The Impact of COVID-19 on Access to Oral Care for Black Canadians
Rouzbeh Ostadsharif Memar
3rd Year Dental Student, U of T
Lis Grinfeld
1st Year Dental Student, U of T
There is little question that the two most defining features of the year that was 2020 were the Black Lives Matter movement, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Prompted by the overwhelming impact of these simultaneous global events, two dental students from the University of Toronto asked themselves an obvious question:
How is COVID-19 impacting the oral health of minorities in Canada - specifically the black Canadian community?
In this short conversation with Chiraz Guessaier, Manager CDA Oasis, Rouzbeh Ostadsharif Memar and Lis Grinfeld, walk through the basis of their study and highlight their key findings. They also introduce a promising student-led initiative designed to assist prospective candidates from minority communities in their journey to become dental students.
“As we begin exploring how COVID-19 might be impacting access to dental care for black Canadians, we realize that ultimately, accessibility comes down to finding a dental practice that is comfortable and accessible for minorities.”
Until next time!
CDA Oasis Team
