Indigenous Health

“sʔi:ɬqəy̓ qeqən (Double-Headed Serpent Post)” Brent Sparrow Jr., Musqueam

Helping to improve health and wellness for Indigenous populations and communities is a key priority for UBC and the Faculty of Medicine.

The Indigenous MD admissions program, Indigenous Family Medicine Residency Program, and certificate programs in Indigenous Public Health are just some of the ways the Faculty of Medicine is helping to increase the number, and retention of, Indigenous health professionals in B.C. and across Canada in response to the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.

Our medical school is now training more Indigenous doctors than ever before, with more than 130 Indigenous medical student graduates since 2006 and a growing number completing residency training in communities across the province.

An increasing number of Indigenous learners are also training in our Health Professions programs, including Midwifery, Genetic Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Medical Laboratory Science.

Through their work in communities in B.C. and across the country, faculty, staff and learners are helping to build a health care system that is more accessible, inclusive, representative and equitable.

Stories

Derek Thompson, Thlaapkiituup, appointed Indigenous Initiatives Advisor, Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

He will provide leadership and support across the Faculty to help create and sustain learning and work environments based on standards of cultural safety and humility, and that will address Indigenous specific racism and discrimination.

Dr. Nadine Caron appointed Special Advisor on Indigenous Health

Dr. Caron will provide vision, leadership and diplomacy in advancing both the Faculty’s and UBC Health's strategic focus on promoting an Indigenous lens on collaborative health education and research.

Bridging gaps in community health care

UBC medical resident Willow Thickson is helping to create a safer space for Indigenous patients in BC.

UBC Faculty of Medicine Response to the TRC Calls to Action Launch

The Faculty formally launched and reflected upon its Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action at a virtual event on June 25, 2021.

Travelling the road to reconciliation

Faculty of Medicine releases Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action

Indigenous Peoples in Canada have higher death rates, complications after surgery

The researchers looked at nearly 30 studies that compared surgical outcomes across a range of procedures.

Canadian Cancer Society honours Dr. Nadine Caron for ground-breaking achievements and visionary leadership in cancer research

2020 Awards for Excellence introduces new prizes for lifetime contribution and inclusive excellence.

With gratitude, we acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and its distributed programs, which include four university academic campuses, are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples around the province.

We respectfully acknowledge that the UBC Vancouver-Point Grey academic campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and UBC operations in Vancouver more generally are also on the territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).

We respectfully acknowledge that the UBC Okanagan academic campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.

We respectfully acknowledge that the University of Northern BC Prince George campus is located on the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh, who are part of the Dakelh (Carrier) First Nations.

We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territories the University of Victoria is located and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.