The University of Alberta is emerging as a leader in attracting native students to medical school. It has produced 16 Aboriginal physicians in the past decade, a number that Dr. Malcolm King, chair of the Aboriginal Health Careers Program for the last 7 years, says is the highest in Canada.
The major reason is the 2 spaces the medical school has reserved for First Nations students, says King. There is usually at least 1 other Aboriginal student in the regular program, which he says is an important factor in eliminating feelings of isolation for the students. "The students themselves are their own best support group," he says. Once accepted at the school, academic requirements are the same for all students. FIGURE
Part of the school's financial assistance for these students comes through awards in memory of the school's first Aboriginal student, Darcy Tailfeathers, who died in a car accident just 2 months into his program.
In each of the last 7 years, up to 16 students have applied for the 2 spaces. King thinks the growing popularity is "a critical mass kind of thing." The school recruits nationally through career fairs, posters and its Web page (www.med.ualberta.ca/office/ugme/nhccp.html), says Anne-Marie Hodes, the program's coordinator. "When we first started, our big concern was to get students into the positions as soon as possible. If we had restricted ourselves to Alberta, that might not have happened." Nine of the 16 graduates are Albertans.
Most of the graduating physicians have entered family practice or psychiatry residencies. Two are working in First Nations communities and another 4 are in practices with large numbers of native patients. One is completing an otolaryngology residency, and another is an emergency medicine specialist.
Beginning this academic year, a medical school place will be offered to a student, native or non-native, from the Northwest Territories. The student will be sponsored by the territorial government, which will also provide a residency program for the graduate.