Introducing the New H.E.A.L. Healthcare Learning Resource!

HEALhealthcare.ca

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the H.E.A.L. Healthcare website—a free, open-access learning resource that unlocks the potential of arts and humanities to disrupt longstanding and well-established health disparities.

Starting from the premise that healthcare is both an art and a science, H.E.A.L. Healthcare uses poetry, storytelling, visual arts, and other creative tools to confront oppressive healthcare biases, to understand patient experiences, and to humanize healthcare systems and cultures.

H.E.A.L. Healthcare brings together artists, writers, activists, and people with lived experience to create arts-based and anti-oppressive learning materials. H.E.A.L. Healthcare teaching tools are designed to inspire anyone in any healthcare field.

The free and open-access curricula are available at HEALhealthcare.ca. This innovative project is a result of a long-standing collaboration between the Health Arts Research Centre (HARC – healtharts.ca) and the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH – nccih.ca).

Quotes:

“The H.E.A.L. Healthcare Project provides systemic change that is long overdue. I often think about the extractive ways that we talk about cultural sensitivity and cultural competency. The H.E.A.L. Healthcare project addresses internal biases rather than just learning about others. The diverse group of contributors created lessons that everyone can learn from in a kind and gentle way. I think it’s going to really change the face of medicine for all of us and improve health outcomes.”

X’staam Hana’ax (Nicole Halbauer)
H.E.A.L. Healthcare Project Manager

“As an anti-colonial medical educator, I believe there needs to be more tools to combat oppressive practices. Every tool on this website asks for self-reflection and internal focus. Health educators and clinicians can benefit from the innovative, art-based tools offered through this website.”

Dr Sarah de Leeuw
Canada Research Chair, Humanities and Health Inequities
Research Director, Health Arts Research Centre
Director, National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health
Professor, UBC Northern Medical Program (based at UNBC)

“The Hearts-based Education and Anti-colonial Learning in Healthcare Project humanizes healthcare systems and cultures in Indigenous communities by creating arts-based and anti-oppressive learning. The project tools help address internal biases within the healthcare industry by understanding patients’ lived experiences and teaching healthcare workers how to practice with cultural compassion – enacting real systematic change.”

The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Indigenous Services

The Hearts-based Education and Anti-colonial Learning in Healthcare (H.E.A.L. Healthcare) Project is generously supported by Indigenous Services Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Michael Smith Health Research BC, Northern Health, and the Northern Medical Program at the University of Northern British Columbia.

View the full Media Release here: Media Release – HEAL Healthcare – August 16, 2024