IPAC Awards

The 2024 IPAC Awards

IPAC Awards Nominations Are Now Closed! Thank you to all who nominated.

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 accept the nomination
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 or medical resident in Canada who exemplifies mentorship by encouraging authenticity and self-respect in their learners; 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 career.

Eligibility Criteria:
  • Must be nominated by a past or present mentee
  • Nominee must be a Canadian physician or resident in any year of residency
  • Nominee must accept the nomination
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 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
  • Nominees must be a Canadian physician or resident in any year of residency
  • Nominee must accept the nomination
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
  • Nominees must be a Canadian physician or resident in any year of residency
  • Nominee must accept the nomination
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 a Canadian medical student during the time of nomination
  • Nominee must accept the nomination
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 (University of Saskatchewan)
Mentorship Award: Dr. Patricia Farrugia (McMaster University)
Medical Resident Leadership Award: Madison Peterson-Kowal (NOSM University)
Medical Student Leadership Award: Elecktra Laxdal (University of Saskatchewan)

This November, we recognize Indigenous Disability Awareness Month, a meaningful time to honour the resilience, strength, and vibrant diversity within Indigenous communities across Canada.  We’re thrilled to highlight the impactful work of the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS), which continues to advocate for inclusivity and support for Indigenous people with disabilities. https://www.bcands.bc.ca/indigenous-disability-awareness-month-idam/  Join us this month in celebrating and learning more about how we can foster a more united, understanding, and accessible world. 💙 #IDAM #IndigenousDisabilityAwarenessMonth #UnityInDiversity #BCANDS
We are just TWO WEEKS away from the IPAC Board & Staff In-Person Gathering in Quebec City!  During this gathering, we will:
🌿 Cultural Sharing: Engage in enriching discussions that honor our diverse Indigenous cultures through tradition, teaching, learning, and kinship.
🔍 Governance Review: Initiate the process of an IPAC governance review to strengthen our organizational mission and impact.
🤝 Relationship Building: Cultivate partnerships with the four medical schools in Quebec to foster collaboration and support.
💖 Wellness Integration: Embed principles of wellness and joy into our programming, benefiting the mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health of our Board and Staff.  @cma_docs (CMA), @mdfinancial (MD) and @scotiabank are firmly committed to supporting the medical profession and advancing health in Canada and are investing $115 million over 10 years to support physicians and the communities they serve across Canada. The IPAC Board and Staff Development Gathering is made possible by this investment.  #IndigenousHealth #CulturalConnection #WellnessInHealthcare #BuildingBridges  #IndigenousLeadership #HealthcareEquity
What an inspiring week at #COP16Colombia! Dr. Ojistoh Horn, IPAC President, joined Dr. Joss Reimer, President of @cma_docs , and Dr. Melissa Lem, President of @cape_doctors, to elevate the conversation on the powerful connections between health, biodiversity, and nature-based solutions. Their work at COP16 highlights how protecting biodiversity supports healthier communities and a more resilient planet. 🌍🌿💪 
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Melissa Lem)
#HealthAndBiodiversity #NatureBasedSolutions #COP16
🚨 We're excited to announce that the @royalcollegecanada is recruiting individuals to join their governing committees for terms beginning in February 2025!  Committees play a vital role in guiding and directing the Royal College, making a lasting impact on residents, fellows, and the communities they serve.  Interested in making a difference? A list of available positions and the application form can be found on their website. The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.  https://www.royalcollege.ca/en/about/committee-structure/committee-recruitment  For any questions, feel free to contact governance@royalcollege.ca.
#royalcollege #committee #specialist #MedEd
Calling all Health Professional Educators!  Are you interested in exploring ways to address bias as a leader, ally, and co-disruptor? Join CAME's Canadian Leadership Institute for Medical Education (CLIME) 2.0 for a three-day intensive in Toronto, November 18-20, 2024! Designed for professionals at every career stage, this in-person event provides tools and insights for educators committed to fostering meaningful change in healthcare.  Registration is open! https://www.came-acem.ca/professional-development/clime2/
#HealthcareEducation #Leadership #BiasInHealthcare #Allyship #ProfessionalDevelopment #CLIME
📅 Today marks the start of Canadian Patient Safety Week 2024! This week, let’s focus on reducing healthcare harm and building safer, more compassionate care environments—including for Indigenous Peoples, who often face unique challenges in the healthcare system.  What does healthcare harm mean to you? How is your organization working to create a safer, more inclusive experience?  Looking for inspiration? Explore what @he_es_canada has planned and find out how you can get involved: https://tinyurl.com/2wazas8t.  Together, let’s make healthcare safe and respectful for all. 💙 #CPSW2024 #PatientSafety #UnderstandHarm
That's a wrap on IPAC Mentorship Events for 2024! 🎉  We closed out the year in Thunder Bay at @thenosm sharing a memorable evening with Indigenous medical learners and physicians. Thank you all for joining us and making it a night of connection and inspiration!  Keep an eye out for our Mentorship and other IPAC events here. https://ipacamic.ca/mentorship-events/  See you in March @ubcmedicine to kick off the 2025 events!  #IPACMentorship #IndigenousHealth #NOSM #MedicalCommunity #UBC #thunderbay
The Mentorship event at @thenosm in Sudbury was a tremendous success! Next stop: NOSM Thunder Bay!  A heartfelt thank you for welcoming us on the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. We had meaningful moments of connection and collaboration with Indigenous medical learners and physicians.  Looking forward to continuing the journey in Thunder Bay! 🙌🏽 
#MentorshipMatters #IndigenousHealth #NOSM  #IndigenousMedicine
We're thrilled to share more moments from #ICPH2024! It’s been an incredible experience connecting over meaningful conversations about physician health and well-being, all while on the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq people. A big thank you to the conference sponsors: @amermedicalassn, @thebma, and @cma_docs.
 #ICPH #Halifax #IndigenousHealing #physicianwellbeing
The Canadian Paediatric Society's foundation, Healthy Generations, offers a $2,500 bursary each year to encourage First Nations, Inuit, and Métis medical students to pursue a career in paediatrics. This bursary is named in honour of Dr. Kent Saylor (Mohawk, Kahnawake), the first Indigenous paediatrician in Canada and a former chair of the CPS First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Health Committee.  🗓️ The deadline to apply is October 31. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to support your journey in medicine!  Learn more and apply here: https://healthygenerations.ca/about-details/kent-saylor-bursary-for-indigenous-medical-students
#SupportIndigenousStudents #IndigenousHealth #Paediatrics #IndigenousMedicalStudents