Indigenous students’ experiences regarding the utility of university resources during medical training

Abstract

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada recognizes that the representation of Indigenous people in medicine has historically been low. As a response to address the latter, several support structures have been put in place in universities for Indigenous students in medical programs. In this phenomenological study, we conducted open-ended, semi-structured interviews with four Indigenous female students in medicine regarding their experiences interacting with university resources. Peer mentorships, opportunities for clinical experiences in proximity to Indigenous communities, and an appointed Indigenous contact person were the resources that contributed most to supporting participants during medical training. Although a generalized positive attitude was held toward all available university resources, Indigenous students also expressed concern regarding the utility of certain resources, mainly due to their accessibility and restrictions imposed at the institutional level. Implications are discussed regarding Indigenous students’ sense of belonging in non-Indigenous universities.