Pharmacy students at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy will soon gain access to innovative AI-powered virtual training designed to help them provide culturally responsive care to Indigenous patients, addressing a critical gap in healthcare education.
Jeff Nagge, clinical associate professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy, Savannah Sloat (Tuscarora, Six Nations of the Grand River), manager of the University of Waterloo Faculty of Science Indigenous Initiatives, and Cassandra McLelland (M’Chigeeng First Nation), clinical pharmacist and vice-chair of the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada are developing a virtual training module that will provide students with authentic patient encounters within a supportive learning environment.
“We know that culturally unsafe healthcare has real consequences. This project is a purposeful step toward addressing those harms by preparing future pharmacists to recognize and respond to the unique needs of Indigenous patients in meaningful, respectful ways,” says Sloat.
This project builds on the same AI platform used in the award-winning Management of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy (MOAT) program and is supported by the University of Waterloo’s Teaching Innovation Incubator. By leveraging the instructional design and delivery model established through MOAT, this new module enhances learning experiences and addresses systemic challenges in delivering experiential learning experiences on culturally safe care for Indigenous populations. Through immersive virtual simulations, students will develop essential knowledge and skills that they will apply during their co-op work terms, patient care rotations and their future practices, to provide the highest quality of care for their patients.
Cultural competency in healthcare is essential for reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for Indigenous communities, who often face barriers to accessing appropriate pharmaceutical care. The virtual training module will help strengthen healthcare education and prepare pharmacy students to recognize these challenges to respond with culturally informed practice.
The project team also includes:
- Cynthia Richard, associate professor and associate director, curriculum, School of Pharmacy
- Kelly Grindrod, associate professor and associate director, clinical education, School of Pharmacy
- Jessica Hoang, undergraduate research coordinator, Teaching Innovation Incubator
- Nithyla Chandrakumar, undergraduate research coordinator, Teaching Innovation Incubator
- Ametros Learning
- EdTech Sandbox