Program
KEYNOTE: Improving Equity and Access in Primary Care for Indigenous Communities through PA Care Integration
November 11, 2022 from 8:45am EDT to 10:30am EDT
Description:
There is an urgent need to improve equity and access to culturally safe healthcare for Indigenous Peoples in Canada. More specifically, Indigenous communities struggle with access to primary care services. Indigenous Peoples are also entitled to self-determination in matters related to their healthcare delivery. This panel will discuss how integration of the PA model of care can support equitable and accessible primary care in Indigenous communities.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
- Explain how the PA model can support Indigenous communities, improving equity and access to primary care services
- Consider the feasibility of possible strategies to achieve the goals of equity and access to primary care in Indigenous communities
- Describe a business model to facilitate integrating PAs in Indigenous primary care
- Recognize the importance of dedicated Indigenous student recruitment in existing Canadian PA Programs
- Identify actionable items and next steps to achieve the goal of PA care integration in Indigenous primary care models
Speakers / Panelists
-
KEYNOTE: Improving Equity and Access in Primary Care for Indigenous Communities through PA Care Integration
November 11, 2022 from 8:45am EDT to 10:30am EDT -
KEYNOTE: Improving Equity and Access in Primary Care for Indigenous Communities through PA Care Integration
November 11, 2022 from 8:45am EDT to 10:30am EDT -
KEYNOTE: Improving Equity and Access in Primary Care for Indigenous Communities through PA Care Integration
November 11, 2022 from 8:45am EDT to 10:30am EDT -
KEYNOTE: Improving Equity and Access in Primary Care for Indigenous Communities through PA Care Integration
November 11, 2022 from 8:45am EDT to 10:30am EDT -
KEYNOTE: Improving Equity and Access in Primary Care for Indigenous Communities through PA Care Integration
November 11, 2022 from 8:45am EDT to 10:30am EDT
Quana Ticket, PA-C
Community Health Aide Instructor
Quana Ticket, PA-C
Quana Ticket is a Physician Assistant, Community Health Aide Instructor at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Quana has worked for ANTHC for five years and prior for Southcentral Foundation for a total of 11 years. Prior to becoming a Physician Assistant, she worked in the OB/GYN clinic as a Certified Medical Assistant. She has also worked as a Medical Assistant in the Family Medicine Clinic, and as a Community Health Aide in the village of Selawik, Alaska. She earned her Medical Assistant Certificate from Alaska Career College. She earned her Community Health Practitioner certification through the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and she trained in Sitka and the Anchorage CHAP office. She became certified as a Physician Assistant through the University of Washington’s MEDEX program and the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is Alaskan Native of Inupiaq descent.
Leila Gillis, RN MN FCAN
Senior Director, Primary Health Care Services and Deputy Chief Nursing Officer
Leila Gillis, RN MN FCAN
Leila Gillis, RN MN FCAN
Senior Director, Primary Health Care Services and Deputy Chief Nursing Officer
Leila Gillis is a Federal Government nurse leader and her career has been dedicated to service to Indigenous populations at the local, provincial, regional, and national levels, influencing healthcare delivery over three decades.
As Deputy Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Director at Indigenous Services Canada, Gillis continues to work to meet Canada’s commitment to support First Nations and Inuit full ownership and control of health services. Gillis’ career was built on a foundation of front line practice in both Inuit Nunangat and First Nation communities and this experience has solidified her commitment to support system change.
Gillis is a member of the national Principle Nursing Advisors Task Force and has joined international delegations representing Canada at meetings of the International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organization.
Gillis is a graduate of Western Memorial Regional Hospital School of Nursing (diploma); St Francis Xavier University (BScN) and Dalhousie University (MN) and is a proud Newfoundlander.
Tara Clarke, MPAS-CCPA
Lead, Physician & Clinical Assistant Program
Tara Clarke, MPAS-CCPA
Tara Clarke (she/her) began her medical career as a rural paramedic, for some of Manitoba’s most underserved communities. But after 10 years in the field, Tara was diagnosed with acute Transverse Myelitis and needed to navigate a career change. In 2010 she entered the Master’s degree Physician Assistant program at the University of Manitoba. Passionate about emergency medicine, she worked 8 years in both rural and urban emergency rooms. In 2019, an opportunity presented to participate on the Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 Rapid Response Team, operationalized out of Ongomiizwin Health Services (OHS), University of Manitoba. Tara became the first PA to be hired by OHS for the RRT and grew to occupy a seat as one of 4 coordinators of the teams. Through this, OHS was introduced to the concept of PAs and asked her to help pioneer the creation of models for PA use in OHS communities serving First Nations communities. Tara is now the Lead for the OHS Physician & Clinical Assistant Program; she continues to practice as an acute care PA, working in many Nursing Station and Hospital sites such as Garden Hill, Little Grand Rapids and Hodgson. Tara also holds an academic appointment with the UofM, serving as a clinical instructor and evaluator for various programs. Outside of work, she is a busy rural mom raising 5 kids and you can find her at a hockey arena, a hot tub or travelling.
Dr. Joseph Leblanc
Associate Dean of Equity & Inclusion
Dr. Joseph Leblanc
Dr. Joseph LeBlanc is a life-long Northern Ontarian and member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. Passionate about community health and wellbeing, he has extensive experience in asset-based community development and food system change throughout the region.
Dr. Joseph LeBlanc has been appointed as the School’s inaugural Associate Dean, Equity and Inclusion, which began July 1, 2020 for a five-year term; he is also an Assistant Professor of Indigenous Health at NOSM. Dr. LeBlanc previously held the position of NOSM’s Director, Indigenous Affairs since October 15, 2018.
Before joining the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, he worked for a diverse range of organizations, including academic institutions, charities, non-profits, and Indigenous organizations. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Forest Conservation, an Environmental Management Certificate, and a PhD in Forest Sciences from Lakehead University. Dr. LeBlanc is recognized as a leading expert in Indigenous food systems and community development in Canada. He has also received several awards including a Top 20 under 40 Northwestern Ontario Visionary Award and a Forty under 40 Northern Ontario Business Award. Dr. LeBlanc is also the former director of the Sudbury Social Planning Council and has developed national food policy with a focus on Indigenous food sovereignty. He has strong ties to Thunder Bay and Nishnaabe Aski Nation communities.
Britton Sprules, CCPA
Clinical Course Director, Physician Assistant Program
Britton Sprules, CCPA
Britton Sprules is a graduate from the Inaugural class of the University of Toronto’s Consortium of PA Education and has been working in Primary Care in Thunder Bay, Ontario for over 10 years. In 2012, she joined the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University as an Assistant Professor and in 2017, she joined the Consortium of PA Education program as the Clinical Course Director. She recently completed her Master’s in Health Professions Education at Queen’s University, and for her Capstone project, she looked at the Indigenous education component of the three Canadian PA programs and what can be done to better prepare PA graduates for working with the Indigenous population.