Faculty of Medicine - Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Pre-Med Summer Institute for Aboriginal Student application.

“It is hard to put into words the value of this experience to both my education and my increased motivation to want to pursue medicine as a career,” states institute participant Khatija Essaji. She is talking about the Pre-Med Summer Institute offered for the first time at the Labrador Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay from May 23-June 24 this past summer. Five representatives of the First Nations/Inuit and Metis communities of Newfoundland and Labrador took part in the five-week program. Khatija is not alone in her enthusiasm about the experience. Fellow participant, John Jeddore reflects that “all in all, I would not change any aspect of this initiative. For being the first time running this program, everything seemed to have been put together amazingly and will prove to be a very helpful tool for Aboriginal students who are thinking of pursuing medicine."

Program content was designed to offer a wide range of experiences ranging from sessions on CPR-AED, patient intake procedures, and ethics in medicine to shadowing of residents and physicians and on-the-land engagement in traditional medicine practices. The five participants also had the opportunity to get tips from medical personnel about preparing their application to medical school and the interview. Sylvia Keefe asserts that the true value of the institute was that “I was an active participant in a supportive learning environment. I appreciate how the program was planned to fully emerge the students in various aspects of the medical field: from shadowing physicians in the Outpatient Department to observing Operating Room procedures to (where required) responding to a Medevac call”. Dr. Michael Jong, coordinator of the institute indicates that “this was a wonderful experience for both learners and trainers; we learnt for one another – not about one world view but many world views - and our lives are all the richer from having worked together."

Dr. Carolyn Sturge Sparkes, coordinator of the Aboriginal Health Initiative that initiated and supported the institute, is convinced that its success confirms the need to maintain it. “Funding received from Health Canada through its Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative (AHHRI) paid our expenses this year. Now we need to find funding to keep this going!” Participant Robert Power affirms the need. “I have already told friends about this and have encouraged them to apply for next year,” he declares.

The participants are clear that their passion for medicine has been fuelled by the opportunities provided at the Labrador Health Centre. They readily agree that what they experienced at the institute, while invaluable, is only the beginning. As Dean Simon eloquently pens, “My wish is that I can take what I have seen, heard, touched, smelled and tasted, back to my community, and have a true impact on improving the lives of my people. We too suffer. We too need healing. I want to maximize my time, helping people, and this is what I think being a doctor is all about.”

John, Michael, Dean, Sylvia, Robert & Khatija at the Camp

Workshop on Ethics led by Physicians

Applying to Med School Session with Joanne, a Successful Applicant

Learning about Pre-Hospital Stabilization

Learning about the FN/I/M Curriculum in Med School

On-the-Land Learning with the Elders

Sylvia & John Preparing for their Multiple Mini Interview Session

Relaxation at the Camp