LONDON, Ont., May 2, 2025 — Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, an allergist and clinical immunologist who practises in the Golden Horseshoe region, has been installed as the Ontario Medical Association’s first Black woman President. She is the 144th president of the Ontario Medical Association and top advocate for the province’s 43,000 doctors, residents and medical students.
Dr. Abdurrahman began her one-year term at the association’s Annual General Meeting in London, Ontario, on May 1 as she and her colleagues celebrated Doctors’ Day.
Dr. Abdurrahman seeks to unify the diverse interests of physicians in various specialties, regions and practice models to advocate for health-care solutions that prioritize ensuring the best for patients—the central aim that all physicians agree on. She will work with government and stakeholders to be a strong advocate for supporting physicians and a thoughtful partner in developing new solutions.
“I know how discouraging it is to feel like you are not seen or heard by those in power,” said Dr. Abdurrahman. “During my term, I want to reach out to those who are currently feeling this way and make sure their needs are included in our advocacy. It is a difficult and uncertain time for many Ontarians. My goal is to make sure all Ontarians get the health care they deserve, and that starts when their physicians are well-resourced and supported to provide that care.”
Dr. Abdurrahman will continue her practice with locum support during her presidency. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Toronto and completed her pediatrics residency and subspecialty training in allergy and clinical immunology at McMaster University. She also holds a master’s degree in statistics with a specialization in biostatistics. Dr. Abdurrahman has been a key contributor to the Black Scientists Taskforce on COVID-19 Vaccination Equity and the Black Health & Vaccine Initiative, in partnership with the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario.
“Ontarians need a system that they can count on”, said Dr. Abdurrahman. “Ontario’s doctors are ready to lend their expertise and breadth of experience to implement solutions that ensure we have a health-care system that all Ontarians can rely on.”
Dr. Abdurrahman will work closely with Board Chair Dr. Cathy Faulds and Board Vice-Chair Dr. Sharon Bal, who were elected by the board of directors and are currently serving two-year terms.
Dr. Faulds, a family physician from London, Ont., was first elected to the board in 2021 and has served as the chair of the board since 2022.
Dr. Sharon Bal, a family physician from Cambridge, Ont., was elected to the board in 2022 and has served as vice chair since 2024.
Dr. Abdurahman succeeds Dr. Dominik Nowak as OMA president. During his term, Dr. Nowak was a critical figure in bringing attention to issues like access to family medicine and wait times for health-care services. Dr. Nowak will continue to serve the OMA as immediate past president.
OMA members have chosen Dr. Rebecca Hicks, a community-based comprehensive care family physician working in Toronto, as their president-elect. Dr. Hicks will work closely with Dr. Abdurrahman throughout her presidency.
The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario’s 43,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario’s health-care system.
For more information, please contact:
Julia Costanzo, OMA media relations
media@oma.org
905-580-5774