EDI Committee

Members of EDI Committee for the Department of Radiology

Dr. Charlotte Yong-Hing, Medical Director Breast Imaging, BC Cancer Vancouver, Co-Vice Chair EDI, UBC Radiology and Co-Chair of the UBC Radiology EDI Committee


A commitment to diversity does not mean eliminating differences among individuals or groups or pretending that they do not exist. A true commitment to diversity means respecting and celebrating such differences. I believe the UBC Radiology Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee has the opportunity to strengthen UBC Radiology to better meet the needs of our increasingly diverse patient population. I am honoured to work with this group of inspiring and dedicated Radiologists towards improved work environments and better health equity.

Dr. Faisal Khosa, Associate Professor in Radiology Vancouver General Hospital, Co-Vice Chair, EDI, UBC Radiology and Co-Chair of the UBC Radiology EDI Committee


Through lived experience as a racialized minority I have come to believe in the edict of Martin Luther King “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” and the words of Elie Wiesel “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented…”

Dr. Jonathon Leipsic, Professor and Head, Department of Radiology


I am honoured to be a part of this incredibly important committee. From a personal perspective as a grandchild of refugees and who lost family in the Shoah ensuring that our department is an inclusive, diverse and safe space is fundamentally important. I am grateful to learn from others on the committee from their stories and working tirelessly to help co-create a more just and inclusive department.

Dr. Maura Brown, Radiologist, BC Cancer


I was motivated to join the Radiology EDI committee by my experience as a female radiologist who at times struggled with the balance of being a Radiologist, a mother, a wife and a daughter. I understand the toll it takes on an individual to wear so many hats, all of which require time, commitment and responsibility. I look forward to working on initiatives acknowledging this and working towards a fair, compassionate and equitable workplace for all.

Dr. Brenda Farnquist, Radiologist, Kelowna General Hospital


My name is Brenda Farnquist and I work in Kelowna at Kelowna General Hospital. I wanted to join the EDI committee, as I believe in forwarding this very important initiative. I recognize that radiology is not inclusive, diverse or equitable, And I want to take part in developing an environment that identifies barriers and provides strategies for all members of the radiology community to have equal opportunities in their careers, access to leadership and research.

Dr. Sharon Gershony, Pediatric Nuclear Radiologist, BCCH


I have worked at BC Children’s Hospital since 2019 as a pediatric nuclear radiologist and prior to that I completed my MD, as well as my Radiology and Nuclear Medicine residency programs at UBC. I am committed to helping ensure that equity, diversity and inclusiveness exists in the department of radiology (and nuclear medicine) in order to strengthen our training programs, patient care, and our working environment. While we have come a long way , there is still far to go with respect to ensuring fair treatment of all individuals and the cultivation of an environment in which all people are respected, where their differences are embraced, and where all people have access to the same opportunities.

Dr. Alison Harris, Clinical Professor in Radiology, UBC


Work at VGH and UBCH in Abdominal Imaging
I want to be a member of this incredible DEI committee: To enhance diversity in all its facets across the UBC department of Radiology, to develop leadership opportunities for those who have been previously under represented and to make the department a more inclusive place to work and thrive.

Dr. Kevin Ibach, Radiologist, BC Cancer


Equitable organizations respect the needs, outlooks, and the promise of all their members.  As part of the LGBTIA2+ community, I am happy to represent an invisible minority (perhaps not so much in my case ☺) on this important committee. Education empowers.

Dr. Blake Jamieson, MRI Practice Lead, Ridge Meadows Hospital


As a physician in a wheelchair I have a unique perspective on Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity in the workplace. Understanding firsthand the challenges that face physicians with a physical disability I am passionate about not only continuing but also improving upon the existing legacies of accessibility (and by extension Equity and Inclusivity) within the UBC Department of Radiology.

Dr. Corree Laule, PhD Associate Professor


I was motivated to join the Radiology EDI Committee by my experiences as a woman, an immigrant whose first language is not English, and a first generation university attendee training and working in the primarily male dominated discipline of MR physics. I look forward to working with everyone to actively improve EDI in medical research and science in our department and beyond.

Dr. Elaine Ni Mhurchu, Radiologist, BC Cancer


I am a Radiologist at BC Cancer. I am delighted to be part of this EDI committee. As a woman and also someone who trained overseas I have experience of another system with its own challenges; some similar, some different.  I would love to see more women choosing radiology as a career path.

This committee is filled with inspiring people who are aware of human and systemic bias. I am hopeful that I can help to disseminate this awareness. A diverse and equitable work place will have benefits for all, including patient care which is ultimately the goal we are all united in.

Dr. Talia Vertinsky, Radiologist, VGH


I have worked at Vancouver General Hospital since 2007 in Neuroradiology and I am a clinical associate professor in Radiology at UBC. Over my years of training and practice I have seen an important shift in medicine to become more self reflective and to recognize psychosocial aspects that influence our practice. I joined the EDI committee because I believe that equity, diversity and inclusion are the foundation of a rich learning environment, sensitive and effective patient care and advancement of the practice of medicine. We have come a long way over the past years but we have a long way to go and I am dedicated to work in a collaborative process toward a vision of a truly healthy health care system that is accessible and effective for all.

Dr. Wan Wan Yap, Radiologist, Abbotsford Regional Hospital


I was raised to believe I could achieve anything I put my mind to. As a woman and a visible minority, I’ve found that the reality is not as straightforward. Although I have not personally experienced overt discrimination as a physician, many women in medicine witness microaggressions, implicit bias, and forms of casual discrimination in higher education and the workplace. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a committee that will help develop intersectional solutions to discrimination in medicine and shift attitudes around equality for the betterment of future generations.