Meet a UBC student who is creating an impact
In this edition of the Community Voices series, meet Alix Wells: our latest champion of culture transformation.
Alix is a medical student in the Northern Medical Program who also serves as the program’s Indigenous Health Representative. She is engaging with the community by creating exciting programming, which you can read more about below. Take a few moments to learn more about Alix, in her own words.
I would like to see current and future physicians equipped with the tools and knowledge to ensure that all patients receive quality and culturally safe care.
Give us a quick description about who you are:
I am a second year medical student at the NMP and the program’s Indigenous Health Representative Sr. I was born and raised in Prince George and completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where I studied Health Sciences. I am thrilled to be back where I grew up, to study medicine and continue to explore all that the north has to offer.
How have you been engaged with culture transformation?
As the NMP’s Indigenous Health Representative I received overwhelming interest from my cohort to learn more about practical ways that we, as medical students and future physicians, can implement what we have learned about cultural safety, cultural humility, allyship and other important concepts into practice. This feedback was echoed at UBC’s other sites.
Thus, my colleague, Lisa Renaud, and I planned “Cultural Humility and Allyship: Change Starts with Me.” This workshop was a 3-hour webinar hosted by the wonderful Shannon Beauchamp (Migizi Miigwan Equae) and introduced key concepts regarding cultural safety. The concepts included cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity, cultural humility, relational practice, trauma and intergeneration trauma, trauma stewardships, accountability and allyship. This webinar was open to all members of UBC’s Faculty of Medicine.
What first motivated you to undertake this work?
I was motivated to plan and organize this workshop, alongside Lisa Renaud, by the interest of our colleagues at the NMP as well as the other sites within the medical program (SMP, IMP, VFMP). Our colleagues showed a keen interest in learning more about how we can practically apply what we have learned about cultural safety, cultural humility and several other important concepts to our current and future work.
What about the event stuck out for you?
Shannon Beauchamp facilitated an extremely impactful, informative, and engaging webinar which we were thrilled to see a great turnout for. There were many moments that will stick with me, but one in particular was at the end of the webinar when all of the participants took part in a poll. The most common vote was that folks were feeling “motivated to create change”. Seeing that was extremely rewarding and gives me a lot of hope.
What you would like to see change in the community?
In the medical community, I would like to see current and future physicians equipped with the tools and knowledge to ensure that all patients receive quality and culturally safe care. As a non-Indigenous individual from a settler background, I know I will be a lifelong learner in this regard. Workshops, such as the one we planned, are one part of my, and others’ journeys.
What is your favourite UBC moment?
My favourite UBC moment so far was, after a year of online learning in my basement, the return to in-person to learning, and facilitating face-to-face collaboration with my professors and colleagues.
Cultural Humility and Allyship: Change Starts With Me
This presentation was held on November 4, 2021 for all members of the Faculty of Medicine community. It included practical tips to support you on your cultural humility journey. The interactive webinar was led by facilitator Shannon Beauchamp (Migizi Miigwan Equae), who introduced key concepts of Cultural Safety, including cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity, cultural competency, cultural humility, relational practice, trauma and intergenerational trauma, trauma stewardship, accountability, and allyship. View the poster
Connect With Us
We invite members of the community to connect and collaborate with REDI. You can participate directly by:
- Writing a post for the Community Voices series
- Telling us about work or projects supporting these goals
- Identifying a champion or early adopter of culture change
To bring about meaningful change we need each member of our community to be committed and involved. Contact REDI
More from the Community Voices series:
The Community Voices Series: Lisa Renaud
October 28, 2021Get to know one of our students who is making a difference Read more >
The Community Voices Series: Dr. Farah Shroff
October 10, 2021Meet our latest champion of culture transformation Read more >
The Community Voices Series: Dr. Neila Miled
May 17, 2021The Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion is pleased to introduce Dr. Neila Miled, our new Anti-Racism Advisor Read more >