Indigenous Health Program
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We are committed to supporting Indigenous learners and improving the health of Indigenous people
Mission
The Indigenous Health Program is committed to supporting Indigenous learners and confronting issues faced by Indigenous people in the healthcare system and in our institution. The program’s services and initiatives seek to address the under representation of Indigenous people within the profession of medicine and promote health service quality improvements for all Indigenous people through professional education.
Our objectives are to:
- Support the development of a pool of qualified potential Indigenous applicants for medical training.
- Support Indigenous applicants during the admissions process.
- Provide support and professional development initiatives for Indigenous medical students.
- Provide effective training opportunities regarding Indigenous health for ALL CSM learners.
Message from the Director
Dr. Lindsay Crowshoe is a member of the Peigan Nation, Treaty 7 Region of Alberta. He is an Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, at the University of Calgary. Dr Crowshoe graduated from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine in 1995. He currently provides primary care clinical service to the urban Aboriginal population of Calgary at the Elbow River Healing Lodge, an Alberta Health Services clinical service developed and until July 2011 directed by Dr. Crowshoe.
Dr. Crowshoe’s clinical interests and priorities are the social equity implications within primary health care that reside within issues such as addictions, mental health, and children’s health. In his efforts to improve Aboriginal health Dr. Crowshoe is working towards developing appropriate primary health models for Aboriginal communities and on increasing physician knowledge and capacity around Aboriginal peoples’ health through academic and research driven medical education initiatives.
He was the principle investigator of an Aboriginal health research and curriculum development project entitled, Building Aboriginal Health Teaching and Learning Capacity, which resulted in a formal integrated undergraduate medical education curriculum. He currently is the Canadian PI of the Education for Equity project which aims to understand the educational, clinical and client outcomes of Indigenous health medical education.
Home | About | Admissions | Contact Us | Funding | Recruitment | Initiatives
Funding
Recruitment activities include:
The Indigenous Health Program engages with Indigenous youth through various initiatives that encourage students to recognize medicine as a potential career. Recruitment activities seek to attract competitive students with an interest in pursuing medical training at the University of Calgary.
Initiatives
Initiatives
“Lunch and Learns” with Indigenous Health Topics
The IHP has recently created a speaker series focused on Indigenous Health topics.
Indigenous Student Mentorship Program
Mentorship opportunities exist for current and prospective students. Each first year student can choose to be paired with an upper year Indigenous student while clerks are paired with residents or physicians working in their areas of interest. Prospective students can request to be connected with the Coordinator and current students who can help guide them and navigate the admissions process.
New Student Welcome Events and Graduation Celebrations
Incoming Indigenous medical students are invited to attend a welcome dinner alongside other Indigenous medical trainees, staff, and Faculty. The Indigenous Health Program often co-sponsors these events with the Alberta Indigenous Mentorship in Health Innovation (AIM-HI) Network. The IHP also organizes a luncheon and celebration in honour of Indigenous graduates, who are gifted a Pendleton blanket.
Career Development Opportunities
Each year, two Indigenous medical students are sent to the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC) Annual General Meeting. This is an incredible networking opportunity for our students, who have connected with other Indigenous students and MDs from across Canada at these meetings. One of our current students is on the IPAC board.
Traditional Knowledge Keeper in Residence Program
The Cumming School of Medicine and Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement (SPaCE) were recently awarded a grant for a Traditional Knowledge Keeper in Residence program. A group of Elders will visit the medical school on a rotating schedule and engage in meetings with students, Faculty, and staff, provide teachings and workshops, strengthen protocol at events and ceremonies, and build relationships with students.
Upcoming Indigenous Hub
An Indigenous Hub is currently being built within the Engagement Hub in the Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement (SPaCE) Office. This ceremonial space will be open to students, Elders, and staff. The Hub should be open by April 2020 and will provide a physical space for Indigenous students at the Foothills campus.
Contact Us
University of Calgary | Cumming School of Medicine | 3330 Hospital Dr NW | Calgary, AB T2N 4N1 | Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm ihprogram@ucalgary.ca
Director
Lindsay Crowshoe, MD, CCFP
Coordinator, Indigenous Health Program
Email: ihprogram@ucalgary.ca