Indigenous Public Health Training

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Indigenous Public Health Training

Explore Canada’s only Indigenous Public Health professional development opportunities at UBC’s Faculty of Medicine.

The Indigenous Public Health Training Institutes will equip Indigenous community members and scholars with necessary skills to address public health issues in Indigenous communities. One-week intensive courses can be put towards the Graduate Certificate or Certificate (non-credit) or taken individually. Applications for Summer 2019 Institute will open April 15th, 2019 and Close May 15th, 2019. To be notified when Summer Institute 2019 applications open please email indigenous.health@ubc.ca and request to be added to a notification list.

Students will receive foundational training in the core disciplines of public health, examined through an approach that:

  • Engages the unique challenges and opportunities of working in Indigenous contexts
  • Recognizes the historic and ongoing health disparities and inequities faced by Indigenous populations
  • Builds applied and theoretical knowledge affirming Indigenous rights to self-determination in relation to health services, research and program development
  • Addresses multiple, intersecting Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation commission

Indigenous Public Health Institute Courses:

  • Introduction to Indigenous Health Research Ethics
  • Social Determinants of Indigenous Health
  • Indigenous Health Policy in Canada
  • Collecting, Analyzing and Using Public Health Data in Indigenous Communities
  • An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding the Health of Indigenous Peoples
  • Environmental Health in Indigenous Communities
  • Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods in Indigenous Health Research
  • Mental Health Care and Delivery in Indigenous Communities

Program Delivery Format

  • The program will be delivered through intensive one-week, in-person institutes occurring in August and February.
  • Two courses will run concurrently, with one in the morning (8:00AM to 12:00PM) and one in the afternoon (1:30PM to 5:30PM).
  • Students must attend two institutes, completing four courses prior to matriculating into the Graduate Certificate or Certificate.
  • Completion of the Graduate Certificate or Certificate will require a minimum of two years, with students attending eight courses over four institutes.

Applying to Credit or Non-Credit

There are different applications for the graduate credit and non-credit version of the Institutes. The graduate credit version is intended for students who wish to complete the entire program over 2-4 years. The non-credit version is intended for those who wish to take the course for professional development purposes. Both credit and non-credit courses can be put towards earning a credential, either the Graduate Certificate (credit) in Indigenous Public Health or Certificate in Indigenous Public Health (non-credit). All course content and experience is completely identical, with the only difference being a final academic paper or assignment being required for the credit courses.

Non-Credit Admissions Criteria (no prior degree necessary)

  • Completed a minimum of 60 credits of undergraduate course work, or
  • Have at least two years work experience in public health setting or related health-field.
  • Completion of High School or equivalency.

Graduate Credit Admissions Criteria
Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Public Health will be granted to students through standard and equivalency pathways.

Standard (Undergraduate Degree)
Candidates will normally have a Bachelor’s degree in a field of study relevant to Indigenous health with one of the following:
• A minimum overall average in the B+ range in third and fourth year level courses.
• Academic standing with at least 12 credits on third or fourth year level courses in the A range in their field of study.Equivalency
Equivalency admissions into the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Public Health will be considered for candidates who have demonstrated strong potential in the field of Indigenous health, but may lack the academic qualifications required for admission through the standard pathway. Candidates seeking admission through the equivalency pathway will need to demonstrate the drive to excel and the academic skills required to succeed.

Equivalency Requirements (No undergraduate degree)

  • Minimum 4 years of experience working in community health setting
  • Recommendation letter from community leadership or health organization
  • Secondary School graduation or equivalency.

The graduate credit version is intended for students who wish to complete the entire program over 2-4 years. The non-credit version is intended for those who wish to take the course for professional development purposes. Both credit and non-credit courses can be put towards earning a credential, either the Graduate Certificate (credit) in Indigenous Public Health or Certificate in Indigenous Public Health (non-credit).

Please note that we require students to complete four courses prior to matriculating into the Certificate or Graduate Certificate.

