Training aboriginal health care professionals in Manitoba

CMAJ 2000;162:1661

The University of Manitoba has graduated 21 self-identified aboriginal physicians, and 20 of the 21 have graduated since 1987. Another 14 aboriginal students (First Nations [status and nonstatus], Métis and Inuit) are currently enrolled in our medical school, with 3 of them graduating this spring.

Our success is due in large part to the success of the Special Premedical Studies Program (SPSP) and its continuation, the Professional Health Program (PHP). Sixteen of the 21 Aboriginal physicians who have graduated in Manitoba participated in these programs.

SPSP was established in 1979 by the university and the provincial and federal governments. It is designed to help Aboriginal students meet the requirements for medical school admission and also includes preparation for other professional health careers such as dentistry and nursing.²

PHP is a natural extension of that program. In Manitoba, most of the professional health faculties are located on a downtown campus, kilometres away from the main campus. PHP helps to provide aboriginal health professionals with a less isolated environment and continues to provide support and resources in the academic, personal, financial and professional-development areas.

The faculties of medicine, dentistry and medical rehabilitation have long shown support for training aboriginal students. Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, occupational therapy and dental hygiene all have a special category stream of admission, which includes aboriginal applicants. The physiotherapy program allocates up to 10% of its admission slots for SPSP students, and the medical school has supernumerary positions for these applicants.

The recruitment strategies of the Manitoba and Alberta program differ substantially. Manitoba creates a "pipeline" of potential aboriginal physicians by recruiting and supporting (mainly) Manitoba students interested in a career in health care early in their undergraduate studies and at the high school level. These potential professionals may not have had the resources or academic qualifications to achieve this goal prior to joining our program. Alberta recruits Canada-wide from a pool of aboriginal students who have already met the necessary requirements for applying to medical school.

Many aboriginal physicians and other health care professionals work in underserviced areas and within aboriginal communities after graduation.³ Programs such as those in Manitoba and Alberta need to continue to promote medicine and other health careers for aboriginal people; in Canada, for instance, aboriginal physicians are still underrepresented when compared with the general population. Mentorship and support for premedical and medical students, and provision of academic, financial and counselling resources that are culturally appropriate, are of paramount importance to the continued success of these programs.

Gilles Pinette
Coordinator, SPSP/PHP
pinette@home.com
Randy Herrmann
Director, Access/SPSP/PHP
Brian Hennen
Dean
Faculty of Medicine
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Man.

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1. Kent H. U of A proving popular with native students. CMAJ 2000;162(4):550.
2. Krause RG, Stephens MCC. Preparing aboriginal students for medical school. Can Fam Physician 1992;38:1187-93.
3. Stephens MC. The Special Premedical Studies Program — review of ten years of experience. Circumpolar Health 90: Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on Circumpolar Health; 1990 May. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press; 1991. p. 134-7.

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