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Sep 12, 2025
This blog post was originally published in the September 2025 issue of doctorsNS magazine.
When Dr. Toni Sappong thinks back to her first day of medical school in 2012, she remembers the thrill of starting a new journey being overshadowed by the unsettling reality of being one of just two Black students in a class of 288 learners.
“I remember thinking, this is not a space where there are many people who look like me,” she recalled.
Medicine – family medicine, in particular – seemed like a great fit. “I’d always had an interest in helping people in some way – that was my main motivation. I had an aunt who was a family doctor in Ghana and I always admired and looked up to her. I thought, if she can do it, why not me?”
But during medical school at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Sappong faced microaggressions and assumptions about her race that made her question whether she belonged in medicine. “There was a time I went into the OR and was mistaken for the janitor. I was in full scrubs with a stethoscope around my neck. It’s always very startling when people make assumptions based on factors that are not in your control.”
She didn’t feel safe talking about what she experienced, which added to the stress. “Some interactions with colleagues were quite uncomfortable and I didn’t feel like I had anyone to talk to, so I didn’t say anything.”
After finishing her residency at the University of Toronto, Dr. Sappong practised in Toronto, providing care to marginalized and racialized populations. In October 2023, she moved to Nova Scotia. It was a bit of a homecoming for Dr. Sappong, who had completed her undergraduate degree at Dalhousie University and had strong ties to the province.
Moving back meant she could continue providing healthcare to underserviced groups. She currently practises at the Newcomer Health Clinic in Halifax and the Nova Scotia Sisterhood. The latter hosts clinics in historic Black communities across HRM, providing care to Black and African Nova Scotian women.
It’s also been an opportunity to tackle the systemic barriers that keep Black students from studying medicine. Dr. Sappong is the Academic Director of Black Health at Dalhousie Medical School and is working to change the culture of medical education to make it more supportive and inclusive for Black medical learners.
“We have a responsibility as physicians to reflect the people that we serve. We know Black patients have better health outcomes when they are treated by Black physicians,” said Dr. Sappong.
To help fill the gap, in 2024 Dalhousie Medical School launched a Black admissions pathway for medical students. Dr. Sappong oversees the pathway, which reduces barriers to admission for African Nova Scotian and Black students to help boost the number of Black physicians practising in Nova Scotia. Training and hiring more Black physicians means better care for Black Nova Scotians.
“We’re seeing tremendous growth in the number of Black med students enrolled,” she said. “I look at current medical classes compared to my medical class and they look completely different. It’s so exciting.”
Dr. Sappong also works with Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS), a Dalhousie program that provides guidance and mentorship for Black students at every stage of their training, from junior high through to community practice.
Black students face unique challenges and may be the first in their family to attend medical school, so they’re seeking connections and a community of support. “It’s about having someone they can talk to when they run into issues, microaggressions, everyday challenges or career questions they aren’t comfortable asking elsewhere,” said Dr. Sappong.
The program encourages Black physicians and residents to become mentors and preceptors for Black medical students. “There is a need for Black med students to interact with Black physicians so that they feel supported in navigating challenges, and so that they know what they can aspire to,” Dr. Sappong said. Physicians can also take part in smaller ways, including clinical electives, skilled clinician tutoring and informal mentorship (see page TK for details).
For Dr. Sappong, working with medical learners is an opportunity for doctors to rejuvenate their love for the profession. “I’ve felt this myself,” she said. “The students come in with fresh eyes, new knowledge, their questions and their enthusiasm. They add so much to your day and your practice.”
Second-year DalMed student Mary Lukindo first connected with PLANS in Grade 11. “At that time, I knew very little about medicine and had never considered a career in healthcare,” she recalled.
After meeting with program manager Michelle Patrick, Ms. Lukindo explored medicine at PLANS summer camps and through mentorship opportunities. “Through these experiences, including connecting with physicians, I became inspired to pursue medicine. Now, eight years later, I am in my second year of medical school.”
The path has not been easy, but Ms. Lukindo says having the wraparound support from PLANS has helped her stick to her goal of practising medicine. “I’ve gained so much from this experience: community, mentorship, support, space to be myself and space to grow.”
Connecting with Black physicians has also helped her see the practical side of her future career. “Being able to learn from someone who understands the nuances of navigating medicine as a Black person is deeply impactful. It builds confidence, offers practical guidance and reminds us that we belong in these spaces.”
That feeling of belonging and connection is what Dr. Sappong and her team are fostering to help build a welcoming community so Black physicians will stay in Nova Scotia long-term.
“These students are our future colleagues. At the end of the day, we want a community of physicians who can support each other and who are working to advance Black health and make sure people have the care they need.”
