lambropoulos emphasized the power of education: it’s how we shift society. Equity and inclusion must be taught, lived, and shared. That’s how we can create real change in women’s health.

Anuradha Dugal: “fighting transphobia is one of the strongest things we can do right now.”

Emmanuella Lambropoulus connects earlier discussions of inclusion of women as an afterthought with the current Canadian budget. Anuradha Dugal and the Honorable Eleni Bakopanos echo this statement: Gender analysis must be done with each budget. What we see right now is a budget centred on men.

The Honorable Eleni Bakopanos brings our attention to the way that women become more marginalized in today’s world. The rise of authoritarian governments threatens women’s rights and safety. We are moving backwards in a way that we should all be concerned about.

In discussing key trends and issues within geopolitical contexts, our panelists share common sentiments. Inclusion is an afterthought. As a result, marginalized women are rendered invisible and left without tangible resource financing in healthcare, legislation, and advocacy groups.

Emmanuella Lambropoulos reminds us: women’s health is still underfunded and overlooked in research. When data doesn’t include us, we’re left without answers. We need women at every table to build a community and advocate for women's health.

Meryem Benslimane reminds us through her experience in the Conseil des Montréalaises that "diversity inclusion is not only about inclusion. It is about power, safety, health".

Emmanuella Lambropoulos notes that it is increasingly important for women to find themselves represented in politics in order to make meaningful change. “Without representation, we will not get far.”

Anuradha Dugal reminds us that community is important: together we can make change.

And our Women in Policy and Leadership has started this morning! We will post real-time key messages during this panel. The Honourable Eleni Bakopanos opens the panel with a strong message, "Working in politics was not a job, it was a vocation, a way to change the world".

Monday is our big day! Watch here at 09:00 for guest comment highlights. These trailblazers will set the path for girl/youth/women engagement in politics, policy and leadership. Critically important in these turbulent geo-political times. A @mcgill.ca student-led initiative. #WomenLead #Equity

Coming soon! Our annual 'Women in Policy and Leadership Panel' More important and timely than ever. Join us as we share our fabulous guests' messages here Monday November 10, 09:00 - 10:30 EST. #WomenLead #Equity

Apropos of nothing, we'll be hosting our annual 'Women in Policy and Leadership' Panel on Monday November 10, 09:00-10:30. We'll be posting highlights here. Join us. #WomenLead #Equity

We'll be holding our annual Women in Policy and Leadership Panel November 10. Because - this!👇

What we need now more than ever is women in politics! Evidence shows women leaders create better economies, environments, peace, security and conditions for health and wellbeing. Thank you @melaniejolycan.bsky.social for your leadership and vision.

One course has been retained. Issues in Women's Health will return in Fall 20225. Women's Reproductive Health on hold X 2 years (fate to be determined again later). We will do our best to make this one course count! Stay tuned.

Very concerned about the future of these courses as the Uni cuts its budget significantly. Due to the Premier of QC targeting English universities. I've been summoned to a meeting tomorrow. Our fate on the line. Stay tuned.

It would seem timely, on the cusp of #InternationalWomensDay, to repost this 🇨🇦 event. History and current events show us we can never take reproductive rights #SRHR and fertility care for granted. Want to be inspired? Watch here:

Missed the event yesterday? View the Reproductive Justice and Fertility Care Panel recording on McGill's YouTube page. #SRHR #ReproductiveJustice #AbortionCareIsHealthcare

“Many healthcare providers do not take young people seriously. They should not be an afterthought. Funding young people means funding the future. Advocating for youth-friendly healthcare projects is what will push us forward.” - Hani Rukh E Qamar

Clare Heggie asserts that prisons are a reproductive justice issue: "In Canada, there are few policies to address incarceration health gaps and reproductive care for incarcerated individuals. Prisons work to replace an investment into social systemic issues such as equitable access to healthcare."

Kirandeep Randhawa explains how all aspects of reproductive healthcare should be covered by public, provincial insurance—fertility care such as IVF should not be minimized as “life choices” in comparison to other forms of care. The right to choose a family should be a universal right.

