Full Name
Dr. Zainab Abdulrahman
Job Title
Past President
Company / Organization
Ontario Medical Association (OMA)
Speaker Bio
Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman is a pediatric allergist and clinical immunologist, an assistant clinical professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, and an adjunct assistant clinical professor in pediatrics at McMaster University. In May 2025, she was installed as president of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), becoming the first Black woman to hold the position.
Born in Nigeria, Abdurrahman immigrated to Sudbury, Ontario at the age of 12. She earned her BSc in physiology and mathematics from McGill University and a master's degree in biostatistics from the University of Waterloo before completing her MD at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine. She subsequently completed her pediatrics residency and subspecialty training in clinical immunology and allergy at McMaster University.
In 2019, Abdurrahman co-launched the Q&A Allergy Clinic in Toronto, dedicated to the care of adults and children with allergic and immunological conditions. She has also contributed to medical education, developing a biostatistics module for the MD curriculum at U of T that was later adapted for public health agencies.
Her advocacy work focuses on equity in health care, addressing disparities for rural communities and racialized groups, and combating medical misinformation. As OMA president, she represents the province's 50,000-plus physicians, residents, and medical students, ensuring their voices are heard at policy tables. Her provincial membership tour has prioritized smaller and underserved communities that have historically lacked access to senior OMA leadership.
Abdurrahman joined the OMA in 2014 during a period of government-imposed cuts to physician remuneration. She chaired the allergy section, led governance reform efforts, and served on the board for four years before assuming the presidency. Her current priorities include strengthening supports for medical students and residents, reducing administrative burdens through digital tools, and advancing physician wellness.
She holds academic appointments at two universities and is recognized as a leading voice on the intersection of medicine, equity, and health policy in Canada. Her career reflects a commitment to making health care more inclusive — both in the communities she serves clinically and in the institutions she leads.
Born in Nigeria, Abdurrahman immigrated to Sudbury, Ontario at the age of 12. She earned her BSc in physiology and mathematics from McGill University and a master's degree in biostatistics from the University of Waterloo before completing her MD at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine. She subsequently completed her pediatrics residency and subspecialty training in clinical immunology and allergy at McMaster University.
In 2019, Abdurrahman co-launched the Q&A Allergy Clinic in Toronto, dedicated to the care of adults and children with allergic and immunological conditions. She has also contributed to medical education, developing a biostatistics module for the MD curriculum at U of T that was later adapted for public health agencies.
Her advocacy work focuses on equity in health care, addressing disparities for rural communities and racialized groups, and combating medical misinformation. As OMA president, she represents the province's 50,000-plus physicians, residents, and medical students, ensuring their voices are heard at policy tables. Her provincial membership tour has prioritized smaller and underserved communities that have historically lacked access to senior OMA leadership.
Abdurrahman joined the OMA in 2014 during a period of government-imposed cuts to physician remuneration. She chaired the allergy section, led governance reform efforts, and served on the board for four years before assuming the presidency. Her current priorities include strengthening supports for medical students and residents, reducing administrative burdens through digital tools, and advancing physician wellness.
She holds academic appointments at two universities and is recognized as a leading voice on the intersection of medicine, equity, and health policy in Canada. Her career reflects a commitment to making health care more inclusive — both in the communities she serves clinically and in the institutions she leads.
Speaking At
