The REDI team members collaborate with people and units across the Faculty of Medicine to support our learning and work environments.
In addition to the Executive Director, the work of the Office will be undertaken by a group of Advisors. The Office will work closely with the Director of Indigenous Engagement to implement the Faculty of Medicine’s action plans in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and with the Vice Dean Health Engagement in collaboration with health sector partners to promote changes in the learning and work environments where there is shared jurisdiction.
Maï Yasué
Associate Director
Maï is the Associate Director of the Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) in the Faculty of Medicine. She provides leadership to the REDI team in the development and delivery of our education and training programming. She collaborates with leaders in departments, centres, and administration units, and staff, and faculty to identify institutional and individual barriers to inclusion and to foster long-term socio-cultural change towards justice, equity, decolonization, indigenization, and inclusion (JEDII). Previously, she worked at the Equity & Inclusion Office at UBC, where she led initiatives such as the JEDII STEM Series and the IBPOC STEM Network and supported the integration of the JEDII principles into teaching, research, and faculty and staff recruitment. Prior to her work at UBC, she was a faculty member at Quest University Canada for over a decade, teaching interdisciplinary courses in conservation and geography and advocating for transparency, equity, and inclusion through various leadership roles.
Maï, a second-generation immigrant from Japan, holds an MSc in Zoology from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Geography from the University of Victoria. As an interdisciplinary scholar, she has published over 40 articles in academic fields such as conservation, geography, zoology, education, behavioral ecology, economics, and psychology. She is grateful for having spent most of her life on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Stó:lō Nations.
Dr. Saleem Razack
Senior Faculty Advisor
Dr. Razack is a Senior Faculty Advisor in the Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) in the Faculty of Medicine. In his role, Dr. Razack will advise on strategy related to the implementation of a comprehensive anti-racism plan for the Faculty. He is excited to be at UBC and hopes to serve in and contribute to the vibrant and diverse community within the Faculty of Medicine and its associated clinical and research sites.
Dr Razack joined faculty at UBC/BC Children’s Hospital on January 1, 2023, after a 25-year career as a pediatric intensivist and medical educator/education researcher at McGill University. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto. His research Interests in Medical Education include the intersection of assessment and professionalism with representation, equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, for which he has had SSHRC and CIHR support. He is the recipient of the AFMC May Cohen award for outstanding contributions to equity in medical education, the Haile T. Debas award for contributions to equity in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill, and the Pediatric Chairs of Canada award for outstanding contribution to Medical Education.
Learn more about the Appointment of Dr. Saleem Razack as a Senior Faculty Advisor in REDI
Equity Advisor
Harpreet Ahuja (She/Her/Hers) is an Equity Advisor at the Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) within the Faculty of Medicine. In her capacity at REDI, she offers strategic guidance and supports capacity-building for department heads, faculty, staff, and students who are dedicated to implementing decolonization, anti-racism, and inclusive practices.
Harpreet is the daughter of an immigrant father from India and a Labradorian Inuit-Polish mother. She was born and raised in Montreal studying in French, then spent her teenage years in downtown Toronto. Her culturally diverse upbringing ignited her curiosity and fueled her passion for social justice.
Her journey into Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) awareness began as a law student when she was nominated by the faculty of law to serve as the Vice President of Equity for the Common Law Student Society. She carried her EDI change management experience into her role as an Investigator in the Critical Injuries and Deaths Division with BC’s Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, where she worked to prevent the deaths of vulnerable children in government care.
Harpreet’s approach to embedding EDI is informed by an international context. She has worked on death penalty cases in Malawi, studied genocide education in Rwanda, and Holocaust education in Poland and Germany. She provided legal assistance to migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border and resettled LGBTQI+ Syrian refugees, working out of a satellite office in Israel. She wrote children’s books for schools in Honduras and taught English to university students in Ecuador. Most recently, in October 2022, she worked as an Electoral Observer for the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Harpreet is a lawyer by training, holding a law degree from the University of Ottawa (2017) and a Master of Laws degree in International and Comparative Law from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law (2019). During her time at UCLA, she was honoured with the Dean’s Tuition Fellowship Award, UCLA School of Law’s Public Interest Award, and a post-graduate fellowship at Yale Law School. Her legal career began with Legal Aid Ontario, where she gained experience in refugee law, aboriginal law, and criminal litigation. She was subsequently Called to the Bar in Ontario and British Columbia.
Prior to joining our team, Harpreet served at arms-length for BC Corrections in the Adult Custody Division, where she was appointed by the Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General as an independent decision-maker presiding over disciplinary hearings within the 10 provincial correctional centres in BC.
In her spare time, Harpreet is an avid boxer, training at a local boxing gym, and she is also dedicated to the study of the Spanish language.
Harpreet acknowledges that she is on the stolen lands of the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). She expresses gratitude to Indigenous Peoples for their enduring connection to their lands and is committed to learning how to work in solidarity as an accomplice in shifting the colonial default.
Equity Advisor
Madison Tardif (She/Her/Hers) is an Equity Advisor at the Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) within the Faculty of Medicine. In her capacity at REDI, she offers strategic guidance and supports capacity-building for department heads, faculty, staff, and students who are dedicated to implementing decolonization, anti-racism, and inclusive practices.
