By: Marielle Boutin
Growing up in the Niagara Region in a family of educators, Dr. Adom Bondzi-Simpson was guided by curiosity, the pursuit of knowledge, and a commitment to helping others. This led him to pursue a career in medicine and being presented with the Award for Young Leaders from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).
A PhD candidate in the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR) program at IHPME, Dr. Bondzi-Simpson is combining his desire to make a positive impact in his community with a passion for research and clinical practice. He’s also currently in the General Surgery Residency program at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
“In this profession, you witness the full spectrum of human emotions, from the joy of a newborn’s arrival to the sorrow of confronting mortality. As a healthcare provider, you have the unique opportunity to make a profound impact during these moments,” says Dr. Bondzi-Simpson. “To comfort, counsel, treat, and sometimes help let go. This connection and service are what inspired me to pursue a career in medicine.”.
Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Bondzi-Simpson says his mentors, from his basketball coaches in elementary school to professors during his undergraduate studies, have played a crucial role in how he approaches his career as a care provider.
He recalls a particular moment during his medical education when he was feeling stuck and grappling with the difficulty of choosing a path in a field of numerous possibilities.
“I struggled with wanting to be involved in everything, which led to spreading myself too thin and not performing to the best of my abilities,” says Dr. Bondzi-Simpson. “I wrote these down, discussed them with trusted people, and then confidently moved forward. Knowing my decisions were value- and purpose-driven provided comfort.”
Since then, he has been dedicated to reflecting this care and support back into the community through social justice initiatives, advocacy and leadership pursuits, particularly in the field of surgery, where he has focused his attention on helping to address the disparities in health outcomes among diverse or marginalized populations.
“Equal opportunity, access, and fairness are virtues we should strive for in our society,” says Dr. Bondzi-Simpson. “In healthcare, these principles are paramount as our systems aim to improve the health and wellbeing of all community members. Ensuring equitable access to healthcare is critical to appraising quality healthcare. When we see certain populations experiencing disproportionately high burdens of disease and poorer outcomes, social justice becomes essential.”
In 2020, he co-founded UpSurge, a mentorship program with the goal of encouraging and supporting underrepresented medical students pursuing careers in surgery. The undertaking was modest, with a goal of impacting at least one learner. However, the program has since grown exponentially, enrolling over 130 medical students across Canada and around the world and partnering with community access initiatives to deliver the program to elementary, high school, and undergraduate students.
This commitment to ensuring equal opportunity, access, and fairness in healthcare has also led to him holding a mentor role in the Sunnybrook Program to Access Research Knowledge (SPARK), an initiative supporting Black and Indigenous medical students at the University of Toronto.
This, coupled with his work with the Black Physicians Association of Ontario and the Black Health Alliance, has solidified him as a champion of equity and inclusivity in medicine.
His relentless dedication to helping others earned him the Award for Young Leaders from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) in July of 2024, recognizing him as a leader in the community.
He credits this award to the support he has received throughout his career, taking a moment to reflect on the guidance he has received from countless mentors.
“This recognition prompts introspection. Every milestone is a moment to reflect on those who have supported and guided me. I am deeply thankful to those who have helped shape my career and those I work with should-to-shoulder daily. For me, the CMA award reflects the labour of love, care and nurturing poured into me and what I strive to pour into others.”
As he settles into the next stage of his career, Dr. Bondzi-Simpson is optimistic about the future of equitable access to healthcare, owing to technological advances and their impact on health outcomes.
“Our generation has the opportunity to leverage these tools to serve our communities and the world. Ensuring equitable access will be our mission.”
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Communications
Marielle Boutin
Email Address: ihpme.communications@utoronto.ca