The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario and the provincial government have each kicked in $1.5 million to establish a research chair in aboriginal and rural health at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM).

The new chair, the first of its kind in Canada, will be filled by a researcher who will study issues such as stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes among aboriginal people, said Dr. Gregory Ross, NOSM’s associate dean of research.

These chronic health conditions are much more prevalent among aboriginal people than in the general population, he said.

The funding announcement was made May 23 at a press conference at the medical school’s Sudbury campus. It was also broadcast by teleconference to the medical school’s Thunder Bay campus.

Although there are already NOSM researchers studying aboriginal health issues, the chair will help them to work together, he said.

Ross said he hopes the chair will be hired within a year. It’s always a challenge to recruit top-level researchers, he said.

“We’re going to be hiring the best researcher we can get. If that person is aboriginal, that would be spectacular.”

Rocco Rossi, chief executive officer of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, said his organization decided to donate the funds to NOSM to tackle issues surrounding heart health in the aboriginal population in Northern Ontario.

They approached the provincial government and were able to get matching funds.
Since 2006, the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario has also funded the medical school’s Summer Student Medical Awards. The program is a five-year commitment valued at nearly $250,000.

Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci attended the press conference to announce the province’s contribution to the new NOSM research chair.

“I do want to reinforce the message that by investing in leading-edge research into heart disease, we can raise awareness of health in the north, and help families live longer and healthier lives.”

Sheila Cote-Meek, director of academic native affairs at Laurentian University, said NOSM is already doing a great job with aboriginal health research, and the new chair will further these efforts.

“In particular, as an Anishnawbe person, this comes with great significance because we have probably the greatest health challenges that face our population.”

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