Dr. Ritika Goel
“Beyond simply being frontline providers and having a good understanding of health and the social determinants of health, we have an added responsibility, because of our status in society, to act in a socially accountable manner,” says Dr. Ritika Goel.
As chair of the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Social Accountability Working Group, Dr. Goel is passionate about physicians’ role in policy development and meeting the priority health needs of Canadians in their neighbourhoods and communities.
Apart from her work at the national level, Dr. Goel’s leadership on ethics and social accountability includes her role as co-chair of the Poverty and Health Committee of the Ontario College of Family Physicians. There, she was involved in designing and delivering an award-winning continuing professional development workshop, “Treating Poverty.”
Her practice is based out of Toronto’s Queen West Community Health Centre, where she serves the homeless and under-housed as well as those with complex mental health and addiction needs. She also works clinically at Sistering, a drop-in centre for homeless and marginalized women.
In the words of a colleague: “Through her work in refugee health care, [her role] as an educator on poverty and anti-oppressive practices, and her advocacy for a universal health care system, Dr. Goel has consistently taken bold steps to enhance ethical and professional behaviour amongst her colleagues.”
Dr. Goel is also a founding member of the OHIP for All campaign, a steering committee member of the Decent Work and Health Network and a board member at Canadian Doctors for Medicare.