Who to email:

president@uottawa.ca, chancellor@uottawa.ca, Sharon.Whiting@uottawa.ca, shwhiting@toh.ca, stse@uottawa.ca, stse@cheo.on.ca, pgmecom@uottawa.ca, SKRAVCIK@toh.ca, pgme@uottawa.ca, pgmecoor@uottawa.ca, medmarcom@uottawa.ca; jasmin@uottawa.ca; mforgie@uOttawa.ca; l.wiesenfeld@uOttawa.ca; a.chaput@uOttawa.ca; bejasmin@toh.ca, mforgie@uOttawa.ca, mforgie@toh.ca, lwiesenfeld@toh.ca, a.chaput@uOttawa.ca, achaput@toh.ca 

Subject: Suspension of Dr. Yipeng Ge

Dear University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine Leadership,

I am gravely concerned by the suspension of Dr. Yipeng Ge, a resident student at the Faculty of Medicine. This act not only infringes upon his rights as a University of Ottawa student but also amplifies the university's alarming silence on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. In the face of unprecedented violence, with 11,000 Palestinians, including a staggering 4500+ children, killed since October 7[1], we find ourselves unable to discuss these atrocities openly and fearlessly. These atrocities have been clearly documented by humanitarian organizations including the UN, MSF, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.The suspension of Dr. Yipeng Ge and the silencing of other Palestinian advocates on campus is a violation of Policy 121: Statement on Free Expression, Policy 130: Student Rights and Responsible Conduct and Policy 77: Occupational Health and Safety.

The suspension of Dr. Yipeng Ge is not just an administrative decision; it represents a failure to uphold the principles of justice and human rights. The CANMED roles, particularly the Health Advocate role, demand that we address the egregious human rights violations occurring in the context of this war. We cannot turn a blind eye to the targeted attacks on hospitals, physicians, patients, and emergency medical service personnel. To silence those who advocate for the fundamental right to healthcare and safety is a direct violation of the values we hold dear.

Moreover, the actions of Dr. Yoni Freedhoff against Dr. Yipeng Ge demand immediate attention. Dr. Freedhoff's relentless harassment, as evident in his blog and social media accounts,[2], [3], [4] not only places Dr. Ge at risk of physical harm but also tarnishes his professional reputation. Dr. Yipeng has an excellent track record of consistently and courageously working towards addressing health and social inequities including as a member of the CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) Anti-Racism External Advisory Committee. It is imperative that the University of Ottawa takes a decisive stance against such behavior, emphasizing the protection of its students and condemning any form of attack on value systems congruent with our duties as healthcare workers.

We ask the University of Ottawa to reevaluate its decision to suspend Dr. Yipeng Ge and to provide a platform for him to challenge the decision with impartial oversight. Furthermore, we urge the university to acknowledge the pressing need for open dialogue on the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and to foster an environment where students and faculty can address these issues without fear of reprisal.

In times of great wrongs, our duty is to stand on the right side of history. Let us not be complicit in the violation of human rights, let the University of Ottawa be a beacon of justice, accountability, and free expression.

[1]https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/our-response-israel-gaza-war 

[2]https://yonifreedhoffmd.substack.com/p/more-antisemitism-from-the-canadian    [3]https://twitter.com/YoniFreedhoff/status/1719826536075759852?s=20    [4]https://twitter.com/YoniFreedhoff/status/1720137829785723354?s=20 

We await your timely response