aboriginal md equity gap · the equity gapthe equity gap current estimate of aboriginal physicians...

Aboriginal Physician Training in Canada: Closing the Equity GapAboriginal Physician Training in Canada: Closing the Equity Gap

Dr. Jay WortmanInternational Medical Workforce Conference

March 20-24,2007Vancouver, British Columbia

Dr. Jay WortmanInternational Medical Workforce Conference

March 20-24,2007Vancouver, British Columbia

Natural selection promoting genes for intelligence probably been far more ruthless in New Guinea than in more densely populated and politically complex societies where natural selection for body chemistry was instead more important.

- Jared DiamondGuns, Germs and Steel

Physiological and Medical Observations among the Indians of Southwestern United

States and Northern MexicoAles Hrdicka, 1908

Physiological and Medical Observations among the Indians of Southwestern United

States and Northern MexicoAles Hrdicka, 1908

• Virtual absence of chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer and heart disease

• Not attributable to shorter life expectancy

• Virtual absence of chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer and heart disease

• Not attributable to shorter life expectancy

Archives of Dr. Otto Schaefer

What are the problems?What are the problems?

Aboriginal people experience a poorer health status than the average Canadian

Lack of Aboriginal health care providers

Curricula that are not culturally appropriate

Difficulty retaining health care providers to work in Aboriginal communities

Aboriginal people experience a poorer health status than the average Canadian

Lack of Aboriginal health care providers

Curricula that are not culturally appropriate

Difficulty retaining health care providers to work in Aboriginal communities

The Equity GapThe Equity Gap

Current estimate of Aboriginal physicians practising in Canada = 150 (IPAC 2007)Aboriginal population = 1.3 million or 4% of the Canadian population (2001 Census)Canadian ratio of physicians per 1,000 population = 2.1Parity in Aboriginal physician numbers = 2,730Equity gap (2,730 - 150) = 2,580

Current estimate of Aboriginal physicians practising in Canada = 150 (IPAC 2007)Aboriginal population = 1.3 million or 4% of the Canadian population (2001 Census)Canadian ratio of physicians per 1,000 population = 2.1Parity in Aboriginal physician numbers = 2,730Equity gap (2,730 - 150) = 2,580

Why is this important?Why is this important?

patients have better health outcomes when they receive care from a provider that can appreciate or relate to their ethnic backgroundpatients are more likely to visit a physician and be compliant with the physician’s care when the physician provides culturally competent healthcareculturally competent physicians reduce the language and cultural barriers to health care

patients have better health outcomes when they receive care from a provider that can appreciate or relate to their ethnic backgroundpatients are more likely to visit a physician and be compliant with the physician’s care when the physician provides culturally competent healthcareculturally competent physicians reduce the language and cultural barriers to health care

What is being done?What is being done?

First Nations and Inuit Health Careers Program

Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy - Aboriginal component

Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative

First Nations and Inuit Health Careers Program

Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy - Aboriginal component

Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative

Current situation in Canadian Medical Schools


Western

University of British Columbia* 5% of seats reserved for Aboriginal students* Aboriginal Admissions Subcommittee and Aboriginal Interviewing Panel

University of Alberta* 7 positions per year

University of Calgary* support of Native Centre

Western

University of British Columbia* 5% of seats reserved for Aboriginal students* Aboriginal Admissions Subcommittee and Aboriginal Interviewing Panel

University of Alberta* 7 positions per year

University of Calgary* support of Native Centre



Western cont.University of Saskatchewan

* 6 first year spaces reserved

University of Manitoba* special consideration category and supports available from the

Aboriginal Student Centre* Aboriginal Health Electives and Rotation elective

Western cont.University of Saskatchewan

* 6 first year spaces reserved

University of Manitoba* special consideration category and supports available from the

Aboriginal Student Centre* Aboriginal Health Electives and Rotation elective



Central

McMaster University* modified admission requirements, Aboriginal admissions subcommittee

Northern Ontario School of Medicine* 2 seats per year minimum, recruiting program and premedical academic

counselling, Aboriginal admissions stream

University of Ottawa* 7 reserved medical seats and student cultural and educational supports

Queen’s University* 4 seats reserved, alternate method of applying

Central

McMaster University* modified admission requirements, Aboriginal admissions subcommittee

Northern Ontario School of Medicine* 2 seats per year minimum, recruiting program and premedical academic

counselling, Aboriginal admissions stream

University of Ottawa* 7 reserved medical seats and student cultural and educational supports

Queen’s University* 4 seats reserved, alternate method of applying



Central cont.

University of Toronto* Office of Aboriginal Student Services and Programs

and Native Student’s Association

Western University* 3 seats

McGill University* support from the First Peoples’ House

Central cont.

University of Toronto* Office of Aboriginal Student Services and Programs

and Native Student’s Association

Western University* 3 seats

McGill University* support from the First Peoples’ House



Central (con’t)

Universite de Montreal* no supports or accommodations

Universite de Sherbrooke* no supports or accommodations

Universite de Laval* no supports or accommodations

Central (con’t)

Universite de Montreal* no supports or accommodations

Universite de Sherbrooke* no supports or accommodations

Universite de Laval* no supports or accommodations

Current situation in Canadian Medical Schools (continued)Current situation in Canadian Medical Schools (continued)

Atlantic

Memorial University* Aboriginal liaison Officer to assist Inuit students

Dalhousie University* 2 seats and Native Education Counselling Unit provides

personal and academic support services

Atlantic

Memorial University* Aboriginal liaison Officer to assist Inuit students

Dalhousie University* 2 seats and Native Education Counselling Unit provides

personal and academic support services

Recent Federal/Provincial/Territorial

Government Initiatives

Recent Federal/Provincial/Territorial

Government Initiatives

Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy

Aboriginal Health Human ResourcesInitiative

Provincial and Territorial HHR Action Plans

Pan-Canadian HHR Strategy

Aboriginal Health Human ResourcesInitiative

Provincial and Territorial HHR Action Plans

Summary- What has been done to date

Summary- What has been done to date

Health Career Awareness and Promotion (Blueprint for the Future and Health in The Classroom)

Scholarships and bursaries (NAAF’s, CMA’s, or MNC’s)

Access/Bridging Programs

Reserved seats for Aboriginal students

Social and educational supports

Health Career Awareness and Promotion (Blueprint for the Future and Health in The Classroom)

Scholarships and bursaries (NAAF’s, CMA’s, or MNC’s)

Access/Bridging Programs

Reserved seats for Aboriginal students

Social and educational supports

What still needs to be done:What still needs to be done:

Partnerships - F/P/T, IPAC, AFMC, CMA

Adapt curricula to be culturally sensitive

Address barriers of admission for Aboriginal students

Promote a career in medicine to Aboriginal youth

Support bridging and access programs

Partnerships - F/P/T, IPAC, AFMC, CMA

Adapt curricula to be culturally sensitive

Address barriers of admission for Aboriginal students

Promote a career in medicine to Aboriginal youth

Support bridging and access programs

aboriginal md equity gap · the equity gapthe equity gap current estimate of aboriginal physicians...

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