Alvina Nadeem: Promoting inclusivity in health data to redesign health care
When Alvina Nadeem was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at a young age, it reshaped her perspective on health care, highlighting significant gaps in equity and inclusion. Her life-changing experience made her acutely aware of the urgent need to radically re-envision and rebuild health care structures. “It’s not sufficient merely to include underserved groups into existing frameworks,” Nadeem explains. “We must fundamentally transform the health care system to authentically reflect and respond to the diverse lived experiences of all Canadians.”
Nadeem advocates for the integration of diverse and inclusive health data – data that accurately represents a wide range of communities, including marginalized, Indigenous, and racialized groups – as a core principle of equitable care. “Inclusive health data ensure decisions are made based on the real needs and experiences of all Canadians. When data accurately represent our diverse communities, health care solutions become more personalized, targeted, and effective.”
Inclusive health data ensure decisions are made based on the real needs and experiences of all Canadians. When data accurately represent our diverse communities, health care solutions become more personalized, targeted, and effective. ~ Alvina Nadeem
Bridging her career in engineering with her skills in professional coaching, Nadeem uniquely positions herself as a powerful advocate for systemic change. “Engineering taught me to break down complex problems and devise structured solutions,” she explained . “My coaching background complements this by helping me listen deeply and empathize genuinely with individual experiences.” Nadeem combines her technical skills with a focus on emotional intelligence, enabling her to listen to and engage with people’s stories, empowering them to shape health care systems that reflect their needs. This holistic, person-centered approach allows her to advocate for systemic change that prioritizes the individual experiences of diverse communities.
Nadeem’s personal health care journey profoundly influenced her involvement with advocacy organizations such as Ovarian Cancer Canada and the Quebec Cancer Coalition. After her diagnosis, she recognized the urgent need to amplify underrepresented voices in health care policy discussions. “Joining these advocacy groups allowed me to elevate diverse perspectives,” she notes. “We must ensure policies are not only inclusive but truly effective in addressing the realities faced by marginalized groups.”
As someone with a racialized identity, Nadeem deeply understands the profound impacts that cultural, socioeconomic and identity-related factors have on health care access. “I’ve seen firsthand how identity significantly shapes one’s experience with health care. For that reason, It’s essential to incorporate diversity into health care policy and practice at every level, she said: “diversity shouldn’t be an afterthought. it should be foundational, embedding the insights gained from diverse lived experiences directly into health care design.”
This deep commitment to inclusivity and data-driven equity drew Nadeem to join HDRN Canada’s Public Advisory Council (PAC). “HDRN Canada’s dedication to inclusive, representative health data research deeply aligns with my advocacy goals,” she said. “The PAC’s focus on using data to drive genuine, people-centered health care solutions resonates strongly with my own vision for an equitable health care system.” In her role on the PAC, Nadeem is focused on changing how health data are used “I envision health data as a powerful tool not just for medical advancement, but for creating a truly inclusive and equitable health care system. Our data must comprehensively represent marginalized communities, Indigenous peoples and racialized populations to ensure health care solutions are relevant and accessible for everyone.”
Looking ahead, Nadeem hopes to see tangible shifts in health care policy, practice and research, driven by inclusive and representative data. “We have an opportunity to revolutionize health care, creating a system that genuinely mirrors the diverse experiences and needs of our entire population,” she said. “By committing to inclusive, people-centred data, we can foster a health care environment that is equitable, accessible, and responsive to all. This is the future I’m dedicated to building.”