Time: 12:30 – 14:00

Venue: LT9, 2/F, Yasumoto International Academic Park (YIA), CUHK

Speaker: 
Prof. Dorothy CHAN, Associate Professor, The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. HO Long Kwan, Laurie, Assistant Professor, The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Moderator: Prof. Winnie SO, Professor, the Nethersole School of Nursing, the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Honorary Professor of Tianjin Medical University & Cancer Institute and Hospital

Abstract:
Minorities often hold overlapping identities, which could expose them to complex challenges that cannot be fully addressed by examining only a single type of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, or homophobia/transphobia). In the pursuit of a more inclusive world, it often feels like everyone is fighting isolated battles. Allies are individuals who are committed to preventing oppression by supporting and advocating for minority groups. In this seminar, two researchers will share their findings and experiences with allyship for women from ethnic minorities in healthcare and for sexual minorities in the workplace. The identity of belonging to an ethnic minority can lead to health inequities. Furthermore, women from ethnic minorities often face even greater challenges in accessing proper healthcare services than men. This is largely due to societal perceptions that place them in a lower social position, as well as the pressure to meet familial expectations. Healthcare professionals play a vital role in understanding the beliefs of women from ethnic minorities and promoting health within this vulnerable population. Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees have reported experiencing different forms of discrimination and harassment in the workplace because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Negative workplace experiences among LGBT employees are associated with psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, which have negative impacts on job functioning and life satisfaction. Workplace allies for LGBT employees could take actions to prevent and eliminate discrimination/harassment and promote genuine equity.

Speaker’s Biography:
Dorothy’s research interests focus on cancer prevention and screening, and symptom management for cancer patients after surgery and other related treatments. She has participated in several projects related to ethnic minority health, aiming to explore factors associated with their screening behaviours, develop health education materials, and promote cancer screening and prevention among ethnic minorities through the adoption of skills such as motivational interviewing and the use of decision aids. Having received professional training, Dorothy is currently a practitioner who conducts motivational interviewing sessions for various populations. For example, she works with South Asian women to enhance their HPV vaccine uptake. She is also a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT).

Laurie’s research focuses on reducing addictive behaviours—including alcohol consumption and tobacco use—and improving psychological well-being among vulnerable populations, such as children living in poverty and the LGBTQ+ community. She contributed to a project conducting a review of existing evidence on workplace allies for LGBT employees and co-developed actionable recommendations in collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders, including LGBT employees and leaders/founders of LGBT organisations. These recommendations serve as a foundational resource for organisations seeking to foster inclusive environments through the development and promotion of allyship programs. Additionally, Laurie received training in dialectical behaviour therapy at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto. Her current research examines the efficacy of internet-based dialectical behaviour therapy-informed skills training in addressing alcohol and smoking problems alongside underlying co-occurring psychological distress.

Language: English

Registration: https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=13716483