Black Medical Residents Build Community at NOSM University

A group of Black NOSM University learners who are hoping to “create a village” has established a new chapter of the Black Resident Physicians of Canada (BRPC) at NOSM University. Dr. Amaka Odega, a medical resident based in Sault Ste. Marie, leads the new BRPC chapter, which she helped launch this summer. 

“Residency can be challenging, and at times, isolating,” she says. “For Black residents, there can be additional experiences and challenges that are difficult to navigate without a community that understands them. At NOSM University, where residents are distributed across Northern Ontario, geography can add another layer to that sense of isolation. We wanted to create a space where Black residents could connect, support one another, celebrate our shared experiences, and know that they never have to navigate residency alone.” 

Supported by the Black Physicians of Canada and the Black Physicians Association of Ontario, the NOSM University BRPC chapter provides vital peer connections for Black residents. Their first gathering took place on July 3, 2026, and received very positive feedback. More than a professional group, the BRPC chapter is an opportunity for learners to build connections that can extend beyond residency and span different training sites, specialties, and generations of physicians. 

“Ultimately, we hope to help make NOSM University a place where Black physicians don’t simply train, but feel at home, build community, and want to stay and build their careers and lives in Northern Ontario,” Dr. Odega says.  

She adds, “Representation matters, but community makes representation meaningful. We want every Black resident in Northern Ontario to know that there is a community here for you, there is a village cheering you on, and you belong here!”