Madison’s journey into this field was influenced by her own multiracial background, sparking her exploration of identity, power dynamics, privilege, and systems of oppression. While pursuing her graduate degree at the University of Toronto, she delved deeper into the realms of community engagement, systems change, and decolonization. Her research primarily revolved around policy and decision-making within Indigenous self-governments, providing her with profound insights into leadership, community-centered decision-making, and decolonial approaches to governance. This research also played a pivotal role in her work with the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation at Westbank First Nation, where she contributed to the development of policy for the Intergovernmental Affairs and Title and Rights department. This experience underscored the significance of Indigenous sovereignty and the right to self-determination, shaping her passionate commitment to human rights, community-building, justice, conflict engagement, equity, decolonization, indigenization, and anti-racism.
In her previous role at the Equity and Inclusion Office, Madison actively supported the establishment of staff and faculty affinity spaces, the enhancement of hiring standards at the faculty and unit levels, and the creation of educational resources and workshops aimed at empowering historically, persistently, and systemically marginalized (HPSM) groups within UBC. Before joining UBC, Madison served at BC Cancer as the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care Coordinator, where she oversaw prostate cancer patient support for the BC Interior region. Through this experience, she gained firsthand knowledge of how patient-centered and holistic approaches to support can empower HPSM individuals to advocate for themselves and their well-being.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Madison enjoys mountain biking, spending time outdoors with her dog, savoring live music, relishing delicious cuisine, and fostering a sense of community.
Madison is grateful to be a guest on the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation.
Learning Environment Advisor
Robyn Campol is an advisor in the Faculty of Medicine Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. Robyn brings over 24 years of experience working within human resources to create inclusive and equitable work environments. As the Learning Environment Advisor, Robyn supports the education units to create respectful, inclusive, anti-racist and discrimination-free learning environments in which students feel safe to participate without fear of mistreatment or reprisals. In addition to providing advice and guidance to decision makers Robyn can assist Programs to resolve mistreatment or learning environment concerns through coaching, skill building and education, facilitation and mediation, and by conducting inquiries and investigations. Besides addressing learning environments concerns, she also proactively engages in educating on topics such as conflict resolution and upstander training to support skill-building for faculty and staff across the Faculty.
Joseph Tita
Education Specialist and Instructional Designer
Joseph Tita is the Education Specialist and Instructional Designer in the Faculty of Medicine Office of Respectful Environments, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. He brings instructional and learning technology expertise from his professional background in faculty development and education technology. He is responsible for the design and development of REDI’s in-person and online educational programming. In collaboration with the REDI advisors and partners across the Faculty of Medicine, Joseph assists in planning new learning experiences, developing learning materials, aligning learning activities with objectives and outcomes, assessing the efficacy of learning design and delivery, and providing feedback on the consistency and sustainability of learning content and programming. He also consults about technology opportunities, oversees the production of educational media, and contributes content to the REDI website.
Joe brings over 15 years of experience as an education technology and staff development professional. He has master’s degrees in education technology and education administration. Throughout his career, he has led in-person and remote technology training programs, working with senior leaders to drive educational capacity-building projects. Prior to his work in educational development, Joe built inclusive and equitable learning environments as a high school English language arts teacher for 7 years. He supports the REDI Team by designing and developing of in-person and online learning experiences and materials. In collaboration with the REDI advisors and partners across the Faculty of Medicine, Joe listens; he assists in planning new programs, optimizing educational materials, aligning activities with objectives, assessing the efficacy of learning design and delivery, and providing feedback on consistency and sustainability. He also consults about technology opportunities and oversees the production of educational media. In his work, he strives to create learning that “meets people where they are” through activity-based, learner-centered experiences. Joe is a life-long learner and innovator who is excited to continually deepen his understanding of learning, motivation, and supporting positive change.
Mary Victor Kostandy
Educational Projects and Digital Content Strategist
Mary is the Educational Projects and Digital Content Strategist in the Faculty of Medicine Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. She oversees REDI’s communication strategy in line with its mission to support the culture transformation in the Faculty of Medicine. Her role includes promoting REDI’s work across the Faculty and managing the REDI website. She also supports the REDI Advisors in the design and development of REDI’s Education and Training Programming and organizes, promotes, and oversees the tracking of REDI activities and events.
Mary brings to this role her education and work experience, which lies at the intersection of Computer Science, Education and Social Justice. She has a PhD in Educational Studies from UBC. Her doctoral research followed a digital movement of Egyptian teachers on Facebook. It used a social justice lens to analyze teachers’ calls for moral, material and legal justice. Mary’s MA is in International and Comparative Education, and her BSc is in Computer Science, both from the American University in Cairo (AUC), Egypt. Mary has extensive teaching experience. She worked as a sessional instructor in the UBC Faculty of Education Teacher Education Program (BEd) where she taught several courses including “EDST 401: Ethics and Teaching,” “EDST 403: Education, Knowledge and Curriculum,” “EDST 401: Education, School, and Social Institutions,” and “EPSE 310A: Assessment and Learning in the Classroom.” She worked as a high school Computer Science teacher in Egypt where she taught Web Design and Web 2.0 tools. She also taught in-service teachers in the Professional Educator Diploma integrating technology into the classroom.
Besides teaching, one of the largest initiatives she lead was the Diverse Career Paths of Educational Studies (EDST) Alumni initiative which aimed to expand the notion of inclusion to include diverse career pathways. As the PI, Mary worked with a team of faculty, staff, students and alumni on drawing on Educational Studies alumni’s career experiences to support graduate students in exploring diverse careers. The initiative was funded by the UBC Provost’s office through the Advancing Education Renewal Grant, and the Dean of Education Office through the Learning Transformed Grant.