Centering tradition and culture in medicine 

On May 20, Indigenous Elders and community members came together with family, friends, faculty and staff to honour and celebrate the incredible achievements of this year’s Indigenous medical graduates.

This year’s class represented the largest graduating cohort from the Indigenous MD Admissions Pathway (the Pathway) with 13 graduates who will now go on to provide excellent and culturally-safe care for patients as resident doctors in fields such as family medicine, Indigenous family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Launched in 2002, the Pathway continues to serve a pivotal role in encouraging and creating new opportunities for more Indigenous students to study medicine while supporting them on their journey to becoming doctors.

Since the launch of the program, 152 Indigenous doctors have graduated from UBC and are now practising family doctors, psychiatrists, pediatricians, surgeons, health leaders, educators, clinical faculty and more. Together, they are expanding a network of Indigenous doctors and health leaders who are improving the health of patients and communities across B.C. and Canada, while also inspiring future generations of Indigenous youth to follow their dreams of becoming doctors.

The ceremony began with Felecia Stogan of Musqueam who led the procession of graduates to the front of the room while performing an honouring song.

Dr. Dermot Kelleher, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice President of Health, UBC, congratulated the graduates on all that they have accomplished and thanked them for their contributions in shaping a more inclusive culture within the Faculty of Medicine by sharing their experiences, insights and culture.

He also thanked the room full of Elders, community members and family for supporting the graduates throughout their journeys into medicine and for continuing to support the Faculty of Medicine in its vision to transform health for everyone.

Dr. Terri Aldred, Executive Medical Director, Primary Care and Medical Affairs Wellness Office, First Nations Health Authority and UBC Indigenous Family Medicine alumna, shared the values, lessons and teachings that sustained and uplifted her during her medical education and training.

Among the teachings, she recalled a powerful story passed down by wise Elders and women who foresaw the hardship and pain that would follow contact with European settlers. Knowing many teachings would be at risk, they prepared and gathered sacred medicine bundles and buried them deep into the earth, knowing that one day they would be unearthed to help heal the people. While addressing the graduates, she reminded them that “anything given by spirit can never be lost.”

On behalf of his classmates, Dr. Haedan Turner, graduate from the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program, congratulated his peers on their shared journey. In his message, he drew wisdom from the late Elder and Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, who chaired the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and his book Who We Are: Four Questions For a Life and a Nation, which offers four questions to help one remain grounded and true to their path as Canada moves forward into the future of reconciliation: “Where do I come from? Why am I here? Who am I? And where am I going?” Turning to his peers, Dr. Turner said, “As you transition to residency — and all transitions moving forward — keep these four questions with you… I believe each and every one of us is here to answer those calls to action.” 

Yellowbear Nakota, a traditional Sioux singer, congratulated the graduates with a powerful ceremonial song.

After the ceremony, the graduates gathered outside with Elders Thelma and Arthur Stogan, Elder Dr. Roberta Price, Elder Jean Wasegijig, Dr. Kelleher, Dr. Roger Wong, Vice Dean, Education, Dr. Terri Aldred, James Andrew, the Associate Director of Indigenous Initiatives and Meghan MacGillivray, while family and friends snapped photos to remember the special day.

Next month, the graduates will begin the next chapter of their journey as resident doctors where they will continue their training to build their skills across many fields of medicine, while providing compassionate care to patients, families and communities across B.C. and Canada.