Dr. Willow Thickson is a recent UBC medical graduate, who is Cree, Ashininaabe and Métis from the Michel First Nation in Alberta. She has an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and Health Science from UBC with a minor in science specifically focused on biochemical nutrition.
Willow has held many positions such as the Vice President of Indigenous Health, UBC Medical Undergraduate Society, board member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), National Officer of Indigenous Health for the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS), and member of the Indigenous Health in Specialty Postgraduate Medical Education Steering Committee at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Willow is a current student in our Graduate Certificate in Global Surgical Care who is dedicated to bridging the gap in health care and in health outcomes for her people. She is pursuing a Master in Health Sciences with a focus on clinical epidemiology as well. Willow feels the graduate certificate will assist in her goals to better understand, evaluate and develop surgical programs for indigenous people in Canada. She hopes to address health care barriers for Indigenous people, and why they are suffering at a greater rate than other populations in Canada. Willow is currently undertaking residency at UBC in family medicine and hopes to become a family doctor serving communities in the Fraser Region. See her profile on UBC’s website here.
“Photo: Paul Joseph/UBC Brand & Marketing.”