Founder

Dr. Rahel Zewude

Dr Rahel Zewude is an Infectious Diseases fellow at the University of Toronto and the founder of Black Physicians of BC. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of British Columbia and her medical school at the University of Toronto. She previously served as the co-president for the Black Medical Students’ Association and created several new initiatives and worked on expanding the advocacy and mentorship efforts of the association. Her commitment to mentorship and advocacy through the years has led her to be involved in various programs that have improved the representation of Black students in Canadian medicine.

President

Dr. Desmond Nunez

Dr. Desmond Nunez is a practicing Otologist/Neurotologist and Chair of the University of British Columbia’s Division of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. Dr Nunez graduated from the University of the West Indies Medical School and completed postgraduate surgical training in the United Kingdom and the United States.  He served as Head of the University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust Departments of Otolaryngology in England prior to relocating to Vancouver. In his limited spare time, he enjoys skiing and scuba diving.

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Treasurer

Dr. Gb Olarewaju

Gbolahan is an R3 in public health and family medicine at the University of British Columbia and past-Chair of the Black Medical Students Association of Canada (BMSAC). He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate education at the University of Guelph in Biomedical Science (BSc) and Human Health and Nutritional Science (MSc). As a queer Black immigrant, he has a keen interest in health access and equity for marginalized people including youth, immigrants, queer, Black, Indigenous and other people of colour. Prior to medical school, this interest was cultivated into interdisciplinary advocacy and research work as the Coordinator of International, Multi-Faith and Refugee programs at the University of Guelph, and as the Vancouver coordinator for the national gay, bisexual and queer men’s health study Engage. While completing his medical education, he continues his advocacy work on the Faculty of Medicine’s EDI Advisory Group, CIHR External Anti-Racism Advisory Group, BMSAC Research Committee and as the medical student rep for BPBC.

Mentorship Lead

Dr. Christopher Applewhaite

Dr. Christopher Applewhaite received his MD through the University of Calgary and completed his residency in Family Medicine in Victoria. He also holds a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy. Originally from Alberta, he is excited raise his family on the West Coast.

He has a strong clinical interest in musculoskeletal medicine and pain management. Outside of medicine, he is an outdoor enthusiast and martial artist participating in Brazilian jiu jitsu and outdoor pursuits from sea kayaking to fly fishing. With martial arts on hold due to the pandemic, he is spending time outdoors with his daughters, baking, and improving his home.