AMERICA | 36-year-old Lady becomes first black woman Cardiologist in Canada, sets record.
A 36-year-old lady named, Alexandra Bastiany, has made history as the first Black woman to become an interventional cardiologist in Canada.
Interventional cardiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases through catheter-based procedures. Born and raised in Montreal by a Haitian mother, a nurse, and a father who worked as a chemist, Alexandra always knew she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare.
”I was determined to follow in their footsteps and achieve my dreams, despite how the world perceived me, and independently of what society expected from me. I was determined to rise above the statistics and the stereotypes. I must also say, I love a challenge,” she said.
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Alexandra initially aspired to become a general surgeon but discovered her true passion for interventional cardiology during her first year of medical school.
“During my first year in medical school, I fell in love with the heart, but I did not think cardiology was for me until I learned about interventional cardiology (this is a practice that works on the arteries in the heart to remove blockages using non-invasive procedures, through the wrists or groin),” she said.
She mentioned that her journey was not without challenges. After nearly 15 years of education at the University of Montreal and completing a fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at the University of Alberta, she graduated in 2020.
Throughout her training, Alexandra faced racial discrimination and discouragement, often being told to choose a different path.
”When I started the school of medicine, there were very few Black students in a class of 250 people. It was years into my training before I encountered any teachers who looked like me,” Alexandra said.
”I have been referred to as “the Black resident” instead of by my name. I have had a teaching physician suggest that I should consider another career – knowing I had already received my acceptance letter from the cardiology program,” she added.
Despite these obstacles, Alexandra persisted. She credits her success to the mentors who believed in her and her inner determination to challenge societal expectations.
Today, Alexandra is a strong advocate for culturally appropriate care and actively works to raise awareness about racial bias in medicine.
Alexandra’s advice to Black women and girls who aspire to enter the medical field is: ” You belong here. Don’t let anyone stop you. Never tone yourself down. Spread your wings and stand tall, because you deserve to be where you are.”
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