Alex McComber, Kanien’keha:ka from Kahnawake Territory, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, and a community health activist and researcher, was named the recipient of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada’s (AFMC) Indigenous Health Advocacy Lifetime Contribution Award for 2025. The award recognizes and celebrates the outstanding efforts of an Indigenous person in medical education and/or health research who has worked to improve the health of Indigenous Peoples situated in Canada and towards the dismantling of anti-Indigenous racism and the advancement of cultural safety, advocacy, health equity and wellness of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people.
Prof. McComber has expertise in cultural safety and research ethics with Indigenous Peoples and communities, community-based participatory research, patient participation in research, health promotion and diabetes prevention, community mobilization and mentorship. He collaboratively developed the Indigenous Space at Family Medicine, a centre for Indigenous teachings and respectful knowledge exchange, cultural safety education in health research and care, Inuit health, and patient participation in health research.
“I am very honoured and humbled by the award from the AFMC,” said Prof. McComber. “This work is about focusing on our Indigenous strengths, expertise and experiences to recreate the safe spaces that our ancestors experienced that ensured healthy people and societies; moving forward with allies who walk with understanding, appreciation, humility and respect of who we are is a critical component.”
Congratulations, Prof. McComber!