We Are IH: Doctor fights infectious diseases and inequality

Infectious diseases can be transmitted from animal to person and from person to person, and can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Some examples include COVID-19, the flu (influenza), viral hepatitis, measles, tuberculosis and malaria. Dwight has dedicated much of his career to treatment of these diseases, and he is a big supporter of the One Health initiative, which he says represents an important model that will help guide and unite the global community to improve and sustain animal, human and environmental health.

Dwight says the scientific and medical advances made against many communicable diseases have been “inspirational,” particularly when the world unites in fighting and preventing them as we recently witnessed with COVID-19.

A patient with a hepatitis C infection, for example, can now be treated and cured with a short course (two to three months) of oral anti-viral medications. When Dwight first started his career, a patient diagnosed with HIV was considered to have a terminal illness. Today, there is a modern treatment (antiretroviral therapy) that can suppress HIV so infected patients can live long and healthy lives, while uninfected individuals can avoid becoming infected.

In addition to disease treatment, Dwight has also been involved during his career with IH’s Physician Quality Improvement initiative, which aims to ensure physicians have access to quality improvement expertise, data analysis, administrative support, education, and funding support.

Dwight notes that many are not aware of his background in nursing, a background that has instilled a sense of compassion in him for the individual patient and communities inflicted with the infectious diseases he treats. He emphasizes that the patient must come first.

“Nursing provided the foundation that taught me about the human response to disease and enhanced my ability to communicate, empathize, and better understand my patient – enabling me to connect with them in a holistic manner beyond what we learned about the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in medical school” Dwight says.

Dwight has taken a step further by championing “improved equity, diversity and inclusion” in health care, and he has been “the voice of the patients who are often not heard, listened to, or respected - those who are members of vulnerable populations.” Truth and reconciliation with Indigenous populations of Canada has helped teach Dwight humility in the services he provides while also emphasizing the environmental stewardship that is essential for all our future well-being and health.

“It has been a struggle over the years. You see and witness how things have slowly progressed and improved over time, but seeing how those who were vocal for minorities in past generations, gives me inspiration that things can change for the better if you stand up and speak out.”

Outside of work, you will find Dwight where he is the happiest: going for walks through the woods or parks. As he says, green space is healthy space and environmental stewardship and climate protection are essential for a healthy world. Before nursing, he had a background in agriculture, environmental studies and entomology (study of insects), so while outdoors he will stop and look under a leaf or stone and see what kind of insects, flora and fauna are there, take a deep breath and be glad for the privilege of being one with his environment.

Moving forward, Dwight is excited to continue supporting and enabling the patient voice throughout the health-care system, and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in an environmentally friendly and sustainable world.

“EDI is very close to my heart,” Dwight says. “I put my little rainbow flag outside my office door; it is a small symbol of joy that follows a storm, the light refracted into a prism of all colours, representative and inclusive to all, announcing there is a supportive person here for the often-invisible 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The clients and public realize when they see that rainbow flag that there are clinicians and people here who recognize, acknowledge and support them.”

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