The Northern Ontario School of Medicine has launched a new Indigenous Health Practitioner Pathway program.
The goal is to increase the number of First Nations health-care professionals in the region in order to provide culturally appropriate care.
It’s seen as a starting point for Indigenous youth.
Officials say the program will provide educational programming focused on health, life and human sciences, both in remote communities and larger urban centres in the north.
Dr. Rebekah Neckoway is based in Sioux Lookout and travels to the remote north to practice and says this pathway will provide opportunities and role models for Indigenous youth.
NOSM announced the launch of its Indigenous Health Practitioner Pathway program Monday. (File photo)
THUNDER BAY – The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) hopes to increase the number of Indigenous health care professionals in the region with a new Indigenous Health Practitioner Pathway program.
The school will collaborate with Science North to offer educational programming and mentorship opportunities at 10 rural and remote high schools and five urban high schools across northern Ontario.
Boosting the number of Indigenous people in the profession is key to ensuring culturally appropriate care, the school said as it announced the program Monday.
“What resonates with me is the hope of providing future generations in First Nation communities with Indigenous family physicians that they will grow up with, who will care for them for years to come,” said NOSM alumnus Dr. Rebekah Neckoway, who provides care in remote fly-in communities. “My hope is that it will remove th