"In Canada, understanding reproductive justice means recognizing that access to fertility care is deeply unequal. Inequities are compounded by disability, racialization, and gender identity—different people require different care." - Nashwa Khan

Clare Heggie, a Canadian researcher focusing on health care access in the context of criminalization in rural communities, is bringing her insightful expertise to our panel on Reproductive Justice and Fertility Care, happening today! The recording link will be posted in the coming days...

Kirandeep Randhawa, a Toronto-based scholar and community organizer, will contribute her knowledge of reproductive justice to our exciting panel happening today! Stay tuned for the recording, coming soon...

McGill’s own Hani Rukh-E-Qamar is speaking on our panel today, bringing her extensive academic and field experience to our discussion on Reproductive Justice and Fertility Care. Watch for the recording link, coming soon!

Today! The official countdown has begun. Follow my alter-ego @womenshealthmcgill.bsky.social 😊. Watch for students posts. View the recording on YouTube (in 1 or 2 days). #SRHR #ReproductiveJustice #AbortionCareIsHealthcare

It's today! The official countdown has begun...to Noon EST. Follow us here for student posts. Come back in 1 or 2 days and we'll give you the YouTube link to view the recording. #SRHR #ReproductiveJustice #AbortionCareIsHealthcare

Do you want to learn more about Canadian initiatives that meet at the intersection of disability, gender, and social justice? Nashwa Lina Khan has got the answers! Tune in to our panel on Reproductive Justice and Fertility Care—the recording will be posted soon!

More timely than ever! Share the word. Post your comments to the panel and students here in @bsky.app on Monday. Watch for the panel recording next week. #SRHR #ReproductiveJustice #AbortionCareIsHealthcare

We are counting down the days! Give us a 'follow' here. Join us for student posts during the Panel event. And then follow the link to McGill's YouTube after the event to view it in full. Hot topics for a cold winter day! #SRHR. #ReproductiveJustice. #AbortionCareIsHealthcare

#HPV infections pose serious risks for both men and women, experts say. The common infection can lead to anal, oral and head and neck cancers, by @sameerchhabra94.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/radio/whitec... via @cbcnews.ca @casinoshiftmd.bsky.social #cancer #vaccination

Ovarian cancer discovery could turn failed treatment into lifesaver Gut bacteria are to blame for the failure of immune checkpoint therapy for ovarian cancer, new research reveals www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

“We’re not going anywhere. What’s more: we’re expanding.” Nearly a dozen of Minnesota’s foremost experts on gender-affirming care collaborated on this beautiful op-ed in today’s Strib. No paywall.

Melissa and I wrote about our research being purged... www.minnpost.com/community-vo...

Short, online course @mcgillghp.bsky.social Summer Institute Introduction to Gender Equality and Global Health May 20-23, 2025 www.mcgill.ca/summerinstit...

RFK Jr: “Gardasil is probably the single worst, mass vaccine that we've ever seen.” @drneilstone.bsky.social: “The HPV vaccine (Gardasil) is safe, effective, and on the way to ELIMINATING cervical cancer! RFK Jr is an anti-vaccine fanatic who would rather your daughter got cancer than a vaccine.”

NEW ORLEANS! Join me this Tuesday February 2/18 AT 6pm in community for a soul-filling event for my New York Times best-seller LEGACY: A BLACK PHYSICIAN RECKONS WITH RACISM IN MEDICINE 👩🏾‍⚕️🩺 at Black-owned bookstore Baldwin and Company! RSVP HERE: www.eventbrite.com/e/uche-black...

“Previously known as vulvovaginal atrophy, now rebranded as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), vaginal dryness will probably affect between 60% and 80% of women, according to various studies. It is caused by the drop in oestrogen levels, which happens as women go through menopause”

Coming soon! Our Reproductive Justice and Fertility Care Panel! Monday Feb 24, 12:00-13:30. Care about 🇨🇦 reproductive justice? Don't miss out. We'll post here, live, during the event. Then we'll share the McGill YouTube link once it's available. Help spread the word 📣 #ReproductiveJustice #SRHR