Dr. Hance Clarke is the Director of Pain Services and the Pain Research Unit at the Toronto General Hospital (TGH). He is the Knowledge Translation Chair for the University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain and an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto. As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Clarke has played a leading role in educating the public about pain control, alternatives to opioids, and the need for further studies on the beneficial and adverse effects of cannabis. He is a champion of evidence-based solutions for the opioid crisis and an advocate for a national pain and addictions strategy.
What are some of the challenges you face as a Black individual pursuing research? As a visible minority, and as a black Canadian in particular, there have been times when I've found it difficult to land where I am. It can be challenging to learn how to navigate the educational system, both as an undergraduate and graduate student, and how to go about finding allies. And as a junior staff member, landing in practice was not an easy journey for me; for every major success I've had, I've probably had eight or nine disappointments. However, having a strong research background opened doors for me and I was lucky enough to receive pilot funding and to continue down the path of being resilient and pushing forward.
Did you have moments or experiences that really made you believe in yourself? One of my most empowering experiences was working in Dr. Derek van der Kooy’s lab as a Master's student. It was a very competitive program. One formative moment from my time there stands out. We used to present our research at MIT for their monthly research rounds, and every month it would be someone's turn to present. I thought I was an excellent public speaker, but I was stopped about five minutes into my presentation because I had said the word ‘basically’ more than 30 times. Receiving this feedback with humility and learning from it was an important experience for me in my research journey.
Do you have any advice for Black youth interested in pursuing medicine or STEMM in general? Resilience, drive and work ethic are key. Find mentors that you connect with and trust and move forward with them. I would also encourage Black students to form strong networks and learn how to work well with others. When you start to do research, you understand that no one can do it in silos. The best way to succeed is to align yourself with individuals doing similar work so that your success is their success. Creating those collaborative teams will get you where you want to go. When you are done your graduate degree, those networks can be called into play to help you in the next stage of your career.
