It’s hard to describe Shirley Hodder in a way that does her justice. She exudes an enthusiasm and fierce determination, a warmth that makes her welcoming and approachable, a deep drive to stand up for equity and a curiosity she feeds with constant learning.
Shirley, 25, is from the historic Black Loyalist community of Gibson Woods in the Annapolis Valley and is a child of deaf adults – both of her parents being deaf. The African Nova Scotian health services consultant knows what it is to face and overcome barriers.
“Folks like me were not ‘supposed’ to be where I am now,” said Shirley, who earned her undergraduate degree in health promotion from Dalhousie University before completing her Master of Health Administration with a certificate in healthcare law for non-lawyers.
“Time and time again, I was told by others what they thought I should be, based on how I lived and the experiences that I had and how they saw me and my family. I did not listen to them, and I just kept trying and trying again. I didn’t let failure drive me away. I let it fuel me.”
In studying health promotion, Shirley was able to incorporate her lived experiences into the theory and methodologies and content. As one of the few Indigenous Black students in the class, she was fascinated by population health and the social determinants of health. Shirley said the program looked at questions like, “Why are certain groups more susceptible to poverty and to certain illnesses?” She noted that what she learned helped to explain “why my family experienced what they experienced,” said Shirley.
When she graduated with her bachelor’s degree, she knew she wasn’t finished with formal learning. She was drawn to the Master of Health Administration because she saw a need for more diverse leadership representation in the health system. She was the only African Nova Scotian student in her cohort. She recalls looking at the faces in photos of former graduating classes and not seeing any Black faces looking back. “I believe I’m the first one that has graduated in the Master of Health Administration at Dalhousie. I didn’t have any mentors or preceptors that were African Nova Scotian. That was really discouraging.” In some ways, Shirley said, that prepared her for working in a health system that doesn’t yet have significant diversity in leadership; she’s determined to help change that.
It has been “a big eye-opener” becoming a provincial African Nova Scotian health services consultant, added Shirley. “It’s a lot of responsibility I carry on my shoulders now.”
She considers it a big part of her job to help increase Nova Scotia Health’s connection, understanding and knowledge of the historical Indigenous Black community and how individuals and communities can be better served by the health system. This includes providing guidance to help influence policy around equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation and accessibility (EDIRA), and working with colleagues to improve and sustain working and hiring practices, employee experience and retention and patient and family experience.
“I’ve always been an advocate, even through high school,” said Shirley, who often had to advocate for her deaf parents, particularly in health care settings. “I think that really fueled my passion to have a career in health care. Your health and wellbeing are really important, especially when you have different intersections – you’re deaf and you come from a historical Indigenous Black community, and you come from a rural area. How can your voice be heard?”
Shirley aims to amplify the voices of Black patients and community in Nova Scotia to ensure that culturally responsive and culturally competent care is honoured. “We want people to take care of their health, to address any issues that they have,” she indicated. “If their experiences aren’t ever positive, they’re not going to want to come back at all. We want to prevent that.”
An important part of creating that trust and improving the patient and family experience is recruiting and retaining staff and physicians who are Black or of African descent. Shirley said she’s in conversation with Interprofessional Practice and Learning “to explore how we can improve student placement experiences, especially for those who are Indigenous Black Nova Scotians.”
She also reinforces the importance of working with academic partners to boost diverse representation in the health sciences.
Shirley reflects on her own mentors in the Black community. Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch, assistant vice-provost of equity and inclusion at Dalhousie, and assistant professor in the School of Health and Human Performance, stands out as both a personal and professional mentor. “I still seek her guidance and support,” said Shirley. “Not just having a career mentor, but also someone to help guide you within your personal life, that is a double whammy. It’s amazing to have that.”
Growing up, Shirley didn’t have a lot of mentors, beyond her immediate family. She looks up to her mother. “She never let herself get discouraged by all of the hardships she has and still goes through.” Discriminated against because of her deafness, Shirley’s mom got her first full-time job at the age of 35. Shirley notes that her mom now helps facilitate American Sign Language (ASL) to students at Acadia University as an assistant to the ASL instructor. “She has the opportunity to teach her language and culture to students. She’s shaped who I am and how I go about my career.”
Shirley offers encouragement to those who feel discouraged, particularly Black youth in Nova Scotia: “Stay true to who you are. If you’re discouraged, take a breath to yourself and keep on with the journey. You’ll find yourself.”
Photo of Shirley Hodder.
This profile is part of African Heritage Month, celebrating the contributions, achievements and impact of Black individuals in healthcare and beyond. Through these stories, we honour the legacy, resilience and excellence of Black professionals who continue to shape and inspire our communities.
