Articles Smita Pakhale

Dr. Pakhale is an outstanding clinician-scientist and a passionate advocate for health equity. Her altruistic contributions to research and extraordinary dedication to the medical care of Canadians, in particular those in vulnerable situations, are inspiring. A respirologist by training, she founded and leads The Bridge, a community-based research centre working in partnership with vulnerable populations including individuals experiencing homelessness and/or who self-identify as People Who Use Drugs, and Indigenous populations. Dedicated to co-creating innovative evidence-based sustainable solutions addressing the root causes of poor health through a humanitarian and compassionate approach, she is raising awareness of health disparities and supporting disadvantaged communities. She holds a Chair in Equity & Patient Engagement in Vulnerable Populations and developed a graduate course on health inequities. She was awarded the Jeff Turnbull Healthcare Advocacy Award in recognition for her engagement. She truly makes a difference for vulnerable populations living with healthcare, social and cultural issues.