Donate Now!

Two NOSM students receive CIBC Indigenous Learner Leadership Award

$47,500 awarded for demonstrating leadership and mentorship within school and community.

Mélanie-Rose Frappier and Alison Lewis, both fourth-year medical students at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), are the inaugural recipients of newly established CIBC Indigenous Learner Leadership Awards. The awards recognize self-identified Indigenous learners at NOSM who demonstrate exceptional leadership and mentorship within the School and community.

“Mélanie-Rose and Alison are fantastic leaders with a strong commitment to promoting access to health care, Indigenous culture, anti-racism, equity and inclusion,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, Dean, President and CEO of NOSM. “They are compassionate individuals who have made a real difference and will continue to do so as future physicians in Northern Ontario.”

Each student will receive the prestigious award of $20,000 and a professional development budget of $3,750 and are supported with networking resources. The students will become active members of the Indigenous Reference Group and the Indigenous Health Education Committee at NOSM during the fourth year of their MD program. As student members, they provide insight and actionable items to support future Indigenous health learners at NOSM and in Northern Ontario.

Social accountability is a core value at NOSM and is instilled in students and learners throughout their educational experience. Both award recipients expressed gratitude and their personal commitment to advancing social accountability in health care.

“Thank you for this award. I am truly honoured,” says Mélanie-Rose Frappier, who also holds an undergraduate degree in Indigenous Studies. “Health and culture are my passions, and I plan to include both Western and Indigenous ways of thinking and healing in my future practice. I truly believe that in order to heal we must focus on all aspects of health including the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.”

“As a future Indigenous family physician in Northern Ontario, I have an important advocacy role in Indigenous health leadership. I intend to continue to support Indigenous students, advocate for changes that improve health disparities, and foster culturally safe environments for all Indigenous patients,” says Alison Lewis. “Thank you for this incredible opportunity.”

NOSM received a donation from CIBC in May 2020 to establish this new initiative designed to promote and recognize Indigenous learner leadership and mentorship. These awards will also improve learning and networking opportunities available to recipients.

–30–

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is an award-winning socially accountable medical school renowned for its innovative model of distributed, community-engaged education and research. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and advocacy for health equity, NOSM relies on the commitment and expertise of the peoples and communities of Northern Ontario to educate health-care professionals to practise in Indigenous, Francophone, rural, remote and underserved communities.

On June 3, 2021, the Government of Ontario passed legislation to make NOSM the first stand-alone medical university in Canada.

For further information, please contact: news@nosm.ca

 

Student Biographies

Mélanie-Rose Frappier
Third-Year Medical Student, Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM Class of 2022)

Mélanie-Rose Frappier is from Sudbury and identifies as Métis and Francophone. She graduated from Laurentian University in 2018 with an undergraduate degree in Indigenous Studies. At age 16 she created her own non-profit organization called C’est Cool d’être en Santé, with the goal of educating youth about the importance of physical activity and created a declaration focusing on the educational inequalities facing Indigenous youth. She is the founder of several NOSM interest groups, including the Indigenous Cultural Activities Interest Group, the Self-Accountability Group, and is co-president of the Anti-Racism Book Club. Mélanie-Rose plans to practise family medicine in Indigenous and Francophone communities in Northern Ontario.

 

Alison Lewis
Third Year Medical Student, Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM Class of 2022)

Alison Lewis, a Métis NOSM medical student, was born in Sioux Lookout and grew up in Manitoba. She holds an undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry, and completed her thesis in organic chemistry. She spent her third year of medical school in Sioux Lookout where she worked with Indigenous patients and in several Northern fly-in communities. Alison plans to work as a family physician in Northern Ontario.

Nurturing diabetes care and community-based nutrition

Building meaningful relationships in small communities is what Sheila Byrne valued most about her experience at NOSM. Sheila is set to graduate from the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program (NODIP) this summer. Originally from Pickle Lake, she recently accepted a full-time role as a Registered Dietitian at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre.

“As I start my career with a focus on diabetes, I plan to stay connected to the professionals I have had the pleasure of working with and learning from,” says Sheila. “With the many complexities associated with diabetes, I aim to take a gentle approach, one that values individuality and respects all aspects of health.”

Sheila holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutritional Sciences from the University of Manitoba. She has also worked as a community coordinator with the Preventing Chronic Disease team at the Northwestern Health Unit. Sheila’s passion for student nutrition programs and health education was sparked in a unique way.

“I worked as a forest firefighter with the Ministry of Natural Resources over the course of three summers. I didn’t know it at the time, but it gave me an opportunity to witness the lack of food availability in remote communities. That captured my attention and really peaked my interest in food insecurity and the nutrition challenges faced in the far north,” she says.

At NOSM, Sheila experienced two rural placements for a total of 13 weeks. “Working in smaller towns in Northern Ontario provided me with unique connections and perspectives on personalized care. I came to learn about the importance of close relationships and connections that are built within the community when time is invested,” she explains.

Sheila speaks very fondly of her placement with Roots to Harvest, a non-profit, community-based organization in Thunder Bay which offers employment and experiential education opportunities to young people who face barriers to nutrition. “They combine youth development with urban agriculture to build connections between young people and the community. This placement could not have been a better fit for me as I could honestly see myself working there and helping to build community-based capacity someday.”

As Sheila looks forward to applying her skills to develop a community-based practice, she has a focus on personal and community development through aspects of food. “What I’ve learned is that people are the driving factor and food is the commonality that brings us together in a way that promotes all aspects of health, belonging and community.”

