Dr. Horton and Dr. Lafontaine will discuss Indigenous healing and what we can all learn from it. The conversation will also look at systemic racism, compassion and culturally safe care. 

Dr. Alika Lafontaine is an award-winning physician, past-President of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada and the first Indigenous physician listed by the Medical Post as one of Canada’s 50 Most Powerful Doctors. For four years he co-led the Indigenous Health Alliance project, one of the most ambitious Indigenous health transformation initiatives in Canadian history, which at its peak involved political Indigenous leadership representing more than 150 First Nations across three Provinces.

Dr. Lafontaine holds leadership positions within the Alberta Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association, HealthCareCAN, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Alberta Health Services where he influences clinician practice, patient advocacy, health systems operation and development of health policy. He also chairs the governance committee of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Canada’s pre-eminent medical journal. Dr. Lafontaine continues to practice as an Anesthesiologist and is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Alberta.