Maame De-Heer (BPH ’16) is passionate about creating a more equitable health-care system — and she’s training the next generation of health care providers at Brock University to help drive that change.

“We need to create a system where everyone feels that their voices are heard, their challenges and concerns are being addressed and they are receiving equal access to health care, irrespective of their social identity,” said the instructor in the Brock’s Department of Health Sciences.

De-Heer was recently named February’s EDI Changemaker by Brock’s Office of Human Rights and Equity (HRE) for her commitment to integrating equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles in all aspects of her teaching.

“EDI is thoroughly embedded within public health as social identities are encapsulated in social determinants of health, such as socio-economic status, race, religion or gender,” she said. “These are things about a person that cannot be changed and, if not recognized or managed effectively, could, in turn, affect their health or even lead to death.”

Anne Readhead, Educational Developer for Brock’s Centre for Pedagogical Innovation, said De-Heer’s pedagogical approach incrementally builds on student knowledge and ensures the lesson material is accessible and engaging to those with varying learning styles.

“She has integrated the fascinating strategy of meaningful and authentic storytelling to make complex concepts relatable and memorable,” Readhead said. “She excels at keeping her learners actively engaged throughout her class time, where her diverse teaching methods not only support learner comprehension but also encourage critical reflection and independent thought.”

De-Heer often calls on her robust experience in the field — including working as a Policy Analyst at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada — to further her students’ understanding of the intersectional nature of public health outcomes across equity-deserving populations.

She also shares examples of lived experiences in the health-care system — including her own, as an immigrant woman from Ghana — and trending topics in the media to encourage critical thought surrounding the course material.

By highlighting stories of real people who have experienced discrimination or dismissal in health-care settings, she helps students understand the role physicians play in addressing health disparities and reducing distrust in the medical community among marginalized groups.

She also encourages her students, as aspiring health-care providers, to acknowledge their implicit biases and work toward eliminating them. Doing so, De-Heer said, ensures they do not translate into microaggressions that could further impact access and quality of care for those negatively impacted by health inequities rooted in racism and discrimination.

“EDI is about eliminating barriers, whether systemic or institutionalized, that are prevalent within our communities and society because when you look at equity-denied groups, they are often disproportionately disadvantaged,” she said. “I encourage my students to always wear an EDI lens because when you do that, you’re able to really value, respect and understand people with different identities and be empathetic towards their circumstances.”

De-Heer added that she is “elated” to have been recognized as an EDI Changemaker, especially during the University’s recognition of Black History/African Heritage Month.

“I believe that it is evidence of the work I have been putting in over the years, encouragement to keep on doing that work and recognition that more work needs to be done to support people who are equity denied,” she said. “We can dismantle barriers, step-by-step, and this recognition is my small way of doing so and being the change that I want to see in the community I am in.”

EDI Changemaker criteria and nomination information is available on the HRE website.