UNews - Esther Tailfeathers

Graduates ready to walk the stage at Spring 2023 Convocation

trevor.kenney — Wed, 31 May 2023 16:38:40 +0000

This week, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will celebrate the achievements of 1,358 students as they cross the stage at Spring 2023 Convocation. In addition, members of the 2020 and 2021 graduating classes who did not have the opportunity to participate at an in-person event due to pandemic restrictions, are welcomed back to campus to cross the stage.

This spring’s graduating class is exceptional, representing a new generation of talented, critical thinkers prepared to contribute to communities near and far. The class showcases more and more students who have participated in work-integrated-learning opportunities throughout their educational journey, while students continue to utilize applied study, co-op and research opportunities and take advantage of career coaching to get a head start on their post-academic careers.

“Our talented alumni, which will soon number more than 55,000, makes its mark throughout the world every day,” says Dr. Mike Mahon, ULethbridge president and vice-chancellor. “Our graduates, many of whom have already significantly contributed to society through their academic pursuits, are ready to showcase their talents and we are eager to see what the future holds for them.”

This week’s convocation marks the final ceremonies of Mahon’s 13-year tenure at ULethbridge. As well, alumnus Terry Whitehead (BA ’94) will officially be installed as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s 15th chancellor during Thursday’s first ceremony.

Ceremonies take place Thursday, June 1 and Friday, June 2 at the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day.

All four ceremonies are free of charge and open to the public and media. Following is the convocation schedule for the week.

Thursday, June 1

Ceremony I – 9:30 a.m. – School of Graduate Studies (PhD and MSc); Faculty of Arts & Science (BASC, BSc); Installation of Chancellor Terry Whitehead; Speaker Research Award: Dr. Trushar Patel; Honorary Degree: Timothy Caulfield

Ceremony II – 2:30 p.m. – School of Graduate Studies (MA and MN); Faculty of Arts & Science (BA); Faculty of Health Sciences (BHSc, BN and BTR); ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Volunteer Award: Dr. Marta Gerasymchuk (PhD ’22); Honorary Degree: Dr. Esther Tailfeathers

Chancellor’s Dinner – 6 p.m., Science Commons Atrium – A dinner to honour all award recipients

Friday, June 2

Ceremony III – 9:30 a.m. – School of Graduate Studies (MC, MEd, MFA, MMus); Faculty of Education (BEd); Combined Degrees with Education; Faculty of Fine Arts (all programs); Board of Governors Teaching Chair: Dr. Christopher Mattatall; Excellence in Teaching Award: Dr. Devon Smither

Ceremony IV – 2:30 p.m. – School of Graduate Studies (MHSM and MSc (Mgt)); Dhillon School of Business (all programs); Combined Degrees with Management; Honorary Degree: Fred Bradley

Graduands and platform guests will be assembling in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall, Level 6, prior to each procession. Processions begin at 9:20 a.m. and 2:20 p.m.

For complete Spring 2023 Convocation information, as well as profile stories on a number of shining graduates, please visit: www.uleth.ca/convocation.

Medical doctor and changemaker, Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, to receive ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge honorary degree

trevor.kenney — Mon, 15 May 2023 15:56:11 +0000

Dr. Esther Tailfeathers (BA ’84), a member of the Kainai First Nation, persevered in her education and became a medical doctor at a time when there were few Indigenous physicians, and throughout her career, she has improved Indigenous health care and inspired other generations of Indigenous doctors. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will recognize Tailfeathers’ substantial contributions to health care by granting her an honorary degree at Spring 2023 Convocation.

Dr. Esther Tailfeathers became a medical doctor at a time when there were few Indigenous physicians.

“It was not an easy path for Esther Tailfeathers to become a medical doctor and that may be one of the reasons her success and her contributions to her community are so inspiring,” says Charles Weaselhead, ULethbridge chancellor. “She has inspired countless young women to enter the medical field because of her perseverance and her ability to break down barriers to achieve her goals. All the while she has made a huge impact on her community and bettered the lives of so many people through her practice and advocacy. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is proud to recognize these efforts with an honorary degree.”

