Canada’s healthcare model has long been recognized as one of the best in the world. In Ontario, particularly in Toronto—the largest city in Canada—patients receive high-quality medical care. People from all over the world seek treatment at Toronto’s healthcare facilities, and local doctors share their expertise and skills with professionals from other institutions.
Irene Cybulski made history as the first woman in Canada to lead a department of cardiac surgery. While she excelled in her role, her male colleagues were not pleased to be under the leadership of a woman. They formed alliances and used various tactics to push for her dismissal. Ultimately, they succeeded. Deeply hurt by the situation, Irene Cybulski fought back by taking legal action to defend her rights. For more details, visit itoronto.info.
Fighting Injustice Since Childhood
Irene Cybulski spent her childhood in Toronto. Her older brothers attended a specialized school affiliated with the University of Toronto, which, at the time, only admitted boys. When Irene was completing seventh grade, the school announced a policy change allowing girls to enroll. Bright and curious, Irene seized the opportunity and excelled in her entrance exams. Despite the school’s lack of accommodations for its new co-ed status, Irene and the other girls worked diligently to prove they could match the boys in every way.
After graduating from high school, Irene applied to the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. Confident in her abilities, she was admitted to the prestigious institution in 1984.
At that time, medicine was predominantly a male-dominated field. Women represented only a small percentage of medical practitioners, making them a rarity and often viewed with skepticism. Female doctors were closely scrutinized, and their professional abilities were met with caution.
This did not deter Irene Cybulski. Determined and resolute, she pursued her chosen path with unwavering commitment. The University of Toronto was one of the few institutions that welcomed both men and women equally. On her program, 45% of the students were women, a relatively high proportion for the era.
Irene decided to dedicate herself to surgery. She completed a year-long surgical internship before enrolling at McMaster University in Hamilton, where she studied general surgery.
At McMaster, Irene encountered gender inequities once again. Female students were given fewer practical training opportunities compared to their male counterparts. There was a prevailing notion that women were better suited to specialties like gynecology rather than surgery.
Female interns often stood on the sidelines in the operating room while their male colleagues performed the procedures. As a result, the skill development of female students progressed at a slower pace. Undeterred, Irene chose to specialize in thoracic surgery, a field that demanded exceptional expertise and precision.
Encountering Gender Inequality in Medical Training
At McMaster, Irene again faced gender-based disparities. Female students received fewer hands-on training opportunities compared to their male counterparts. There was a prevailing notion that women were not suited for surgery and should instead focus on fields like gynecology.
Female trainees were often sidelined in operating rooms while male colleagues performed surgeries, hindering their skill development. Despite these obstacles, Irene chose to specialize in thoracic surgery.
Irene Cybulski spent two years training in cardiovascular surgery at McMaster University before signing a one-year contract as a cardiac surgeon in Toronto. However, when her contract ended, her position was given to a male colleague, leaving Irene deeply disheartened. Although she considered filing a lawsuit over her dismissal, she chose not to tarnish her professional reputation. Instead, life presented her with even greater challenges.
At 34, Irene began working as an assistant at Hamilton General Hospital, eventually becoming a cardiac surgeon. She also led the cardiac surgery internship program at McMaster University. Despite her professional success, her achievements were met with resentment from male colleagues.
For a time, Irene worked alongside anesthesiologist Ama DeGraft-Johnson, another woman who faced similar challenges and fought for her rights. Together, they supported each other against a hostile work environment.
In 1998, Irene became pregnant. Despite her condition, she continued performing surgeries until health complications at 29 weeks of pregnancy required hospitalization. Following this, her employer urged her to take early maternity leave without offering paid medical leave.
Promotion and Workplace Conflict
In 2008, fate smiled on Irene Cybulski. She was appointed head of the Cardiac Surgery Department at Hamilton Health Sciences and chair of the department at McMaster University. Under the terms of her contract, she was allowed to hold the position for five years. Irene Cybulski made Canadian history as the first woman to lead a cardiac surgery department. However, her new role came with its share of challenges, including low salaries, heavy workloads, insufficient resources, a lack of specialists, and conflicts among colleagues.
Cybulski understood that she didn’t need to be universally liked. She viewed her primary mission as providing high-quality care to patients. During her initial years as a leader, she struggled to come to terms with the inequitable systems within the hospital. Male doctors often referred patients to their preferred colleagues, leaving others with fewer cases, which limited their opportunities to hone their skills.
To address this, Cybulski implemented a policy requiring all patients to be added to a centralized list and assigned to available surgeons on duty based on a queue system. While this ensured fairness and increased opportunities for all specialists, it wasn’t well-received by everyone. Some doctors, accustomed to earning more by selectively taking cases, were unhappy about losing part of their income as workloads were distributed more evenly. As a result, discontent began to brew among the staff against their new leader.
Legal Battle and Victory for Gender Equality
In 2013, Irene expanded her department by hiring two additional cardiac surgeons, a decision that provoked further backlash. Some surgeons petitioned the acting head of the surgery department, Kesava Reddy, to dismiss Irene. This led to an investigation into her leadership and the department’s operations.
In 2015, Irene was asked to resign. Outraged, she filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal while simultaneously preparing to enter Queen’s University law school. At the age of 50, she relocated to Kingston with her husband to pursue a new career in law.
In 2017, Irene’s case was heard in court while she was studying law. As one of the oldest students in her class, she was determined to prove that women are equally capable of holding leadership positions and excelling in their duties. The tribunal ruled in Irene’s favor, awarding her $49,500 in compensation.
Throughout her career, Irene Cybulski was never motivated by money. Her primary goal was to combat gender discrimination and demonstrate that men and women deserve equal rights. Her perseverance and courage continue to inspire future generations of women in medicine and beyond.