Across the North, Indigenous people are underrepresented in the healthcare and medical field. This is further challenged by the obstacles faced in completing post-secondary education. The Yukon Youth Healthcare Summit was awarded $90,000 to address the need to increase the number of Indigenous Yukoners in post-secondary education – particularly in the field of health care – by exposing them to a variety of health care professions through a series of multi-day summits. In partnership with the Whitehorse General Hospital, the initial phase of the project will have team members travelling to Yukon high schools to recruit students. The second phase will bring interested youth to Whitehorse to participate in the Summit, including the use of the new Clinical Simulation Centre. It will also offer students the opportunity to obtain Standard First Aid certification and participate in workshops hosted by healthcare professionals where students learn about career paths in healthcare.
