#IamMGH Black Voices - Meet Rosie Sears

#IamMGH tells the stories of our people. In honour of Black History Month, we’re centring the voices and lived experiences of our Black staff and physicians throughout February. Meet Rosie Sears, behavioural specialist at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH).

“I used to be an elite athlete. I played competitive soccer collegiately, provincially and nationally for many years, but was invariably hurt at one time or another. When I started to explore career paths, I was drawn to physiotherapy. It allowed me to continue engaging with my love of sports while being of service to others, which I’ve always felt was my calling.

Part of the joy I found as a physiotherapist was not just working with athletes but working with people who I felt had the greatest needs. Many of my clients had chronic neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and post-stroke recovery. To better assist these individuals, it became evident that I needed to incorporate a holistic approach to support more than just their health needs because the effects of their impairments impacted their whole life.  As health care professionals, we’re not just treating a disease or conditions — we’re treating a person who happens to be living with a disease or condition. So, to see the most effective change, I believe we need to work with the whole person and support these individuals so they can be the fullest versions of themselves.

I’ve always been a person who has asked the questions ‘why’ and ‘what.’ As a clinician and educator, I became passionate about working with clients living with dementia and trying to understand the meaning behind someone’s behaviour. Are they responding to or protecting themselves from something or someone? And what can we do to support them? I see it as a privilege to work collaboratively with staff, students, family members and patients — where appropriate — in settings such as hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes, schools, community programs and even in their own homes. I educate these groups about non-pharmacological strategies we can introduce to support individuals living with dementia so they can not only live the life they want, but live the life they deserve. It’s our duty to advocate and provide care for individuals in a way that considers their life experiences, as well as their biopsychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs.

Part of this work is recognizing that not all systems, including healthcare, have been set up to ensure everyone’s success.  As a Black woman, I’ve experienced these gaps in the healthcare system as both a provider and patient. I have heard Black patients say they often wonder if their medical concerns were dismissed, and symptoms not addressed, because of the colour of their skin. I am a uniquely skilled clinician and I once worked with a client who often made racist, derogatory comments to me. Eventually, they expressed that they did not want to receive care from me because I’m Black.

Initially I felt quite shocked and saddened but, fortunately, I had support from a great supervisor (who was White) who stepped in temporarily for me. Eventually, that patient requested my return. I only returned with the creation of well-defined boundaries to which the patient had to adhere and that were acceptable to me both at a personal and administrative level. My story is sadly not unique. It’s important to recognize that Black people and people of colour hear racial epithets all the time. Organizations need to support their Black staff and clients or patients because, often, we’re the only people supporting each other and ourselves.

I see the Inclusion Alliance at MGH as a venue where we can identify and articulate that these things are happening to both providers and patients and call for change. The next step is to address what we’re going to do and how we’re going to support Black and Indigenous people and people of colour. The reality of these lived experiences affects our clients, colleagues and community members and how we live, survive and thrive as a people. Acknowledging, addressing and understanding the impact of these experiences, and developing strategies that support change and people, will not only make us a better organization but make us better as a collective humanity.”