This Q&A series is part of Black History Month and Beyond, an initiative of the Black History Month (BHM) Organizing Committee co-led by Black students and faculty from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Anti-Racism Committee (EDI-AR) of the School of Population and Global Health.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
As a PhD Candidate in Epidemiology at McGill University’s School of Population and Global Health (SPGH), I bring together diverse cultural influences from my Haitian heritage and Caribbean upbringing. I relocated to Montreal from Port-au-Prince as a refugee and subsequently built my life here over the past 16 years.
My academic pursuits are complemented by several lifelong passions; with 35 years of dedication to classical music as a violinist, I have cultivated a deep appreciation for artistic expression. My linguistic abilities span four languages, with proficiency in three and intermediate competence in a fourth. Beyond these core interests, I have maintained a long-standing passion for tennis, having competed in tournaments throughout my youth until age 18; I have continued playing, for a total of 28 years. I have also explored my creativity through voguing, participating in competitions in the face category as a 007. Additionally, my interest in aesthetics extends to aviation, cinema, architecture, and design, while my connection to the Black community finds expression through learning and dancing to various African musical genres, including Afro beats and Amapiano.
Can you describe your program of study and your research project?
As a social and cardiovascular diseases epidemiologist, I investigate health disparities in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedures across Quebec’s regions. TAVR is a minimally invasive treatment for severe aortic stenosis that has become increasingly important in modern cardiovascular care. Under the Canada Health Act, accessibility and universality are fundamental principles guiding healthcare delivery. From a social justice perspective, access to limited medical resources should be determined uniquely by medical and not by discriminatory practices such as gender, place of residence (geography) or socio-economic status. Using advanced statistical methods combining machine learning, and Bayesian spatiotemporal analysis, I am researching how clinical factors (i.e., patient medical history and disease severity) interact with non-clinical determinants (i.e., geography and socioeconomic status) to influence healthcare delivery patterns. My research aims to inform public health practice and promote equitable resource distribution across populations. I conduct my research under the supervision of James Brophy, M.D., Ph.D. and Mabel Carabali, M.D., Ph.D., whose support and expertise is invaluable. Lastly, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) provides generous funding support for this research project.
What inspired you to pursue your area of research? What do you hope to achieve?
After leaving Haiti, my family and I experienced firsthand the harsh realities of healthcare inequities. We faced threats from armed militants and we encountered significant barriers in accessing essential medical services due to financial constraints. When I developed acute otitis media, we sought care at a volunteer-run health clinic that provided free medical services. My experience at this clinic was transformative. Despite initial concerns about receiving quality care, I witnessed remarkable dedication from healthcare providers who delivered exceptional service despite limited resources. I was inspired to begin volunteering at the clinic, where I served as a translator between French, Creole and English. In this role, I helped primarily Haitian immigrants navigate the healthcare system, gaining unique insight into the complex challenges faced by these patients. Their struggles extended far beyond basic medical care, encompassing difficulties in accessing educational opportunities, managing mental health challenges, and addressing various psychosocial issues.
Witnessing these systemic barriers firsthand shaped my research aspirations and compelled me to pursue public health research focused on healthcare disparities. My goal is to conduct research that informs strategies for reducing disparities and improving universal healthcare implementation across Quebec’s regions, ultimately enhancing cardiovascular health outcomes regardless of geographical location or socioeconomic status.
Why did you choose McGill?
My decision to pursue higher education at McGill University stemmed from my 13 years working at the Montreal General Hospital as a clinical research coordinator, where I had gained invaluable insight into the crucial role of community support in academic success. This experience allowed me to establish meaningful connections with healthcare professionals and researchers who understood the unique challenges of underrepresentation issues in higher education training. These existing relationships would prove particularly valuable, especially compared to starting anew at a different institution where I would have needed to rebuild my professional network from scratch.
