NADINE CARON

Biographical Statement
Originally from British Columbia, Nadine is currently studying Endocrine Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. As the first female First Nations student to graduate from the University of British Columbia's School of Medicine, she won the Hamber Gold Medal as the top graduating student and was named one of Maclean's "One Hundred Canadians to Watch."

During her surgical residency she completed her Master's degree in Public Health from Harvard University and was awarded UBC's Top Student Award. Passionate about Aboriginal health and Canadian health policy, she has served on numerous committees including the BC Medical Association's Committee on Aboriginal Health, the BC Advisory Committee to the Ministry of Health on provincial health goals, the Canadian Medical Association's Working Group on Aboriginal Health and as a Member of the Board for the Native Physician's Association in Canada. Her public addresses on the value of leadership for Aboriginal youth have been heard across North America and reflect her strong belief that personal commitment can make a difference.

Personal Connection
Regardless of where I am, I will always call British Columbia home. I have been in post-secondary education for the past 16 years and have completed all but thirty months in BC. I am currently in San Francisco completing my surgical training which began in the halls of Vancouver General Hospital. It is quite the experience working in one of the most high-powered medical institutions in the United States as such a strong supporter of Canada's health care system. We all hear the rumors: 5 month wait in BC for a surgery that has a 5 day wait in the US. Cheap, old and out-of-date medical equipment in BC, but up-to-date 'Star Trek' technology south of the 49th parallel. Archaic medical treatment in our province compared to the cutting edge treatment south of the border. Just as the media feeds us this message in Canada, there are no maple-leaf loving American journalists on the six o'clock news down here. But then I moved to San Francisco. Now the nurses know not to ask in front of me what type of bandages or bedding to give a patient—I think it should be based on what they need, not what they can afford. The secretaries know not to give my pager number to insurance companies questioning whether a patient will be hospitalized for 23 hours or 24 hours (insurance categories) because I want to discharge a patient when they are ready to leave the hospital—not when the clock says they have been there long enough. I have sat with American medical students to share how we treat certain medical conditions in BC and I am proud of the look of admiration that comes to their faces. Now, after ten months, many of these colleagues see Canada's health care system as something to be protected. They see my opportunity to come back to BC as 'fortunate'. They call me the 'BC Ambassador'. One nurse said, "Nadine, we will miss you when you are gone, but it will be easier to look in the mirror without you reminding us of how our health care system could do things... how we should do things." They want to come visit BC and I smile and say, "come see me when I move back home."