Bridging Gaps in Care: Building Inclusive Health Systems for Health Equity

Public Graduate Student Symposium Hosted by the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing

We are pleased to invite you to Bridging Gaps in Care: Building Inclusive Health Systems for Health Equity, a full-day symposium taking place on March 25, 2026, at Oakham Lounge (55 Gould Street, Toronto).

What does building an inclusive health system look like for all Canadians?

Health equity begins with systems grounded in inclusive policies and accessible services. Yet many Canadians continue to face significant barriers to accessing the health care they need. Equity-deserving communities, including people with disabilities, racialized immigrants, and 2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians, are particularly impacted. These communities experience persistent challenges in accessing both primary and specialist care, including prolonged wait times, financial barriers to services, and discrimination within health care settings.

As Canada works toward more inclusive health systems, it is critical to consider the compounding effects of intersecting social and structural barriers that shape how communities experience care.
On March 25, 2026, this symposium will bring together emerging graduate students, researchers, and professionals committed to addressing health inequities through research, policy, and practice. Graduate students from across Canada will present work focused on inclusive health system transformation, including research on patient and client outcomes, professional practice, and policy reform.

This year’s symposium will feature a keynote address by Dr. Michelle Murti, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto and leader of Toronto Public Health. The afternoon will also include a professional research panel highlighting the work of community-based and Indigenous health organizations, including Casey House and CAMH.

The symposium will take place at Toronto Metropolitan University, located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas, and Haudenosaunee peoples, covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant.