Trailblazer for Women’s Health
The Remarkable Life of Dr. May Cohen
by Robert Sarner

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When it comes to advocating both for women’s reproductive rights and the advancement of women in medicine, few Canadians have had more impact than Dr. May Cohen. Born to Jewish immigrants and Communist activists during the Great Depression, May was imbued from childhood with a profound sense of social justice. She carried this passion into her tenure at the University of Toronto’s medical school at a time when women students were few and far between. In spite of the prevalent sexism of the era, May thrived and rose to the top of her class, eventually establishing herself as a renowned doctor alongside her husband through their shared family practice in Toronto’s burgeoning Bathurst Manor community. Over the course of her medical career, Dr. Cohen came to recognize the gravity of the issues surrounding women’s health—especially when it came to their right to a safe and legal abortion. Inspired by Dr. Henry Morgentaler, she would go on to champion advocacy around the issue. Later pursuing a career in medical education at McMaster University, she would also make significant contributions to advancing the idea of social determinants of health, advocating for women’s advancement in the medical field, and arguing for women’s health to be taken seriously as a distinct discipline. All of this was balanced with her love of family and a lifelong partnership with her equally committed and accomplished husband, Gerry. Rich, challenging, and inspirational, the story of Dr. Cohen’s life is nothing short of remarkable—a testament to the difference one person can make, no matter the challenges.

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Robert Sarner is a Toronto-based writer, editor and communications specialist. He is currently Senior Writer and Editor at the Toronto-based human rights organization Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Robert is also a regular feature writer for The Times of Israel and edits a magazine for the International March of the Living. He has previously lived and worked in Israel and France. About his subject, Sarner says: "Each person’s life invariably has its challenges, and May’s is no different. I often marveled at how candid and forthcoming she was. What she recounted didn’t just help form the bedrock of the book but also proved illuminating and inspiring for me."

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Robert Sarner