Summer Institute 2019 (August 19-23)

  • An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding the Health of Indigenous Peoples (8:30AM – 12:00PM)
  • Environmental Health in Indigenous Communities (1:30PM-5:00PM)

Winter Institute 2020 (February 15-19)

  • Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods in Indigenous Health Research (8:30AM – 12:00PM)
  • Mental Health Care and Delivery in Indigenous Communities (1:30PM-5:00PM)

Summer Institute 2020 (August 20-24, tentative dates)

  • Introduction to Indigenous Health Research Ethics (8:30AM – 12:00PM)
  • Social Determinants of Indigenous Health (1:30PM-5:00PM)

Winter Institute 2021 (February 18-22, tentative dates)

  • Indigenous Health Policy in Canada (8:30AM – 12:00PM)
  • Collecting, Analyzing and Using Public Health Data in Indigenous Communities (1:30PM-5:00PM)

Applications to attend Indigenous Public Health Institutes will be adjudicated by the Center for Excellence in Indigenous Health. Applications for Winter Institute 2019 will open on September 25th (and close on October 31st), application links will be provided on that date. 

Application Process:

1. Download and read the Application Guide
APPLICATION GUIDE

2. Prepare and save application materials
3. Fill out the online application via the link below:

CREDIT APPLICATION

NON-CREDIT APPLICATION

Please read the application guide prior to clicking the online application below.

Once you start an online application, you may continue at a later time only on the same computer and browser.

For inquiries regarding applications please email: ceih.admissions@ubc.ca.
For general program inquiries: indigenous.health@ubc.ca.

Non-Credit Tuition: $500.00 per course or $1000.00 per Institute + $75.00 registration fee

Credit-Tuition: $750.00 per course, $1500.00 per Institute + applicable UBC Student Fees

Scholarship and bursary support available for tuition, accommodation and travel. 

After completing four courses, students will have the opportunity to matriculate into the Graduate Certificate or Certificate in Indigenous Public Health (non-credit). The Graduate Certificate is a 12 credit graduate program, awarded by UBC. The Certificate is a non-credit program, awarded by the Faculty of Medicine and the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health. The courses for each program are run jointly but have differences in admission requirements and workload.

Graduate Certificate Program Requirements

  • Introduction to Indigenous Health Research Ethics (SPPH576, 1.5 credits)
  • Social Determinants of Indigenous Health (SPPH578, 1.5 credits)
  • Indigenous Health Policy in Canada (SPPH586, 1.5 credits)
  • Collecting, Analyzing and Using Public Health Data in Indigenous Communities (SPPH579, 1.5 credits)
  • An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding the Health of Indigenous Peoples (SPPH589, 1.5 credits)
  • Environmental Health in Indigenous Communities (SPPH577, 1.5 credits)
  • Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods in Indigenous Health Research (SPPH588, 1.5 credits)
  • Mental Health Care and Delivery in Indigenous Communities (SPPH587, 1.5 credits)

Certificate Program Requirements

  • Introduction to Indigenous Health Research Ethics (CEIH100)
  • Social Determinants of Indigenous Health (CEIH101)
  • Indigenous Health Policy in Canada (CEIH102)
  • Collecting, Analyzing and Using Public Health Data in Indigenous Communities (CEIH103)
  • An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding the Health of Indigenous Peoples (CEIH104)
  • Environmental Health in Indigenous Communities (CEIH105)
  • Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods in Indigenous Health Research (CEIH106)
  • Mental Health Care and Delivery in Indigenous Communities (CEIH107)

Program Format

In order to ensure accessibility to individuals working full time and living in communities outside of Vancouver, the program will be delivered through intensive one-week, in-person institutes. Two courses will run concurrently, with one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Completion of the Certificate will require a minimum of two years, with students attending four institutes totalling eight courses.

Nadine Caron

MD, MPH, FRCSC - Associate Professor, Dept. of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine (NMP), Co-Director of Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health

Dr Nadine Caron currently resides in Prince George, BC where she provides surgical oncology care for those that call rural and remote Canada home. Nadine is also an associate professor in the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Surgery where she teaches in the Northern Medical Program. During her surgical residency, Nadine completed a Master’s in Public Health from Harvard University and was awarded UBC’s Top Student Award. Nadine is also appointed as an Associate Faculty member of the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University where she teaches for the Center for American Indian Health.Nadine is Anishnawbe from Sagamok First Nation. Her work involves a variety of audiences and knowledge users including governments, provincial health authorities, national medical organizations, health research funding bodies, and several universities to achieve identified and overlapping objectives. In 2014, Dr Caron was appointed Co-Director of the UBC Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health located at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health.

