UBC / JFN event March 27 -- Taking collective action toward Palestinian liberation: From shattering silence to generative dialogue within the health professions

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Taking collective action toward Palestinian liberation: From shattering silence to generative dialogue within the health professions

Health professionals are obligated to promote human rights, health and wellbeing.  However, in the past two years very few Canadian health profession organizations raised their voice against the genocide of Palestinians and/or silenced those seeking to align their actions with the professions espoused values and obligations. The panel will open dialogue on the impact of the silencing and how health professionals can act locally and globally in advancing justice. 

Panelists (in order of appearance):

• Moussa Abu Mostafa, MS, PhD, OTR/L, Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Ottawa, Canada
• Hiba Zafran, PhD., Occupational Therapist-Psychotherapist, Associate Professor, McGill University
• Tal Jarus, PhD, OT(BC), Professor, University of British Columbia
• Aliya A. Khan, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FACE, Clinical Professor of Medicine, McMaster University
• Catherine Clase, MD, BChir, MSc, FRCPC, FACP, FASN, Professor of Medicine at McMaster University
• Annalee Yassi, MSc, MD, FRCPC, Professor, University of British Columbia
• Katie Lee Bunting, MScOT, Reg. OT (BC), PhD (Candidate), Associate Professor of Teaching, University of British Columbia
• Marie-Lyne Grenier, MScOT, DOT, PhD(c), erg., Occupational Therapist, Assistant Professor (Professional), McGill University
• Pier-Luc Turcotte, PhD, OT Reg(Ont), Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa

 

Moderator: Sarah Leavitt, JFN

 

When: Friday, March 27^th, @ 11:00-1:00 pm PST / 2-4pm EST / 8:00-10:00pm Palestine time

 

Location: Hybrid event over zoom and at UBC. Links and exact location will be sent prior to event.

 

Registration: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0qF0J4NDbPcXPNA

 

Food will be provided

 

The panel is based on a manuscript and response papers published in the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. The original paper can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1177/00084174251356348

 

The event is funded by the UBC Equity and Inclusion Office, StEAR grant.

Co-sponsors: the UBC Jewish Faculty Network (JFN), and the Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy department.

 

Original article

Zafran H., Beagan B. L., Shephard D., Lauckner H., Whalley Hammell K., Lee Bunting K., Grenier M.-L., Turcotte P.-L., Abdo S., Jarus T. (2025). Shattering silence, inviting dialogue: Anti-oppressive occupational therapy during the genocide of Palestinians: Briser le silence, inviter au dialogue : L’ergothérapie anti-oppressive pendant le génocide des palestiniens. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1-15. DOI: 10.1177/00084174251356348

responses 

1. Majnemer A., et al. (2026). Upholding pluralism in occupational therapy: A response to recent calls for political alignment. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1-4. DOI: 10.1177/00084174251401852.
2. Modlin E., Wolf M., Halperin L., Handler L., Stav W. B. (2026). Letter to the editor: Shattering silence, shattering unity. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1-2. DOI: 10.1177/00084174251401845
3. Rosenbaum D., Yassi A., Belik J., Beder M., Green S., Cohen M. (2026). Breaking the silence on genocide in Gaza: Kudos from Jewish health professionals. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1-2. DOI: 10.1177/00084174251409230
4. Zubairi M., Iqbal A., Clase C., Khan A. (2026). Opposing genocide is a moral and professional obligation for all health workers. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1-2. DOI: 10.1177/00084174251401855

Rebuttal article

1.      Zafran, H., Beagan, B.L., Frances Shephard, D., Lauckner, H., Whalley Hammell, K., Lee Bunting, K., Grenier, ML., Turcotte, PL., Adel Abdo, S., Jarus, T. (2026). Finally; Dialogue. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1-4. DOI: 10.1177/00084174251408864 

 

Other related articles by the panelists:

 

1. Abumostafa M., Babish Y. R., Simaan J. (2025). Occupational therapy practice in the time of genocide: An indigenous Palestinian perspective on the current situation in Gaza. Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, 33, e4095. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.cto416540952

 

2. Aker A., Yassi A. (2025). Applying a multi-scalar framework for teaching about the catastrophic public health situation in Palestine and beyond. Discover Public Health, 22(1), 775. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-01067-7

 

3. Zafran H, Hammell KW, Abumostafa M, Turcotte PL, Jarus T. (2026). Health-care professions' silent complicity in Palestine's health crisis. Lancet, 407(10525), 225. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)02263-9. PMID: 41547568.