Queen’s, WAHA, Mastercard Foundation partner to launch Indigenous health education program

Queen’s University, the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA), and the Mastercard Foundation have partnered to launch the Weeneebayko Health Education Program to address healthcare challenges in Northeastern Ontario. The initiative will create programming and resources that will encourage Indigenous youth to pursue education in careers such as medicine, nursing, and midwifery after they complete high school. The program curriculum will follow a decolonized, interprofessional approach and will include mentorship opportunities. “The healthcare professionals will train together in both the pre-clinical environment but in the hospitals and clinics, so they graduate ready to serve together in their roles,” said Queen’s and WAHA partnership senior advisor David Taylor. The Mastercard Foundation has provided $31M for the next two years to support the program.