South Asian Community Health Task Force Invests in Medical Education and Community Advocacy

The South Asian Community Health Task Force (external link)  (SACHTF) has donated $100,000 on behalf of fundraising efforts from the Brampton community towards the Community Health Advocate Entrance Award.  

The entrance scholarship is designed to support first-year MD students who demonstrate a commitment to health literacy, advocacy and equity, particularly in underserved communities like Peel.

The recipients of the Community Health Advocate Entrance award are first-year medical school students Nabeel Mansuri and Abdullah Haris. They received the entrance scholarship on October 3, 2025 and had the opportunity to meet SACHTF members at the TMU School of Medicine.

Mansuri applied for the award knowing first-hand of the challenges facing underserved communities in Peel Region. As Community Program Coordinator with the Faith of Life Network, he helped secure $50,000 in grant funding to implement a culturally specific food hamper program serving more than 50 families.

During distribution, he noticed many recipients were struggling with isolation and untreated mental health concerns. In response, he collaborated with social workers to provide over 100 culturally and faith-informed therapy sessions.

“As a South Asian living in north Mississauga for over 20 years, I’ve witnessed gaps in preventative care for marginalized families, particularly within health education, mental health and with food insecurity,” he said. “By collaborating with colleagues, I aim to expand our collective impact, ensuring Peel's diverse communities receive inclusive, equitable healthcare."

Haris has also witnessed similar challenges facing his community—even during his own medical journey.

“As a South Asian immigrant with retinitis pigmentosa and hearing loss, I have personally experienced these barriers,” he said. “These challenges have driven my passion for advocacy and systemic change.”

Motivated to help others overcome barriers to better care, Haris worked with the Equestrian Association for the Disabled, supporting children with disabilities in rural areas with limited access to specialized services. He also decided to become an ELL tutor, where we helped break language barriers for newcomers, ensuring they have equitable access to community services.

“Continuing the work of the task force, we want to support medical education in service of the region’s health priorities and empower learners committed to staying and serving local communities,” says SACTF co-founder Dr. Sim Sandhanwalia. “The donation reflects SACHTF’s ongoing commitment to health system improvement and builds on its legacy of community mobilization and public health leadership.”

Community-centred health care in action

The SACHTF, formerly the South Asian COVID-19 Task Force, played a pivotal role in transforming Brampton from a COVID-19 hotspot to one of Canada’s most vaccinated communities. 

Recognizing the region’s unique challenges which included multigenerational homes, high numbers of essential workers and language barriers, the grassroots organization launched the highly successful “This is Our Shot” campaign. 

In collaboration with the Region of Peel, SACHTF offered multilingual and multicultural supports, as well as targeted education campaigns to reduce vaccine hesitancy, demonstrating the power of culturally and socially informed public health initiatives.

“The South Asian Community Health Task Force emerged from a critical need for culturally responsive healthcare,” says Dr. Teresa Chan, founding dean of the TMU School of Medicine and vice-president of medical affairs. “We share a commitment to social accountability. Their gift will support a medical school that will serve the community and centre patients with the goal of health for all.”

Recognizing health leaders and shaping the future of care

The entrance award provides financial support to aspiring physicians in high academic standing who reflect the diversity and drive to positively impact community health, particularly in the Peel Region.

“This is about more than funding,” says Guri Pannu, SACHTF co-founder and chief legal council. “It’s about creating pathways for the next generation of doctors and health leaders—people who understand their communities, serve with empathy, and lead with accountability. Our movement is rooted in equity, collaboration and giving back.”

The investment is made possible by SACHTF fundraising collected from the Brampton community during their campaign which made possible the distribution of more than 3 million items of PPE, across 10 provinces. Scholarships like this one are essential in providing support to students from underrepresented groups and removing financial barriers to medical education. 

Faculty clinicians show community advocacy in action

SACHTF advisor Dr. Tajinder Kaura, MD CCFP (EM) is also clinical faculty at the TMU School of Medicine. Kaura is corporate chief and medical director of  Emergency Services at Humber River Health.

“As an emergency doctor, being able to give back to the community in times of physical distress, when they’re at their most vulnerable, is very meaningful for me,” says TMU assistant clinical professor Kaura. “As faculty at the new medical school, I am committed to building physician capacity in Brampton and shaping a community-centered approach to medical education.”

On April 30, 2025, Kaura participated in a panel as part of the Future of Healthcare program in Brampton, a collaboration between TMU’s School of Medicine, Faculty of Community Services and the Peel District School Board (PDSB). 

The initiative provides students from grades 7 to 12 an opportunity to learn more about careers in health-care related fields and encourages them to see themselves as the next generation of health-care and medical professionals. 

Through an exploration of professions in medicine, nursing, midwifery, social work and nutrition, students will examine barriers to healthcare access, the social and environmental factors shaping health inequities, and initiatives that aim to create more equitable systems of care. The course also qualifies as a university credit that supports their future academic and career aspirations.

At the panel, Kaura talked about his work with SACTF, offering a model for community health advocacy to aspiring medical and health-care professionals.

The Future of Healthcare program is one way the School of Medicine aims to engage more students from underrepresented communities to pursue health professional education.