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will present Dr. Esther Tailfeathers with an honorary Doctor of Science, honoris causa, at Spring 2023 Convocation, Ceremony II, on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

Esther Tailfeathers

Dr. Esther Tailfeathers knew she wanted to pursue a career in medicine after an experience at the Cardston Hospital when she worked as a candy striper. A friend had arrived alone at the hospital ready to give birth and Tailfeathers stayed with her friend as the baby was born. The experience cemented her desire to become a doctor, but the path to becoming a family physician wasn’t easy. A high school guidance counsellor tried to steer her toward teaching or nursing. She came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge where she completed a bachelor’s in what was then known as Native American Studies.

Tailfeathers married and moved to Norway where she lived amongst the Sami people. Her life changed dramatically when her younger brother, who was a third-year medical student at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, died in a vehicle collision. Tailfeathers had spoken to him the week before and he encouraged her to go into medicine. She returned to southern Alberta for his funeral and took his words to heart. After earning a medical degree at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of North Dakota, she completed her family medicine residency at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta.

Tailfeathers moved back to her home community in 2000 and works as a family physician in Standoff and Cardston, as well as providing on-call and emergency services at the Cardston Hospital. She serves as the Indigenous Medical Lead with Alberta Health Services’ Indigenous Wellness Core. Previously, Tailfeathers also provided 24-hour medical service for one week per month in Fort Chipewyan.

Tailfeathers was at the forefront of dealing with the opioid crisis on the Blood Reserve. She led the charge to develop a community response which included educating people about naloxone kits and the dangers of fentanyl. Tailfeathers is committed to helping health-care providers understand addiction and the social determinants of health, which include enduring poverty and trauma resulting from the residential school system. Tailfeathers also organized a relief mission to Haiti following the earthquake in 2010 where Blood Tribe paramedics, nurses and health-care workers tended to more than 2,000 patients.

Her work has not gone unnoticed. The Faculty of Health Sciences granted the Friends of Health Sciences Award to Tailfeathers in 2015 for her integral role in the community response to the opioid crisis. In 2019, Tailfeathers was awarded the Dr. Thomas Dignan Indigenous Health Award for her contribution to improved Indigenous health care in Canada.

Friends of Health Sciences Award to honour two Kainai physicians for their work to curb fentanyl use

caroline.zentner — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 17:44:21 +0000

This year’s Friends of Health Sciences award recognizes two Kainai physicians who have shown exemplary leadership in mobilizing their community to respond to the fentanyl crisis. The work of Dr. Susan Christenson and Dr. Esther Tailfeathers has saved numerous lives.

Christenson and Tailfeathers have individually launched several initiatives on the Blood Reserve in response to the fentanyl crisis. Tailfeathers was instrumental in bringing Narcan kits, an antidote to fentanyl overdose, to the community and educating people on their use. Christenson took the necessary steps to get a license to prescribe suboxone, an opiate similar to methadone that reduces drug cravings and gives fentanyl addicts the best chance at recovery.

“We are very pleased to honour Dr. Tailfeathers and Dr. Christenson for their persistent efforts to better the lives of people in their community,” says Dr. Chris Hosgood, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Christenson practices at the Levern clinic and now works with nearly 70 patients who want to stop using fentanyl or other opiates. She is also an active advocate for using harm reduction strategies such as Narcan. Christenson has started yoga classes to provide her patients with a non-narcotic therapy for physical pain.

Tailfeathers practices medicine in Standoff and Cardston and provides service to Fort Chipewyan one week a month. She sounded the alarm about fentanyl use beginning in 2014 and started rallying the community and reaching out to local and national government bodies to organize the delivery of Narcan kits. Tailfeathers also empowered the community to organize the Blood Tribe United in the Healing Journey Conference.

The awards will be presented at a dinner on Thursday, Oct. 15, in the Markin Hall Atrium. Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight and can be purchased online at Friends of Health Sciences Award.

UNews - Esther Tailfeathers

Graduates ready to walk the stage at Spring 2023 Convocation

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