Dr. Zhimeng Jia
Department of Family Medicine, Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Mount Sinai Hospital
Our research aims to close the equity gap in serious illness care for Asia-born immigrant families, with a focus on those navigating advanced cancer. Drawing on my clinical practice as a palliative care physician and my lived experience as a first-generation Canadian, we investigate how race, ethnicity and immigration status affect the care people receive during serious illness.
Our studies reveal that Asian patients, especially Chinese immigrants with limited English, often receive more invasive treatments and delayed palliative care compared to others. These disparities point to structural and interactional challenges in delivering timely, appropriate and culturally attuned care. Our investigation of communication preferences within the global Chinese diaspora has shown how indirect, clinician-led, present-focused conversations can foster harmony, while mismatches in communication styles can produce mistrust. By understanding these dynamics, we can design care that truly aligns with patient and family values.
Through theory-driven implementation science, we adapt evidence-based tools to meet cultural and linguistic needs. This work has produced two nationally disseminated programs: one improving advance care planning for Chinese Americans, the other building palliative care capacity in China. Our goal is to transform research into real-world solutions that ensure everyone receives compassionate, culturally respectful care when it matters most.
Email: [email protected]
Floor 4, 60 Murray Street
Toronto, M5T 3L9
Publications: PubMed
Google Scholar: Zhimeng Jia
ORCID: 0000-0001-8156-5553
Sinai Health Physician's Profile: Zhimeng Jia
Website: Sinai Health Palliative Care
LinkedIn: Zhimeng Jia
- 2024–present; Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto
- 2021–present; Clinician-Investigator, Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Division of Palliative Care, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
- 2025–present; Member, Palliative Care Global Guideline Panel, American Society of Clinical Oncology, USA
- 2022–present; Medical Director for China, Program in Global Palliative Care, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- 2023–present; Investigator Training and Mentorship Co-Lead, Executive Committee, Pan-Canadian Palliative Care Research Collaborative, Ottawa, Canada
- 2022–present; Member, Scientific Planning Committee, Montreal International Palliative Care Congress, Montreal, Canada
Former appointments
- 2022–2025; Research Lead, Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
- 2022–2024; Lecturer, Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto
- Palliative Care Research Fellowship, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA USA; 2019–2021
- MD, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 2012–2016
- MS, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA; 2021–2023
- BSc (Honours), Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada; 2008–2012
- 2023 – 2023 AAHPM Research Scholar, Academic Palliative Care Physician, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Jackson Hole, WY, USA
- 2018–2019 – Palliative Medicine Resident Research Award, Resident, Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Notable publications
Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2025
Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2024
Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2021
Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2021
Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2020