It’s being called the first-of-its-kind family medical residency program in Canada.
Fort Hope First Nation is working with Matawa First Nations and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine to bring graduating students to the remote community for a two-year placement.
Dr. Claudette Chase is involved in the initiative and she says a liaison will be provided who will introduce the resident to elders and people doing traditional practices.
Chase says the students can learn in a very respectful environment and have opportunities that most medical residents would never get to learn culturally safe care.
She adds Fort Hope residents know what they need to be healthy, stressing it’s important to have someone on-site for examination and treatment.
The initial stream will welcome one graduating student, but she says the ultimate goal is expanding it to four students a year.