As of this summer, NODIP has trained 171 dietetic interns in more than 35 communities across the region. Of those, 64 percent have chosen to practice in rural or Northern communities. NOSM-educated Registered Dietitians are now increasing access to services in rural and Northern settings that have historically faced dietitian shortages.

 

Summer is here along with my top 10 list of things to do this season!

Aanin, Boozhoo, Tanshi, Kwe Kwe, Bonjour, Hello,

With the end of the pandemic in sight, I hope you are ready to get out there and hang with friends and family, soon. Let’s get our second doses and have that long-overdue visit with loved ones! It is time to plan vacations, wriggle your toes in the sand, soak up the sunshine, drink tall cool beverages and barbeque. Summer is one of my favourite times of the year.

Here are my top ten ideas for things to do, see, eat and hear this summer:

  1. Invent a summer cocktail. Try herbs, muddling citrus fruits and exotic mixes with passion fruit, mango or kiwi fruits. Put an umbrella in it with tons of ice and sip away. Mine would be a splash of lime, mint and rosemary, topped up with 2 tbsps. of Aperol and soda water. I have named it the NOSM U pop. Wanna trade recipes?
  2. Read a great book. Try one of the must-read books of this summer at the beach, camp, cottage or patio. I am reading (this is not a plug) Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion, Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu and the secret guilty read is Anthony Bourdain’s World Travel: An Irreverent Guide. Do you have a secret guilty read?
  3. Planting veggies or flowers. At present on my teeny balcony are a potful of overstuffed cherry tomato plants, herbs—rosemary, basil, thyme, chives—for the drinks of course. I hear that it’s almost strawberry season! Do you have a good strawberry recipe to share?
  4. Make your own spa treatments. What do you use? I am using face masks made out of cucumbers and avocado paste. Mix with any aloe face cream or coconut oil, water, avoid eyes and paste all over face, make a scary selfie, dry out and then take a shower. Do you have a favourite homemade treatment to share?
  5. Get active, walk or try a new skill. Yes, in my 60s I’m finally going to give golfing a try. FORE! Anyone near the Sudbury golf courses would be wise to stand as far back as possible. What’s your favourite outdoor activity?
  6. Make a favourite BBQ recipe. Although I cannot BBQ, I will make a favourite BBQ recipe. Any ground meat—I like chicken or turkey, an egg, herbs from the garden, chilli and an onion. Shape into patties, or grill, and eat with the best salad ever! What’s on your grill?
  7. Make the best salad ever. Toss together any greens, thinly sliced red onion, orange segments, pine nuts (toasted of course) and a light vinaigrette. Serve with burgers above, and a DIY summer drink. Do you have a new salad recipe for me to try?
  8. Take vacation. Rest, sleep, hang out with family on Zoom for now. Laugh so much your belly hurts. You may remember my list of summer tunes from last year. Enjoy the funniest movie and then, watch a glorious pink and purple Northern Ontario sunset. Do you have a favourite place to watch the sun set?
  9. Celebrate something. Moving to a new city if you’re a graduate or a new physician going into practice? Starting your first year of residency at NOSM University? Find some joy in being celebratory. What are you celebrating?
  10. Create a day just for you. You deserve a day to yourself—especially parents, partners and caregivers. Do whatever you want to do! Like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off… Ferris reminds us that “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

There is much to say as we enter new adventures for NOSM University. Summer in a post-pandemic world, with our lives changed forever, brings with it many opportunities. We have a bright and special world—one we have to protect as the earth is our home and we must safeguard it. The summer is a gift. Let’s enjoy it!

Miigwetch, thank you, marsi, merci,

Dr. Sarita Verma
Dean, President and CEO
Northern Ontario School of Medicine

If you have any feedback or comments, please reach out at dean@nosm.ca and follow me on twitter @ddsv3.


Taking pride in pronouns

Understanding and recognizing gender identities is important to delivering inclusive, patient-centered health care. Often, pronouns have a gender implied which are not always accurate or needed. Understanding how to correctly use and share one’s pronouns is a sign of safety and respect. Learn more about this initiative from NOSM medical students Lucie Ménard and Ashley Perreault.


NOSM adopts the Okanagan Charter

The health and well-being of NOSM learners, faculty and staff is a top priority as we transition from a medical school to a university. Research shows us that individuals who are well are more creative, engaged, productive, and have a stronger sense of community. It’s important for the entire NOSM community to focus on wellness as we look to the future. Read more about NOSM becoming an official signatory of the Okanagan Charter.


Building a culture of respect and inclusion at NOSM

Anti-racism must start with a culture change. Dr. Naana Jumah’s research, which led to the development of a new curriculum in postgraduate education across Canada called Hearing Our Voices: An Indigenous Women’s Reproductive Health Curriculum, indicates the importance of self-reflection and taking the time to become aware of one’s personal biases. Learn more about Dr. Jumah’s work in the new NOSM Report at report.nosm.ca.


Local Community Coordinators gathering February 2020.

Indigenous communities create virtual experiences for NOSM students

Spending four weeks in a remote, rural or fly-in Indigenous community is typically a rite of passage for first-year medical students at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), but the pandemic put a halt to all travel in 2020. It was decided the safest option was, for the first time ever, to deliver the immersive experiences online. Indigenous Local Community Coordinators (LCCs)—who organise placements in their home communities—got creative and found a workable alternative.

NOSM University