Let’s Take Action: Equity for All at the End of Life

Join a conversation with physician Naheed Dosani and social worker Michael A. Light as they reflect on their experiences witnessing profound injustice for those facing economic inequality, housing insecurity and end of life. They will share advice on strategies to cope with despair and opportunities to become better allies for some of the most vulnerable populations.

Since the 1980s, homelessness continues to be on the rise due to many contributing factors: the high cost of living, systemic poverty, healthcare access, and more. And those who are unhoused experience intersecting forms of oppression and discrimination as people of color, LGBTQ+, veterans, survivors of sexual and physical abuse, immigrants, formerly incarcerated, individuals with disabilities, those experiencing mental illness, and those struggling with addiction. Most minority groups, especially Black and Indigenous people, experience homelessness at higher rates than whites, largely due to long-standing historical and structural racism.

What small steps can we take to address homelessness, racism, xenophobia, and violence against the most marginalized? Let’s gather to acknowledge the challenges and find opportunities to be of service.

Following their discussion, we invite you to join small peer-led breakout room sessions guided by the following prompts:

• If you have experienced struggle as an advocate – either as a family caregiver or as a professional – can you identify any new pathways or insights to experience more peace?
• Is there an action - even a small, sweet step - to navigate the grief, heartache, injustice, or discrimination you may be experiencing directly or vicariously?

Dr. Naheed Dosani, MSC, MD, CCFP(PC), BSc

As a palliative care physician and health justice activist, Dr. Naheed Dosani is dedicated to advancing equitable access to healthcare for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities like poverty and homelessness. These efforts include founding & leading the Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) Program at the Inner City Health Associates in downtown Toronto, serving as the Medical Director of Kensington Hospice at Kensington Health, Health Equity Lead at Kensington Health, a Health Equity Expert Advisor at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and as a palliative care physician at St. Michael’s Hospital at Unity Health Toronto. Dr. Dosani shares his passion for palliative care and health equity with learners as an Assistant Professor with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. His research interests include advancing access to equity-oriented palliative care for structurally vulnerable populations & culturally diverse communities. Dr. Dosani has received many prestigious honors for his trailblazing work. These awards include the Meritorious Service Cross for Humanitarianism from Canada’s Governor General in 2018, a humanitarian award from the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians in May 2019 and the Early Career Leader award from the Canadian Medical Association in 2020. Most recently, Dr. Dosani received an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) from Ontario Tech University in 2022.

Michael A. Light, MSW, MPH, LICSW, APHSW-C

Michael is the social worker with the Homeless Palliative Care outreach team at Harborview Medical Center and Co-Director of the Palliative Care Training Center at the University of Washington (UW). He teaches in the UW School of Social Work and is Senior Faculty with VitalTalk. Michael engages in research and speaks nationally on topics intersecting homelessness, serious illness, patient-centered communication, and psychosocial care. Previous work includes clinical practice in emergency medicine, acute psychiatric care, and pediatrics and development support for medical social work and palliative care services in Cambodia. Michael earned an MSW and MPH in Global Health from UW.

About Reimagine and the Series "The Pursuit of Justice: From Inequity to Integrity”

Reimagine is a nonprofit organization catalyzing a uniquely powerful community–people of different backgrounds, ages, races, and faiths (and no faith) coming together in the hopes of healing ourselves and the world. We specifically support each other in facing adversity, loss, and mortality and–at our own pace– actively channeling life's biggest challenges into meaningful action and growth. www.letsreimagine.org

Building a more just and equitable society is an act of service and an act of love. In our communities and across the globe, taking steps to end violence, discrimination, poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, healthcare disparities, and other injustices not only can help repair a broken world, but can also help reduce despair, improve our wellbeing, and appreciate the humanity that connects all of us.

In this three-part series, palliative care providers, spiritual leaders, writers, filmmakers, and activists will share stories of grief and loss, and how their struggles with systemic and structural inequities have transformed their personal and professional lives. Register now and reimagine a world in which we all take steps to restore wholeness and set things right.