Martin Schechter

OBC, MD, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS - Professor, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine Canada Research Chair in HIV/AIDS and Urban Population Health Program Director MHSc, School of Population and Public Health Co-Director, Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health

Martin T. Schechter is a Professor and Founding Director of the School of Population and Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine at The University of British Columbia. Dr. Schechter was a National Health Research Scholar and Scientist from 1986 to 1999 and then a CIHR Senior Investigator from 2000 to 2001. In 2001, he received a Tier I Canada Research Chair in HIV/AIDS and Urban Population Health. Dr. Schechter combines interests in clinical epidemiology and health services research with HIV/AIDS and urban health research. He is both a founder and National Director of the Canadian HIV Trials Network, a national network launched in 1990 of investigators and research facilities aimed at conducting trials of HIV therapies and vaccines. In 1992, Dr. Schechter helped to found the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and was its founding Director of Epidemiology and Population Health. He also served as Director of the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences. Dr. Schechter was founding President of the Canadian Association for HIV Research, and co-chaired the XI International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver in 1996.

Patricia Spittal

Associate Director, Research

Dr. Patricia Spittalis an anthropologist whose work addresses HIV related vulnerabilities of marginalized communities living in both resource rich and poor countries. She is the Principal Investigator of the Cedar Project, a CIHR-funded initiative to better understand the sexual and drug related vulnerabilities of Aboriginal youth who use drugs. She and her research team from Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Kampala, Uganda and Lacor Hospital, Gulu also received CIHR funding to establish a similar prospective cohort in Northern Uganda called the “Cango Lyec Project” (Healing the Elephant), addressing the HIV vulnerabilities of people affected by conflict in Northern Uganda. Dr. Spittal worked with a multi-disciplinary team leading to the successful development of the new Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health. As Head, she is committed to building the Health in Populations Division at the School of Population and Public Health, and furthering Aboriginal health initiatives at UBC. She is also dedicated to her work in Northern Uganda. She was instrumental in the recent signing of a MOU between the Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Uganda and UBC’s Faculty of Medicine, and currently has two PhD students being mentored by faculty at Makerere.

Email: spittal@sm.hivnet.ubc.ca

Phone: (604) 806-8779

Shannon Waters

Associate Faculty

Shannon Waters is Coast Salish and a member of the Stz’uminus First Nation on Vancouver Island. After completing medical school at UBC, Dr. Waters went on to train at the Indigenous site of UBC’s family medicine residency program, followed by an additional residency in public health and preventative medicine.

Today, Dr. Waters is committed to improving First Nations health as a Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health, as well as the Aboriginal Medical Director for the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the Acting Aboriginal Physician Advisor at the Office of the Provincial Health Officer.

Why this program?

The Center for Excellence in Indigenous Health, as a core part of its mandate to raise the health status and self-determination of Indigenous communities, is committed to providing national leadership in offering training opportunities to aspiring and accomplished Indigenous health leaders. This program represents the first specialized Indigenous public health program in Canada and aims to serve the training and capacity needs of communities. The program features leadership from UBC Faculty members, Indigenous scholars and health leaders on public health and research fundamentals that incorporate Indigenous Knowledge.

Can I take individual courses?

Absolutely. Many professionals working in Indigenous communities, or in the field of Indigenous public health, desire specialized training in specific areas. Individual courses will not be restricted to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate or Certificate.

Our Centre prioritizes having open lines of communication to potential students and providing resources to support individuals through the application process.

If you’re unsure of eligibility, require support with your application or have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact Sr. Drew Laurent at 1-604-822 5586 or drew.stlaurent@ubc.ca or contact: indigenous.health@ubc.ca

Registration and Payment