September 8, 2026

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) today launched its National Anti-Racism Action Plan, establishing coordinated efforts across Canada’s 19 faculties of medicine to dismantle systemic racism in medical education.

Racism remains a primary driver of health inequities in Canada and continues to affect the experiences, well-being and advancement of Indigenous and Black learners, faculty and staff across academic medicine. Canadian medical schools are central to addressing this challenge. Their policies, institutional cultures and learning environments influence who enters and advances through medicine, while the education they provide prepares future physicians to care for increasingly diverse communities. Addressing systemic barriers within these institutions is therefore an important part of building a more equitable medical profession and healthcare system.

“This Plan is a call to action for everyone who learns, teaches, leads and works within our institutions,” said Constance LeBlanc, President and CEO of AFMC. “It challenges us to confront embedded biases, examine policies and practices that perpetuate inequities and take responsibility for change. Advancing equity requires sustained effort, measurable progress and a willingness to hold ourselves accountable.”

Building on AFMC’s 2025 Anti-Racism Commitment, the Action Plan sets out concrete actions and measures across five priority areas:

• Access and success: addressing barriers in admissions, recruitment, retention, promotion and leadership;
• Learning and working environments: creating safer, culturally responsive and accountable spaces for learners, faculty and staff;
• Education and scholarship: reviewing curricula and assessments for bias and strengthening anti-racist teaching, learning and research;
• Institutional infrastructure: building the policies, leadership and resources needed to sustain progress; and
• Community engagement: strengthening partnerships with communities and involving them in shaping priorities and defining success.

Progress will be tracked through equity-focused indicators and transparent reporting, enabling faculties to identify gaps and share effective practices. The Action Plan also recognizes that implementation should reflect the different histories, populations and institutional contexts of medical schools across the country.

As the national voice for academic medicine, AFMC will bring faculties together to support implementation, knowledge sharing and to reinforce shared responsibility for advancing anti-racism across Canadian medical education.

The AFMC National Anti-Racism Action Plan is available here.