McGill’s exceptional Epidemiology and Public Health department represented another compelling reason for my choice. The department provides rigorous training in epidemiologic methods, biostatistics and causal inference, areas that aligned perfectly with my research interests. What resonated most deeply with me was the prospect of conducting research that made tangible improvements in healthcare delivery. My experience working within McGill-affiliated institutions had shown me firsthand how research initiatives translated into actionable public health interventions. This opportunity to contribute to evidence-based improvements in healthcare, combined with my existing connections and the department’s expertise, made McGill the ideal environment for my education journey.
Can you describe your community involvement and why you feel it is important, especially as a member of the Black community?
Through my journey as a Black Haitian refugee, I’ve transformed personal struggles into catalysts for systemic change, focusing on healthcare disparities and educational advancement within the Black community. As a triage specialist and translator with Médecins du Monde, I help vulnerable patients navigate Canada’s healthcare system, particularly immigrant’s ineligible for RAMQ insurance. This role has shown me the critical importance of representation in healthcare settings, as providers from diverse backgrounds can better understand and address unique barriers faced by marginalized communities.
Beyond healthcare, I contributed to cultural enrichment as a guest violinist with Ensemble Obiora, Canada’s first classical music ensemble composed primarily of professional musicians from culturally diverse backgrounds. This platform enabled me to leverage artistic expression for cultural bridging and community empowerment, celebrating composers from different origins whose music is little known or little-considered while challenging traditional narratives in classical music.
At SPGH, I helped organise the Black History Month Planning Collective, establishing the groundbreaking “Lunch and Learn with Black Scholars” series. This initiative extends support for Black graduate students beyond Black History Month, providing sustained networking opportunities, community support and mentorship spaces.
What makes my community involvements particularly meaningful is their foundation in lived experience. As someone who has navigated multiple systemic barriers, I understand the transformative power of representation and support. My work isn’t merely about giving back – it’s about dismantling the very barriers I once faced. Whether through healthcare advocacy, cultural expression, or academic leadership, each initiative aims to create lasting change within my community. Through these interconnected efforts, I’ve learned that community transformation requires both immediate action and long-term commitment. Having overcome language barriers, cultural adjustments, and financial challenges, I now participate in initiatives addressing these same obstacles for others.
As a member of the Black community, I believe our collective progress depends on creating spaces where everyone can thrive – spaces that celebrate rather than erase our diversity while addressing our unique challenges. This conviction drives my continued commitment to community involvement and fuels my dedication to creating lasting positive impact.
How has your identity as a member of the Black community formed your research interests or community involvement?
My position as a Black scholar with an intersectional identity in predominantly white academic environments has profoundly shaped my commitment to advancing inclusivity in scientific and medical fields. Rather than viewing achievements solely as personal accomplishments, I recognize them as opportunities to amplify historically underrepresented voices in science, medicine, and healthcare policy. This perspective drives my engagement in equity and diversity initiatives, where I address social justice issues while actively learning from and serving the communities involved.
What advice would you give your younger self, knowing what you know today?
Dear Berson, I know right now everything feels overwhelming and different from everyone else’s journey. But here’s the truth: every single thing that makes your path different is actually setting you up for incredible success.
Those moments when you feel like you’re wandering through a maze while everyone else seems to have a map? That’s actually your superpower developing. Every twist and turn is teaching you independence and resilience that will make you unstoppable later. And those friends you’re meeting along the way? They’re becoming your chosen family—people who are non-judgmental, who understand your unique journey and will be there to catch you when things get tough.
Here’s something nobody tells you enough: asking for help is always a good thing. You’re going to face challenges that will push you to your limits, but every time you reach out for support, you’re building stronger relationships and creating better outcomes. Trust me, those late-night study sessions, those moments of doubt, and those times when you felt like you didn’t quite fit in? They’re all conspiring to make you an extraordinary healthcare professional with a perspective that nobody else has.
So, keep moving forward, even when it feels like everyone else has it figured out. The winding road that you are taking is actually the scenic route to success, teaching you lessons and giving you insights that will make you uniquely qualified to help others in ways nobody else can. You’re doing better than you think, and your future self couldn’t be prouder of the path you’re on.