South Asian Community Health Task Force Invests in Medical Education and Community Advocacy
Community advocacy in action. The South Asian Community Health Task Force (SACHTF) establishes a new scholarship at 91福利鈥檚 School of Medicine.
The (SACHTF) has donated $100,000 on behalf of fundraising efforts from the Brampton community towards the Community Health Advocate Entrance Award.
The entrance scholarship is designed to support first-year MD students who demonstrate a commitment to health literacy, advocacy and equity, particularly in underserved communities like Peel.
The recipients of the Community Health Advocate Entrance award are first-year medical school students Nabeel Mansuri and Abdullah Haris. They received the entrance scholarship on October 3, 2025 and had the opportunity to meet SACHTF members at the 91福利 School of Medicine.
Mansuri applied for the award knowing first-hand of the challenges facing underserved communities in Peel Region. As Community Program Coordinator with the Faith of Life Network, he helped secure $50,000 in grant funding to implement a culturally specific food hamper program serving more than 50 families.
During distribution, he noticed many recipients were struggling with isolation and untreated mental health concerns. In response, he collaborated with social workers to provide over 100 culturally and faith-informed therapy sessions.
First-year MD students Nabeel Mansuri (far left) and Abdullah Haris(far right) are the inaugural recipients of the Community Health Advocate Entrance Award.
鈥淎s a South Asian living in north Mississauga for over 20 years, I鈥檝e witnessed gaps in preventative care for marginalized families, particularly within health education, mental health and with food insecurity,鈥� he said. 鈥淏y collaborating with colleagues, I aim to expand our collective impact, ensuring Peel's diverse communities receive inclusive, equitable healthcare."
Haris has also witnessed similar challenges facing his community鈥攅ven during his own medical journey.
鈥淎s a South Asian immigrant with retinitis pigmentosa and hearing loss, I have personally experienced these barriers,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese challenges have driven my passion for advocacy and systemic change.鈥�
Motivated to help others overcome barriers to better care, Haris worked with the Equestrian Association for the Disabled, supporting children with disabilities in rural areas with limited access to specialized services. He also decided to become an ELL tutor, where we helped break language barriers for newcomers, ensuring they have equitable access to community services.
鈥淐ontinuing the work of the task force, we want to support medical education in service of the region鈥檚 health priorities and empower learners committed to staying and serving local communities,鈥� says SACTF co-founder Dr. Sim Sandhanwalia. 鈥淭he donation reflects SACHTF鈥檚 ongoing commitment to health system improvement and builds on its legacy of community mobilization and public health leadership.鈥�
Dr. Tajinder Kaura is a health-care and community leader contributing to a new model of medical care as clinical faculty at the 91福利 School of Medicine. Photo credit: Michael A. Morgan, PDSB
Community-centred health care in action
The SACHTF, formerly the South Asian COVID-19 Task Force, played a pivotal role in transforming Brampton from a COVID-19 hotspot to one of Canada鈥檚 most vaccinated communities.
Recognizing the region鈥檚 unique challenges which included multigenerational homes, high numbers of essential workers and language barriers, the grassroots organization launched the highly successful 鈥淭his is Our Shot鈥� campaign.
In collaboration with the Region of Peel, SACHTF offered multilingual and multicultural supports, as well as targeted education campaigns to reduce vaccine hesitancy, demonstrating the power of culturally and socially informed public health initiatives.
鈥淭he South Asian Community Health Task Force emerged from a critical need for culturally responsive healthcare,鈥� says Dr. Teresa Chan, founding dean of the 91福利 School of Medicine and vice-president of medical affairs. 鈥淲e share a commitment to social accountability. Their gift will support a medical school that will serve the community and centre patients with the goal of health for all.鈥�
Recognizing health leaders and shaping the future of care
The entrance award provides financial support to aspiring physicians in high academic standing who reflect the diversity and drive to positively impact community health, particularly in the Peel Region.
鈥淭his is about more than funding,鈥� says Guri Pannu, SACHTF co-founder and chief legal council. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about creating pathways for the next generation of doctors and health leaders鈥攑eople who understand their communities, serve with empathy, and lead with accountability. Our movement is rooted in equity, collaboration and giving back.鈥�
The investment is made possible by SACHTF fundraising collected from the Brampton community during their campaign which made possible the distribution of more than 3 million items of PPE, across 10 provinces. Scholarships like this one are essential in providing support to students from underrepresented groups and removing financial barriers to medical education.
Faculty clinicians show community advocacy in action
SACHTF advisor Dr. Tajinder Kaura, MD CCFP (EM) is also clinical faculty at the 91福利 School of Medicine. Kaura is corporate chief and medical director of Emergency Services at Humber River Health.
鈥淎s an emergency doctor, being able to give back to the community in times of physical distress, when they鈥檙e at their most vulnerable, is very meaningful for me,鈥� says 91福利 assistant clinical professor Kaura. 鈥淎s faculty at the new medical school, I am committed to building physician capacity in Brampton and shaping a community-centered approach to medical education.鈥�
The Future of Healthcare program panel series invites highschoolers to learn more about the professional trajectories of health-care professionals. Photo credit: Michael A. Morgan, PDSB
On April 30, 2025, Kaura participated in a panel as part of the Future of Healthcare program in Brampton, a collaboration between 91福利鈥檚 School of Medicine, Faculty of Community Services and the Peel District School Board (PDSB).
The initiative provides students from grades 7 to 12 an opportunity to learn more about careers in health-care related fields and encourages them to see themselves as the next generation of health-care and medical professionals.
Through an exploration of professions in medicine, nursing, midwifery, social work and nutrition, students will examine barriers to healthcare access, the social and environmental factors shaping health inequities, and initiatives that aim to create more equitable systems of care. The course also qualifies as a university credit that supports their future academic and career aspirations.
At the panel, Kaura talked about his work with SACTF, offering a model for community health advocacy to aspiring medical and health-care professionals.
The Future of Healthcare program is one way the School of Medicine aims to engage more students from underrepresented communities to pursue health professional education.