23i
Health
We call upon all levels of government to: Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health-care field.
Indigenous Admission Process
Medicine & Dentistry
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FOMD)
The FoMD has an Indigenous admission process for the MD program, Dentistry and Dental Hygiene. The admission process includes applicant support, counselling, Elder support, MD student support and interview preparedness. The interview process was adapted to a conversational style interview.
Activity Details
The FoMD has an Indigenous admission process for the MD program, Dentistry and Dental Hygiene. The admission process includes applicant support, counselling, Elder support, MD student support and interview preparedness. The interview process was adapted to a conversational style interview. The interview panel includes Indigenous community members and is scored according to developed, developing, and needs development categories. Scored applicants are reviewed by the Indigenous sub-committee (led by Dr. Alika Lafontaine and Elders) of the FoMD Admission Committee.
Working with Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP)
Medicine & Dentistry
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
School of Dentistry
The School of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Program are working with Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) to increase the number of Indigenous dentists and dental hygienists.`
Activity Details
The School of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Program are working with Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) to increase the number of Indigenous dentists and dental hygienists.
Indigenous Admissions Action Plan Subcommittee (IAAPS)
Medicine & Dentistry
Type
Creating safe and welcoming spaces
Contributor
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FOMD)
The Indigenous Admissions Action Plan Subcommittee (IAAPS) has created an action plan that describes specific measures to support Indigenous students, staff, and faculty with identifying and reporting on anti-Indigenous racism they experience, as well as reporting and accountability measures to redress it.
Activity Details
The Indigenous Admissions Action Plan Subcommittee (IAAPS) has created an action plan that describes specific measures to support Indigenous students, staff, and faculty with identifying and reporting on anti-Indigenous racism they experience, as well as reporting and accountability measures to redress it.
Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP)
Medicine & Dentistry
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FOMD)
The Indigenous Health Initiatives Program (IHIP) was renamed to Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) to emphasize the Cree language in recognition of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FoMD)’s physical location on Treaty No. 6 Territory and the creation of a safe and inclusive space for Indigenous students and community members. This includes a branded insignia to complement the U of A brand assets.
Activity Details
The Indigenous Health Initiatives Program (IHIP) was renamed to Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) to emphasize the Cree language in recognition of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FoMD)’s physical location on Treaty No. 6 Territory and the creation of a safe and inclusive space for Indigenous students and community members. This includes a branded insignia to complement the U of A brand assets.
On-reserve Residency Program
Medicine & Dentistry
Type
Indigenous-focused research and scholarship
Contributor
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FOMD)
The Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) is contributing to research being conducted that is investigating the elements of an on-reserve residency program.
Activity Details
The Wâpanachekos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) is contributing to research being conducted that is investigating the elements of an on-reserve residency program.
Indigenous Nursing Initiative
Nursing
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Nursing
Through the Indigenous Nursing Initiative, the Faculty of Nursing is actively working to increase enrollment of Indigenous nursing students. The Associate Dean Undergraduate Programs is working closely with the Assistant Registrar, Indigenous Enrolment Management to recruit Indigenous students
Activity Details
Through the Indigenous Nursing Initiative, the Faculty of Nursing is actively working to increase enrollment of Indigenous nursing students. The Associate Dean Undergraduate Programs is working closely with the Assistant Registrar, Indigenous Enrolment Management to recruit Indigenous students to our various undergraduate programs and address potential barriers in the application process, including waiving the Casper test fee for students without the means to pay for it and establishing a lower GPA for Indigenous applicants in light of the exceptionally high GPA for the general applicant pool.
Improve Student Supports for Indigenous Students
Nursing
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Nursing
The Faculty is actively working to increase/ improve student supports for Indigenous students in the Faculty of Nursing. Since 2022, the faculty has employed a graduate student to mentor, tutor and support indigenous students who join the faculty via the transition year program (TYP), and all self-identifying Indigenous students requesting/ requiring academic support or assistance navigating the program, campus, etc.
Activity Details
The Faculty is actively working to increase/ improve student supports for Indigenous students in the Faculty of Nursing. Since 2022, the faculty has employed a graduate student to mentor, tutor and support indigenous students who join the faculty via the transition year program (TYP), and all self-identifying Indigenous students requesting/ requiring academic support or assistance navigating the program, campus, etc.
Working with the Transition Year Program (TYP)
Nursing
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Nursing
Working with the Transition Year Program (TYP) and have arranged to have a Nursing Graduate Student in place to provide academic support and mentorship for TYP students in the undergraduate Nursing program. We are expanding this support to all Indigenous students in our undergraduate programs.
Activity Details
Working with the Transition Year Program (TYP) and have arranged to have a Nursing Graduate Student in place to provide academic support and mentorship for TYP students in the undergraduate Nursing program. We are expanding this support to all Indigenous students in our undergraduate programs.
