Faculty of Health Sciences Women’s Symposium and May Cohen Lecture 2026

The Faculty of Health Sciences Women’s Symposium and May Cohen Lecture returns on Thursday, March 5, 2026, as a virtual CPD program.

The 2026 Women’s Symposium brings together women, non-binary individuals, and allies to explore strategies for advancing gender equity in our workplaces.

This year, we welcome keynote co-speakers Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe and Dr. Diana Sherifali. Dr. Lipscombe is the Director of the University of Toronto’s Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations, bringing together academics and community stakeholders to address chronic disease burdens through community-based research. Dr. Sherifali is an associate professor in the School of Nursing and Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster University, and the Scientific Lead of the McMaster Evidence Review and Synthesis Team. Her work has supported the development of national guidelines for the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care and Diabetes Canada.

Details

• Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026
• Time: 12:00–16:00 EST
• Delivery: Virtual
• Register Online

Target Audience

Individuals interested in advancing women within academia and healthcare.

Learning Objectives

By attending this activity, participants will be able to:

• Articulate strategies for women’s health promotion and chronic disease prevention that address structural inequities and foster community partnerships.
• Discuss innovative applications in health coaching for clinical practice, education, and research.
• Empower allies across McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences and in surrounding healthcare communities to take action to advance women’s leadership.

Details and times are subject to change. Program times are in Eastern Time (ET)