Indigenous doctor who has ‘inspired generations’ honoured

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/06/2023 (891 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dr. Catherine Cook has been granted the prestigious 2023 Vanier Medal after 35 years of exceptional service in Indigenous health care and public policy.

“It’s been so encouraging and so exciting over the years to have so many people who are happy, and willing, and able, and passionate about working in the field of Indigenous health,” Cook said Wednesday. “I can’t even imagine, really, doing anything else.”

The annual Vanier Medal, which was created in 1962 by the Institute of Public Administration, is given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of public administration.

Cook, who is currently the vice-president (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba, is the first Indigenous recipient of the award. In September, she’ll fly to Ottawa to formally accept the medal. On Wednesday, as she talked about the award, she was taking care of her rambunctious, 14-month-old grandchild.

Raised in a remote fishing village near Lake Winnipeg, Cook, a Métis woman, graduated from the University of Manitoba school of medicine in 1987. At that time, she was one of few Indigenous physicians in the province.

“When I first got into medicine, I was really excited about being a clinician, working in the north, working with people,” Cook said. “(I) very quickly saw the significant disparities in access.”

From there, she dedicated her life to bolstering Indigenous-centred health care. She has worked as an associate professor of community health sciences, the provincial lead of Indigenous health at Shared Health Manitoba and the head of Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing.

Before accepting a promotion to vice-president (Indigenous) in 2020, she was the U of M’s vice dean of Indigenous Health. As vice-president, she has spearheaded a long list of programs and task forces, including the Indigenous content requirement, the reconciliation action plan and the anti-racism task force, where she is co-chair.

Michael Benarroch, president and vice-chancellor at the University of Manitoba, said Cook is committed to public service.

“She is a changemaker who has inspired generations,” he said in a news release.

Cook’s medical career was never a solitary endeavour. Throughout her working life, she took time to mentor Indigenous medical students and promote a culture of collaboration. She credits a host of people for helping her get to where she is today.

“It’s been a privilege to have had the career I’ve had. Although I’m the one who’s receiving the award, there are so many people who have contributed to this,” Cook said.

She plans to retire later this year. As she turns the page on this chapter of her life, she looks forward to witnessing what the next generation of Indigenous health-care professionals will achieve.

“Find those people who believe and are passionate about the same things that you are, and come together as a team,” she said when asked what advice she’d give to future Indigenous physicians. “Everybody has something to bring and something to offer.”

cierra.bettens@freepress.mb.ca