In collaboration with the SMP Indigenous Health team, hosts of the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education Connection X 2023 and University of British Colombia Faculty of Medicine delegation.

Presentation: 20 Years of Recruiting and Supporting Indigenous Students

The ANU Strategic Plan outlines a commitment for the ANU to “be a national leader for the recruitment of Indigenous, rural and low-SES students. We will offer support that will enable every student to overcome any barriers they may face and achieve their full potential.”

At this inaugural SMP Monthly Education forum, James Andrew, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, will share 20 years experience recruiting and supporting Indigenous students.

This session will be of interest to all SMP academic, professional and honorary clinical staff as well as colleagues across the ANU.

Speaker: James Andrew, a member of Lil’wat Nation’s Mount Currie Band and the associate director of Indigenous Initiatives at the UBC faculty of medicine, has been honoured with the Indigenous Health Advocacy Award from the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC).

James is the 2023 AFMC Indigenous Health Advocacy Award winner and has been a staff member at UBC for more than 25 years including 21 years with the faculty of medicine as the Indigenous Student Initiatives Manager. In this role he worked to recruit and support Indigenous medical students through the Indigenous MD Admissions Pathway which recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary. More than 120 Indigenous physicians have graduated from the Pathway and are now serving communities across the province.

“James Andrew is a far-reaching mentor within the university, various Indigenous communities, and for many medical schools across the country,” said Dr. Dermot Kelleher, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, and Vice-President, Health at UBC. “James has been a true model of excellence, respect and decency throughout his humble career and productive career. He has inspired, and will no doubt continue to inspire, the next generation of Indigenous physician leaders."