Rose Fraser presenting at the March session of the Welcome Collaborative.

Rose Fraser, a retired nurse, has been a pillar of the African Nova Scotian community for decades as a patient healthcare advocate, health educator, counselor, and mentor. She is now joining the Welcome Collaborative program as the facilitator of its new African Nova Scotian Patients session.

The African Nova Scotian Patients session aims to provide an understanding of the history of African Nova Scotians, teach culturally sensitive and appropriate care techniques, and identify the unique health challenges faced by African Nova Scotians.

“I’ve been waiting for a program like this for years,” says Fraser. “It’s important for physicians entering Nova Scotia to be informed about the specific communities they may be practising in and to understand the unique needs of the communities they will serve, particularly Black communities.”

One of the key components of Fraser’s session is educating physicians about the history of African Nova Scotians, which helps build an understanding of the challenges faced by the community.

“It’s crucial for physicians to understand the impact of trauma and to provide culturally responsive care.”

“The most challenging issue for the African Nova Scotian community is the lack of trust in the medical system,” says Fraser. “Because of the long history of trauma in the Black community, and because of systemic and anti-Black racism, there has been a lot of distrust of many systems.”

Fraser believes that providing culturally responsive care, which includes building healthy relationships around trust and transparency, will help patients access better care.

“It’s crucial for physicians to understand the impact of trauma and to provide culturally responsive care,” says Fraser. “I believe that every healthcare provider should be trauma-informed and have a lens into the Black community’s reality.”

Fraser encourages physicians to foster relationships with both patients and the broader community and acknowledges the Welcome Collaborative for helping to bridge the gap between community and internationally trained physicians.

“This program will provide an invaluable amount of information and helps build better relationships between healthcare providers and the communities they serve,” says Fraser.

Fraser is excited to begin building relationships through her session and hopes that participants gain a deeper understanding of her community and the broader African Nova Scotian community.

“I would hope that every program participant would feel welcomed into Nova Scotia and to have a basic understanding of the African Nova Scotian community,” says Fraser. “This program is a step in the right direction towards providing culturally responsive healthcare for all communities.”