Engaging Indigenous communities in health professions educational programs at UBC

TitleEngaging Indigenous communities in health professions educational programs at UBC
Faculty/College/UnitMedicine
StatusCompleted
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2020
Completion08/31/2023
Project Summary

Amongst the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC, 2015) of Canada’s 94 calls to action is the mandate to increase the number of Indigenous health professions students (call #23), and provide cultural competency training for all healthcare students (call #24) and professionals (call #23). Addressing this critical issue requires UBC and its 17 health professions educational programs (HPEP) to pursue safe and relevant cultural learning environments for Indigenous Peoples. Importantly, working at the intersection of deeply rooted Western medical and educational practices and Indigenous ways of knowing, learning and healing presents significant challenges for educators and administrators. This proposal gathers health professionals and Indigenous partners on both UBC campuses to to promote safe, relevant, inclusive, and accessible learning environments for Indigenous Peoples. We intend to establish the foundational knowledge and practices required to understand Indigenous community needs regarding the accessibility of HPEP for Indigenous students, faculty and staff.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2020/2021
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorTal Jarus
Year 1: Funded Amount26,650
Year 1: Team Members

Tal Jarus, Professor, Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy (OSOT), Faculty of Medicine
Ashley Quinn, Co-Principal Investigator / Assistant Professor, Social Work, Faculty of Arts
Cheryl Holmes, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine
James Andrew, Aboriginal Student Initiatives Coordinator (Admissions), MD Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Medicine
Allison Campbell, Instructor / Lead (Undergraduate Program), Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine
Simon Albon, Professor of Teaching, Director, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Helen Brown, Associate Professor, Nursing, Faculty of Applied Science
Leeann Donnelly, Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry
Donna Kurtz, Associate Professor, Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, UBC Okanagan
Hanae Tsukada, Educational Strategist, Equity and Inclusion Office
Katie Lee Bunting, Instructor, OSOT, Faculty of Medicine
Yael Mayer, Postdoctoral Fellow, OSOT, Faculty of Medicine
Neda Hamzavi, Master's student, Nursing / Population and Public Health
Kristen Joy, Master's student, OSOT, Faculty of Medicine
Ashley Lessard, Master's student, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine
Hailey Matheson, Bachelor's student, Social Work
Hali McLennan, Bachelor's student, Social Work
Emilie Nevill, Master's student, OSOT

Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2021/2022
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorTal Jarus
Year 2: Funded Amount23,500
Year 2: Team Members

Tal Jarus, Professor, OSOT, Faculty of Medicine
Ashley Quinn, Assistant Professor, Social Work, Faculty of Arts
Elder Doris Fox, Musqueam nation
Cheryl Holmes, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine
Nadine R. Caron, Co-Director, Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health, Faculty of Medicine
James Andrew, Indigenous Learner Initiatives Manager, Faculty of Medicine
Allison Campbell, Instructor, Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine
Simon Albon, Professor of Teaching, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Helen Brown, Associate Professor, Nursing, Faculty of Applied Science
Leeann Donnelly, Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry
Donna Kurtz, Associate Professor, Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, UBC Okanagan
Katie Lee Bunting, Assistant Professor of Teaching, OSOT, Faculty of Medicine
Courtney Smith, Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health, Faculty of Medicine
Leah Walker, Executive Director, Kilala Lelum
Yael Mayer, Postdoctoral Fellow, OSOT, Faculty of Medicine
Ashley Lessard, Candidate, Master of Public Health
Hailey Matheson, Undergraduate Student, Social Work
Hali McLennan, Graduate Student, Social Work
Madeline Elder, Undergraduate Student, Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health

Year 2: TLEF ShowcaseYear 2: TLEF Showcase
Project Report2021-TLEF-SP-Final-Report-Jarus-WEB.pdf