IPAC Awards

The 2025 IPAC Awards

Nominations for the IPAC Awards are now open!

We are honoured to announce the First Nations Health Authority as the
official sponsor of the 2025 IPAC Awards.

With FNHA’s support, we celebrate the outstanding contributions of Indigenous physicians, medical learners, and health leaders who are shaping the future of Indigenous health, mentorship, environmental stewardship, and advocacy.

Nominations are open from March 3 to April 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PDT).
Recipients will be awarded $1,000 and honoured at the Annual Mentorship Gathering on June 6, 2025, in Misâskwatômina (Saskatoon, SK).

Nominees must be IPAC members in good standing. Board and committee members are eligible.
All nominees and nominators will be contacted by May 5, 2025.

Unsuccessful nominees who remain eligible are encouraged to reapply in future years. Nominators do not need to submit new letters of support unless they feel it would significantly strengthen the nomination—but a complete package must be resubmitted online.

Please review the eligibility criteria and award descriptions below.
Questions? Email us here.

Community Impact Award

The IPAC Community Impact Award recognizes a First Nation, Inuit, and/or Métis physician in Canada who demonstrates a dedication to equitable healthcare for on reserve and/or urban Indigenous communities; a commitment to supporting strong and resilient communities; and who values the impact of healthy relationships on the overall health of Indigenous Peoples.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Open nomination; can be nominated by physician colleagues, learners, administrators/faculty, Elders, community members
  • Nominee must be a Canadian physician
  • Nominee must be an IPAC Member in good standing
  • Nominee must accept the nomination
The Application Requires:
The application must be received by 11:59 PM (PDT) on April 25, 2025.
The application requires:
  • Nomination form
  • Letter of nomination (max 2 pages) written and signed by the nominator
  • Nominee CV (max 3 pages, without photo)
  • 1-2 examples of support (max 2 page letter of support and/or short video of support) provided by physician colleagues, learners, administrators/faculty, Elders, community members
Mentorship Award

The IPAC Mentorship Award recognizes a First Nation, Inuit, or Métis physician, medical resident, or medical student in Canada who exemplifies mentorship by encouraging authenticity and self-respect in their mentees; initiates opportunities for growth, empowerment, and organic connections within the learning environment; and honours the balance between western and Indigenous ways of knowing throughout their medical journey.

Eligibility Criteria:
  • Must be nominated by a past or present mentee
  • Nominee must be a Canadian physician, a medical resident at any stage of training in Canada, or a medical student enrolled in any year of medical school in Canada
  • Nominee must be an IPAC Member in good standing
  • Nominee must accept the nomination
The Application Requires:
The application must be received by 11:59 PM (PDT) on April 25, 2025.
The application requires:
  • Nomination form
  • Letter of nomination (max 2 pages) written and signed by the nominator
  • Nominee CV (max 3 pages, without photo)
  • 1-2 examples of support (max 2 page letter of support and/or short video of support) provided by physician colleagues, learners, administrators/faculty, Elders, community members
The Sacred Land Award

The IPAC Sacred Land Award recognizes a First Nation, Inuit, and/or Métis physician, medical resident, or medical student in Canada who champions planetary health as human health through an Indigenous lens. This includes advocating for environmental sustainability, addressing climate change through an equitable transition framework rooted in Indigenous perspectives, conserving biodiversity, and tackling social determinants of health with a focus on Indigenous communities.

Eligibility Criteria:
  • Open nomination; can be nominated by fellow residents, physicians, learners, administrators/faculty, Elders, community members
  • Nominee must be an IPAC Member in good standing
  • Nominees must be a Canadian physician, a resident at any stage of training, or a medical student enrolled in any year of medical school in Canada
  • Nominee must accept the nomination
The Application Requires:
The application must be received by 11:59 PM (PDT) on April 25, 2025.
The application requires:
  • Nomination form
  • Letter of nomination (max 2 pages) written and signed by the nominator
  • Nominee CV (max 3 pages, without photo)
  • 1-2 examples of support (max 2 page letter of support and/or short video of support) provided by physician colleagues, learners, administrators/faculty, Elders, community members
Medical Resident Leadership Award

The IPAC Medical Resident Leadership Award recognizes a First Nation, Inuit, and/or Métis medical resident in Canada who demonstrates a dedication to leadership within their personal, cultural, and medical communities. The recipient of this award exemplifies the multiple ways leaders help to uplift those around them through supportive relationships; community engagement and initiatives to improve the lives of others; and while acting as a positive role model for their resident and physician colleagues as well as medical students.

Eligibility Criteria:
  • Open nomination; can be nominated by fellow residents, physicians, learners, administrators/faculty, Elders, community members
  • Nominee must be an IPAC Member in good standing
  • Nominees must be a medical resident at any stage of training in Canada
  • Nominee must accept the nomination
The Application Requires:
The application must be received by 11:59 PM (PDT) on April 25, 2025.
The application requires:
  • Nomination form
  • Letter of nomination (max 2 pages) written and signed by the nominator
  • Nominee CV (max 3 pages, without photo)
  • 1-2 examples of support (max 2 page letter of support and/or short video of support) provided by physician colleagues, learners, administrators/faculty, Elders, community members
Medical Student Leadership Award

The IPAC Medical Student Leadership Award recognizes a First Nation, Inuit, and/or Métis medical student in Canada who demonstrates a dedication to leadership within their personal, cultural, and medical communities. The recipient of this award exemplifies the multiple ways leaders help to uplift those around them through supportive relationships; community engagement and initiatives to improve the lives of others; and while acting as a positive role model for their peers and prospective medical students.

Eligibility Criteria:
  • Open nomination; can be nominated by fellow students, residents, physicians, administrators/faculty, Elders, community members
  • Nominee must be an IPAC Member in good standing
  • Nominee must be a Canadian medical student during the time of nomination
  • Nominee must accept the nomination
The Application Requires:
The application must be received by 11:59 PM (PDT) on April 25, 2025.
The application requires:
  • Nomination form
  • Letter of nomination (max 2 pages) written and signed by the nominator
  • Nominee CV (max 3 pages, without photo)
  • 1-2 examples of support (max 2 page letter of support and/or short video of support) provided by physician colleagues, learners, administrators/faculty, Elders, community members

Past IPAC Award Recipients

2024

Community Impact Award: Dr. Jamaica Cass
Mentorship Award: Dr. Sarah Funnell
The Sacred Land Award (Inaugural): Dr. Ojistoh Horn
Medical Resident Leadership Award: Dr. Meagan Roy (University of Calgary)
Medical Student Leadership Award: Haley Shade (University of Calgary)

2023 (Inaugural)

Community Impact Award: Dr. Veronica McKinney
Mentorship Award: Dr. Patricia Farrugia
Medical Resident Leadership Award: Madison Peterson-Kowal (NOSM University)
Medical Student Leadership Award: Elecktra Laxdal (University of Saskatchewan)