A Map of the Current Cultural Climate in Medicine and Healthcare, and How We Can Change It

In Canada, healthcare and medicine are grounded in structures of coloniality, oppression, heteropatriarchy and a variety of “-isms” (racism, sexism, ableism, classism). [1,2,3] Consequently, it is little wonder that deep-rooted, enduring health disparities exist for many different groups across Canada. The COVID-19 pandemic has only served to exacerbate these disparities. Clearly, something needs to change in healthcare delivery and education. Comics are an ideal medium to document this moment, as well as catalyze change, for many reasons.Graphic Medicine – the creation and study of comics in healthcare contexts – can be used to explore the current discourses and cultures of healthcare and bring diverse perspectives into dialogue together. Comics are also inherently disruptive. They challenge what is considered acceptable as discourse, and therefore knowledge, within medicine. They are also accessible to anyone with a writing tool, surface, and an idea to share. In this way, comics help democratize communication and give oft-ignored voices the ability to help shape medical discourse. Additionally, the diversity of forms and features used in comics creation [4] directly relates to and enhances the diversity of voices, perspectives and lived experiences expressed in comics. Graphic Medicine can be a tool to advocate for health equity across populations.