The Northern Medical Program is succeeding in attracting aboriginalstudents to medicine, a vital element in ensuring that the NMP isrelevant to rural and northern communities. In the NMP’s first threeyears, it has attracted 6 aboriginal students, representing 8% of thetotal number of students in the Northern Medical Program.

In Canada, aboriginal people make up less than 5% of the student population in medical schools.

“Just as NMP students who come from rural communities contribute adistinctive perspective to their studies, our aboriginal students offertheir unique perspectives and experiences," says David Snadden, ViceProvost Medicine at UNBC and Associate Dean for the Northern MedicalProgram at UBC. "We are proud of their commitment to their studies andto their communities.”

The aboriginal NMP students are listed here:

Jennifer Douse, a Metis student from Fort Nelson
"Being a physician has been a lifelong dream for me.  Medicine isexciting and challenging and I really enjoy the aspect of caregivingfor others.  The NMP is a great experience - I love the North andI'm glad that I get to train to be a doctor here."

Sharona Supernault, a Cree-Metis student from Dawson Creek
"Aboriginal people are greatly under-represented in the medical field.I am proud to be the first person in my family to pursue a medicaldegree. I completed my First Nations Studies degree at UNBC, thereforebeing back in Prince George feels like home. I love the small classsize and the support we have received being in the Northern MedicalProgram.  Being in a smaller hospital with enthusiasticpreceptors, we are given wonderful teaching opportunities that otherstudents may not receive until later in their training."

Ben Matthew, a member of the Simpcw First Nation from a small reserve north of Barriere called Chu Chua

Peter Eppinga, a Haida student from Masset on the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii)
"I have wanted to be a phsyician since I was five years old. I love tohelp people. I am concerned about their life and the quality of it.Being a physician makes a big difference in peoples lives. Finally Ilove the human body and the science of it! I am on the board ofdirectors for the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, and wishto influence Aboriginal health on a national level. Being in the northin the Northern medical program helps me to better understandAboriginal health issues in the north and it will prepare me when Ipractice in my home town Masset."

Taylor Riutta, of Abenaki ancestry from Odanak, Quebec, most recently living in Sudbury
"I applied to the NMP for the smaller class sizes and the opportunitiesto study in rural areas. My experiences here have been phenomenal and Iwould choose the NMP again in a heartbeat."

Lorraine MacDonald, an Anishinabek (Ojibway) student from the Sheshegwaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island in Ontario

Based at UNBC’s Prince George campus, the Northern Medical Program ispart of the expanded UBC Faculty of Medicine, which also includes sitesin Vancouver and Victoria. The Northern Medical Program accepted itsfirst students in 2004. Admission to the Northern Medical Program isthrough the UBC Faculty of Medicine, which offers assistance toaboriginal applicants. After they are admitted to the Faculty, studentsselect the site they prefer to attend.

Throughout all of its programming, UNBC has a particular focus onaboriginal issues and making courses accessible to aboriginal people. About 10% of the University’s student body isaboriginal; the average among BC universities is 2.1%.

Contact:
David Snadden, Associate Provost - Medicine atUNBC and Associate Vice-President for the Northern Medical Program atUBC – 250.960.6731
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622
 

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Atthe top is Peter Eppinga. From left to right: Sharona Supernault,Lorraine MacDonald, Ben Matthew, Taylor Riutta, Jennifer Douse.