IPAC And AFMC Announce Launch Of 4 Indigenous Health Documents, Canada

On December 1st, 2008, the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC) and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) will launch four key documents at the Delta Centre-Ville Hotel in Montreal to support the implementation of Indigenous health curriculum at all Canadian faculties of medicine, and increase the number of Indigenous physicians in Canada.These documents, which can be found on the IPAC and AFMC web sites are:

First Nations, Inuit, Métis Health Core Competencies: A Curriculum Framework for Undergraduate Medical Education

Summary of Admissions and Support Programs for Indigenous Students at Canadian Faculties of Medicine

Best Practices to Recruit Mature Aboriginal Students to Medicine

Pre-Admissions Support Toolkit for First Nations, Inuit, Métis Students into Medicine

To support implementation of Indigenous health curriculum in all undergraduate medical education programs, all 17 medical faculties have nominated members to a committee which includes faculty and community representatives. This launch will coincide with this group’s first meeting.

“Health disparities between Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) peoples and the general Canadian population continue to exist. The reasons for the disparities are diverse and include inter-generational impacts from colonization, residential schools, treaties, land claims, ongoing systemic socio-economic disadvantage, and a vast under-representation in the health professions, including medicine,” said Dr. Marcia Anderson, President of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada. “Increasing the size of the Indigenous medical workforce and training all of Canada’s physicians to provide the highest quality care to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples are two key responses to these disparities that are within the medical schools capacity and social responsibility,” said Dr. Anderson.

Dr. Nick Busing, President and CEO of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada is “extremely proud of the work that has been done by these very committed individuals. There is no question that their work will have a direct impact on our faculties, the medical workforce, and ultimately on the health and prosperity of Indigenous peoples in Canada.”

Source
Kandice Leonard
Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada

Barbie Shore
The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada