What began in 2022 as an initiative by Simon Fraser University’s (SFU’s) Centre for Educational Excellence has quickly grown into one of the university’s most vibrant celebrations of linguistic and cultural diversity. Now organized by the Department of World Languages and Literatures, SFU Multilingual Week continues to expand through creative collaboration across the university. This year’s celebration brought together fourteen participating SFU units to present fifteen events across all three campuses.
Among the week’s most impactful events was a panel discussion organized and moderated by Dr. Reetinder Kaur, Punjabi Language Instructor at SFU. The event focused on an increasingly important yet often overlooked topic: the barriers Punjabi-speaking patients face within healthcare settings, the resources currently available, the gaps within these resources, and the opportunities for future language learners to help bridge critical communication gaps.
The panel brought together expert voices representing both medical expertise and lived experience. Dr. Jagbir Gill, transplant nephrologist and Medical Director of the Kidney Transplant Program at St. Paul’s Hospital, shared insights from his clinical practice and research. Gurjit Pawar, a renal nurse, and two-time kidney transplant recipient, offered a deeply personal perspective, speaking about navigating the healthcare system from both sides — as a provider and as a patient. Family physician Dr. Sharon Dodd added a primary care perspective.
Both Dr. Gill and Gurjit highlighted the twofold benefits of direct communication with patients in their own language. They explained that for patients, it improves understanding of medical information; for healthcare providers, it enhances their understanding of patients’ symptoms, concerns, and needs. Dr. Dodd encouraged youth in attendance to embrace multilingualism without hesitation. “Embrace your language, embrace your culture,” she said. “If you don’t fully understand or fully speak Punjabi, don’t worry about it — you will learn plenty on the job.”
All panelists described learning an additional language as an invaluable asset for youth aspiring to become healthcare providers. Jasmine Rehal shared her lived experience perspective on language barriers in healthcare settings. Attendees also expressed interest in expanding future discussions to include broader cultural barriers faced by Punjabi patients, as well as practical guidance on navigating and understanding the Canadian healthcare system.
