What happens when a lifelong dream collides with harsh truths? In this powerful talk, Yasmine shares her journey from aspiring doctor to healthcare equity advocate. Through stories of systemic racism in medicine, she reveals the hidden harms within the healthcare system. Drawing on her research and community work, Yasmine calls for a more compassionate, anti-racist future in medicine—where each ripple of action helps shape a system that truly serves everyone. Yasmine Elmi is an MD-PhD student at McGill University dedicated to pursuing a dual career as a clinician and researcher. Her work focuses on addressing health inequities, particularly in maternal and child health and racial health disparities. Her research has been featured in leading academic journals such as The Lancet and highlighted by major media outlets including CBC, CTV, and Radio-Canada. Passionate about creating lasting ripples in healthcare and education, Yasmine is an advocate for mentorship and diversity in STEMM. She actively contributes to the National Youth Mentorship Advisory Council of Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Federation of Black Canadians, and Let’s Talk Science’s Black Volunteer Collective. Her efforts to foster equity and inclusion have earned her prestigious accolades like the McCall MacBain Scholarship, the 21 Under 21 Awards, and recognition as one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx