Who are we?

On March 1, 2020, Black medical students from all 17 Canadian medical schools united for the first time at our Inaugural General Meeting in Toronto, Ontario. Founded by Dr. Helen Teklemariam and Dr. Yohanna Asghedom, this gathering marked a defining moment for Black medical students nationwide—the first time representatives from every medical school came together to form an empowering, action-driven community.

The Black Medical Students’ Association of Canada (BMSAC) is a student-led organization whose mission is to create a collaborative network of Black medical students across Canada. The association was created to raise awareness about the growing, albeit limited, number of Black students within medicine in Canada, and to address the unique challenges faced by Black patients and health care professionals.

Building on our strong foundation, BMSAC has evolved into a powerful voice for change in Canadian medical education. Our first strategic plan (2021-2023) helped us create a connected community across the country and establish ourselves as a credible advocate for equity in medical education. Through subsequent strategic planning cycles, we have continued to grow and adapt while maintaining our commitment to addressing the chronic underrepresentation of Black students in medicine.