March 8 is International Women’s Day; a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity. This year’s global theme is Inspire Inclusion.
Every day at Ontario Health, dedicated and talented women contribute to the teams that drive change and innovation in Ontario’s health care system to ensure high-quality and equitable health care for all, including women, transmasculine people, Two-Spirit people and non-binary people.
As part of the Ontario Cervical Screen Program (OCSP), Ontario Health is working with the Ministry of Health to implement a new cervical screening test that uses human papillomavirus (HPV) testing to better prevent cervical cancer. Until then, Pap tests are still recommended for cervical screening. OCSP is a province-wide screening program that provides people with a cervix with access to high-quality cervical screening. The program’s goals are to reduce the risk of people developing or dying from cervical cancer, increase the percentage of eligible people who get screened regularly, and help ensure timely and appropriate follow-up when necessary.
This year, to celebrate International Women’s Day, we asked a few of our team members what Inspiring Inclusion at Ontario Health means to them:
“Going beyond words to create an environment where women can navigate through Ontario Health in a way that acknowledges and accommodates all the different roles we play in society while allowing us to have a strong voice and a seat at the right tables.”
– Rutendo Madzima, Lead Health Equity and Priority Populations, Ontario Health North East / Ontario Health North West
“To me, a workplace that inspires inclusion is one where we all regularly examine our subconscious biases; for example, considering how our ideas of ‘professionalism’ can often be gendered and/or racialized. We can all help each other feel valued by acknowledging that there are many ways to be authentic – and that your authentic self is worth celebrating.”
– Alizeh Shuaib Sethi, Strategy Analyst, Strategy, Planning, Privacy and Analytics
"Inspiring inclusion, to me, means a few things. I think representation is so important – especially for women and parents of young children – to see themselves, or future versions of themselves, reflected in leadership positions. If I think of women who have inspired me in my career, they weren't necessarily the ones who seemed like they had it all or had it all together; they were the people who were honest and vulnerable about what challenges they faced and led by example in how to overcome them. I think there needs to be a lot of honesty when it comes to inclusion and honesty, to me, is very inspiring."
– Sheila Favretto, Internal Communications Manager, Communications and Engagement
Ontario Health is committed to creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all team members. This includes resources like our Women in Motion Community of Inclusion, a team member-led group that supports the personal and professional development of women in the organization, and personalized Performance Development Programs that promote professional growth and learning opportunities that support each individuals’ unique goals.
As of January 31, 2024, 63 per cent of Ontario Health team members are women, and women represent 63 per cent of Ontario Health leadership roles. As we continue to seek talented individuals to join our workforce, we recognize that there is work to be done to improve representation and are committed to:
- Creating a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve
- Ensuring our services and communications are accessible to all individuals
- Embedding equity into our employment practices
Interested in a rewarding career at Ontario Health? We welcome applications to the opportunities listed on our job board.