Woven Together: How U of T’s Threads celebrates cultural diversity within medicine

Alisha Ahmed and Anjena Inthiran

U of T Temerty Faculty of Medicine students explore the intersection between art and medicine through a cultural fashion show. 

The 2025 Threads Cultural Fashion show was a vibrant celebration of the intersections of art, medicine, and culture that brought together the U of T community. The student-led initiative, organized by a dedicated group of Temerty medical students, drew more than 150 attendees, including students, faculty, family and friends. 

The show featured performances from students representing a wide range of cultures: Pakistani, Sri-Lankan, Indian, Serbian, Iranian, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Egyptian, Japanese, Ghanian, Ethiopian, Nigerian, and Albanian. Complementing the performances, the event featured Dr. Leila Makhani, a guest speaker who spoke about the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion in medicine. 

With over 300 medical students per incoming class, four academies, and two—soon to be three—campuses, few events bring the U of T medical community together quite like Threads. Faculty and students alike expressed excitement about the unique opportunity Threads provides, bringing students together while fostering collaboration among various Temerty clubs. Photographs of performers in their cultural clothing are featured in Palette, a student-led publication promoting artistic expression in medicine. Cultural clubs often collaborate with the Threads team, creating — as 2025-2026 Threads co-chair Trisha Chibber describes — a “hub for people with intersecting interests that don’t get represented in medicine to come together.” 

Since its inaugural event in 2024, Threads has seen a 40% increase in attendance, expanded pre-show events, and strengthened engagement, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of such spaces within the U of T medical community. 

Inaya Yousaf, a 2025-2026 Threads co-chair, attributes this success to “the widespread collaboration and the pure enthusiasm for arts, culture, and fashion within the team. In describing her favourite part of the show, she says: 

“[The] 'behind-the-scenes' moment right before the show begins. There’s something so powerful about seeing classmates, whom we usually only see in lecture halls or hospitals in scrubs, proudly wearing their heritage and culture… it’s a side of our community you don't always get to see in medicine.”

This sentiment is echoed by others who were involved in the successful demonstration of culture and art in last year's show. Jashnoor Chhina, a former Threads model and current team member, says, “My favourite part was seeing everyone outside of the classroom expressing themselves creatively on stage.” Faye, also a former model and current team member, adds, “It was a wonderful feeling to be backstage cheering on each performer before their turn, and hearing that same encouragement in return.” 

As Threads has expanded since its inaugural show, the team has sought to engage the medical medical community through year-round events. In the fall of 2025, Threads hosted a clothing drive for local youth shelter Horizons for Youth. Students who supported the drive then had the opportunity to participate in a clothing swap. In a continued effort to promote sustainable fashion and community-building, Threads partnered with Black Market Vintage Toronto for a Thrift Day, where attendees received a discount for shopping throughout the event. Threads team members volunteered their time to run a bracelet-making and henna night, sharing cultural traditions and new skills with medical students. 

Currently, the Threads team is busy with preparations for the upcoming fashion show. Ahead of the third annual show, photoshoots across Mississauga and Toronto have brought students into local studios for professional photos by local creatives, which will be shared on social media and the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine Palette magazine. 

Threads: A Cultural Mosaic is expected to take place on April 26th, 2026 at the Cecil Venues in Toronto. Profits raised through ticket sales and pre-show photoshoots are donated to Doctors Without Borders to support global humanitarian efforts.

Threads 2026 will feature musical competitions, dances, and diverse fashion designs from a variety of cultures.. A raffle at the show and cultural snacks will highlight local small businesses. Dr. Latif Murji, a family and emergency medicine physician and lecturer at the University of Toronto will deliver the keynote address. He is also the frontman of the band Parachute Thieves and co-founder of the TTC’s Poems in Passage. 

Yousaf expresses her excitement for the upcoming show, stating:

“I’m looking forward to seeing how much we’ve grown! With over 80 models this year and partnerships across campus, it truly feels like a major evolution for Threads. I can't wait to see the Cecil Community Centre filled with faculty, students, and families all celebrating the intersection of medicine and the arts on such a large scale.”

Tickets can be purchased through the Threads Instagram, @threads.uoft.