Dr Saroo Sharda, MBChB, MMEd, FRCPC is an anesthesiologist, medical educator, writer and trained creative writing coach. She identifies as a woman of colour of North Indian descent, who has the privilege of being cis-gender, straight, able-bodied and economically privileged. Dr Sharda is a Medical Advisor and the inaugural Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

She is an advocate for physician wellness, equity and antiracism, and has written and spoken widely about these topics, including publications in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, British Medical Journal, The Globe and Mail and Today’s Parent.

She arrived in Canada from the UK in 2007 where she undertook anesthesia residency training at the University of Toronto. Dr Sharda also completed a Masters in Medical Education (The University of Dundee) and a Fellowship in Medical Education (The Wilson Centre, University of Toronto). She was awarded the Wilson Centre Currie Fellowship, an award recognising those who show excellence and leadership in health professions education research.

Her research focused on interprofessional medical teams and drew on theories of power, hierarchy, professionalism and communication. These are theories and academic concepts she has continued to study and draw upon in her EDI work. She has presented and taught on EDI in the context of healthcare at a variety of organisations and conferences. She is an invited peer reviewer for journals such as the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia (CJA), Academic Medicine, and the Journal of Interprofessional Care.

Dr Sharda is a Faculty Member at McMaster University in the Department of Anesthesia, and a member of the simulation Faculty, where she regularly teaches simulation, with a focus on interprofessional communication and conflict resolution. She currently is the Chair of the physician wellness committee at the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society, where for the first time, under her leadership, specific wellness standards have been embedded into the 2022 Canadian anesthesia standards document.

Dr Sharda is a lover of stories and her work as a creative writing coach and Narrative Medicine facilitator brings her much joy. When not writing or working she works hard to avoid stepping on lego pieces strewn around the house by her 5 year old and 8 year old sons.

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