40: Chat with Diversity & Inclusion Consultant at DiversityTalk with Ika Washington, PhDc, MSc

Interview with Ika Washington, PhDc, MSc

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Highlights from this episode:

1. Starting DiversityTalk to support minorities within different sectors
2. Being Certified in Improving Global Health from Harvard University
3. Supporting First Nations people during pandemic
4. Highlighting health equity and social justice throughout her journey

Episode 40 of Public Health Careers

Ika Washington, PhDc, MSc, is Founder of DiversityTalk, works as a Regional Infectious Disease and Logistics Lead at Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, and is a PhD student at Public Health and Policy at York University. She is a public health professional who is passionately curious! She has spent the last several years utilizing her diverse background as a trained social scientist, policy analyst, and equity consultant to meet the needs of this rapidly changing world.

Ika got her Bachelor’s of science in biology: ecosystem health and a minor in women’s studies at Western University in London, Ontario. After this Ika went on to get her Master of Science in Gerontology at University of Southampton in the UK. She wrote her dissertation around Medicinal Cannabis and Older Populations.

Upon graduating, Ika worked as a Health Policy Analyst with Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority. Here she has been working with First Nations People to help them in their COVID-19 needs.

Ika has started her Consulting company, DiversityTalk. DiversityTalk (formerly Cannabis in Colour) is a diversity & inclusion consultancy and platform dedicated to the support of minorities within different sectors. This consultancy specializes in the healthcare and cannabis industries with over nine years of experience. They also as well as hosting events such as the Black Canadian Cannabis Webinar this February 25th.

She is also getting her certificates in health studies, public health at Ryerson University and a certificate in improving global health at Harvard University. She also works as a Project Manager at Racialized Health Initiative. She is currently working on getting her Project Management Professional certificate and is a PhD student at Public Health and Policy at York University (we’re praying for her!).