What does Asian Heritage Month mean to you?
These questions are tricky and really gave me pause to reflect on my identity, cultural continuity, and visibility. I am and will always be proud to be Chinese Canadian, and I think it鈥檚 incredibly important that the Department is acknowledging and celebrating Asian Heritage month. Asian identities, experiences, and cultures are diverse, shaped by different histories and conditions, and have contributed so much to Western society. Yet, I think this month is often overlooked or considered an afterthought. Even for myself, I have never really 鈥渃elebrated鈥� Asian Heritage Month, and I think that in itself is reason to reflect on why this month matters and why this recognition remains limited in our everyday life.
Can you share a reflection on your experiences as an Asian individual in Family Medicine (or academia/healthcare)? What does meaningful representation and inclusion look like to you?
In terms of Asian representation, I think diversity, in all aspects, matters across spaces of power, including in academia and within our Department. Navigating academia, especially, can feel opaque, with unspoken norms and hidden expectations that privilege those already familiar with these systems. Representation can help create a sense of belonging for Asian students and junior researchers and affirm that we do belong in these spaces. But representation and inclusion must extend beyond just visibility to also positions of power and decision-making. Otherwise, it can reinforce tokenism, stereotypes, and maintain status quo under the guise of representation and inclusion.
What message would you like to share with the community this month?
Overall, I think this month opens space for more critical conversations about identity, culture, and power, pushing us to engage with the complexities of Asian experiences, resist simplified narratives, and address issues of invisibility and uneven representation. For me, this raises ongoing questions about how I navigate my identity within my research. I am reminded of the importance of bringing lived experience, including identity and culture, into my research, which I believe can challenge assumptions and shape more attentive, equitable approaches, especially when working with different communities.