Increase Funding for Indigenous Students
Nursing
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Nursing
The Faculty of Nursing is working with our advancement team to increase the amount of student funding for Indigenous nursing students in the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Activity Details
The Faculty of Nursing is working with our advancement team to increase the amount of student funding for Indigenous nursing students in the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Designated Indigenous Student Chairs
Nursing
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Nursing
Reserved Seats: Six Faculty of Nursing seats are designated to Indigenous students; there are plans to formally increase this number in the coming year (2023).
Activity Details
Reserved Seats: Six Faculty of Nursing seats are designated to Indigenous students; there are plans to formally increase this number in the coming year (2023).
Faculty of Pharmacy Indigenous Award
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
The Faculty of Pharmacy Indigenous Award was created by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to celebrate pharmacy students who are First Nation, Inuit or Métis persons of Canada. The award is given based on academic standing and can be given to a student completing any year of their Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
Activity Details
The Faculty of Pharmacy Indigenous Award was created by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to celebrate pharmacy students who are First Nation, Inuit or Métis persons of Canada. The award is given based on academic standing and can be given to a student completing any year of their Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
One Additional Position Per Year to Aboriginal Applicant
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
The Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences provides one additional position per year to an Aboriginal applicant, over the regular entrance cohort of ~130 students.
Activity Details
The Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences provides one additional position per year to an Aboriginal applicant, over the regular entrance cohort of ~130 students.
Minimum 2 Seats for Indigenous Applicants
Rehabilitation Medicine
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
Reserved Seat: Since 2017, all Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine Professional Programs for Occupational Therapy (MScOT), Physical Therapy (MScPT) and Speech and Language Pathology (MScSLP) designate a minimum of two seats for Indigenous/Aboriginal applicants.
Activity Details
Reserved Seat: Since 2017, all Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine Professional Programs for Occupational Therapy (MScOT), Physical Therapy (MScPT) and Speech and Language Pathology (MScSLP) designate a minimum of two seats for Indigenous/Aboriginal applicants.
Encourage and Support Indigenous Applicants
Rehabilitation Medicine
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
Professional programs are reviewing admissions processes to encourage and support Indigenous applicants to the Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) programs.
Activity Details
Professional programs are reviewing admissions processes to encourage and support Indigenous applicants to the Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) programs.
Working with the Director of Education (K-12)
Rehabilitation Medicine
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine is working with the Director of Education (K-12) for Treaty 8 First Nations to develop a dual credit high school/university course for Indigenous high school students to increase awareness of rehabilitation and create an early path to the profession.
Activity Details
The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine is working with the Director of Education (K-12) for Treaty 8 First Nations to develop a dual credit high school/university course for Indigenous high school students to increase awareness of rehabilitation and create an early path to the profession.
Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Programs
Medicine & Dentistry
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
School of Dentistry
The Indigenous admissions process was extended to include Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Programs.
Activity Details
The Indigenous admissions process was extended to include Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Programs.
Indigenous Conversation Practice
Medicine & Dentistry
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
School of Dentistry
The Indigenous admissions process was updated to include Indigenous conversation practice as part of the interview process and include up-to-date psychologically safe questions that were reviewed by Indigenous community members.
Activity Details
The Indigenous admissions process was updated to include Indigenous conversation practice as part of the interview process and include up-to-date psychologically safe questions that were reviewed by Indigenous community members.
Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI): Summer and Graduate Studentships
Other
Type
Recruitment and Retention: Students
Contributor
Women and Children's Health Research Institute
The Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) funds summer studentships and graduate studentships to support trainees who often move into the healthcare field. Intention to increase support for Indigenous trainees over time (e.g. Summer Studentship Profile: Marissa Nakoochee).
Activity Details
The Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) funds summer studentships and graduate studentships to support trainees who often move into the healthcare field. Intention to increase support for Indigenous trainees over time (e.g. Summer Studentship Profile: Marissa Nakoochee )
Increase Capacity and Prioritize Research
Other
Type
Indigenizing and decolonizing - Institutional policy and praxis
Contributor
Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI)
Develop strategies that increase capacity and prioritize research in Indigenous women and children's health to enhance impact in the healthcare system (e.g. building relationships with Indigenous practitioners such as the Indigenous Wellness Core and Indigenous Wellness Clinic; keynote speaker at the Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) Research Day).
Activity Details
Develop strategies that increase capacity and prioritize research in Indigenous women and children's health to enhance impact in the healthcare system (e.g. building relationships with Indigenous practitioners such as the Indigenous Wellness Core and Indigenous Wellness Clinic; keynote speaker at the Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) Research Day).
Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI)
Other
Type
Indigenous-focused research and scholarship
Contributor
Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI)
The Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) supports research focused on women and children's health including Indigenous and community-led projects (e.g. Elders Mentoring Program in Mascwacis).
Activity Details
The Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) supports research focused on women and children's health including Indigenous and community-led projects (e.g. Elders Mentoring Program in Mascwacis ).