Working Toward Allyship in Healthcare

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Dates: October 9 – 27, 2023
Delivery: Asynchronous Online
Lead Faculty Contact: Kathryn Hayward  

Course Description:
This 9-hour online mini course focuses on access to healthcare services and is designed to guide learners in building their confidence, knowledge, and critical analysis skills as they work on interprofessional teams as allies with people who are at risk of marginalization and discrimination. Allyship requires us to challenge stereotypes, racism, prejudice, discrimination, and privilege deeply embedded in the systems with which we work and harms relationships with colleagues and clients whom we work. Through self-reflection and exploration of the learning outcomes students will explore interprofessional competencies in ways that promote allyship.

These online modules utilize blended approaches to learning including personal self reflection, case-based interprofessional team (group work) and facilitated discussions. An intersectional lens is necessary to understanding the complexities of allyship. Intersectionality, a concept introduced by Black Feminist Scholar Kimberle Crenshaw (2014), requires us to consider the complex intersections of our personal identities and how these shape our experiences and access to material resources. Our intersectional identities include sexuality (2SLGBTQIA+), (dis)Ability, age, class, race, gender, mental health, access to housing, education, nationality, etc.  

Learning to address oppressive ideas and practices, and recognizing personal biases and privilege is an important part of ensuring effective interprofessional collaborative practice and allyship. At the end of the mini-course learners within each interprofessional team will synthesize their key “take-aways” and lessons learned and post them for the other interprofessional teams to view.