Renewed gift strengthens Indigenous health learning and research at Queen’s

News & Announcements | 03 Feb 2026

A renewed gift will sustain the Chair, Indigenous Health at Queen’s Health Sciences (QHS) for another five years, continuing work that has had a lasting impact on students across the faculty.

Dr. Nancy Tatham, Artsci’86, Artsci’00, and her partner, Donna Henderson, have made an additional gift of $1.5 million to support the Chair. The new funding builds on their original $1-million gift, made in 2021, which established the Chair and helped advance Indigenous health scholarship and Indigenous ways of knowing.

The Chair is housed within the Office of Indigenous Health at QHS. It plays a key role in facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration across the faculty and supporting learners at every stage – from undergraduate and graduate studies through to professional development. This renewed gift helps ensure that work continues, while reinforcing Indigenous health as an ongoing priority.

Dr. Sarah Funnell was the first person appointed to the role of Chair, Indigenous Health, and was named Associate Dean, Indigenous Health in 2023. She was also recently announced as President-Elect of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, a historic appointment that will see her become the first Indigenous woman to serve as president when she assumes the role for the 2026-27 term.

For Dr. Tatham and Henderson, continuing to support the Chair was a natural next step.

“When we first established the Chair, we wanted to make a meaningful difference for Queen’s Health Sciences,” says Dr. Tatham. “Donna and I are proud to continue our support because this Chair position is doing that. It’s helping create lasting space for Indigenous health leadership at Queen’s and it’s making a real difference for learners. We hope this Chair continues to grow and inspire long-term commitment to Indigenous health at Queen’s.”

Since the Chair was established five years ago, it has made a significant impact across QHS. One example is the formation of the QHS Indigenous Health Research Network, which connects researchers with each other and with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. The position has also been vital in supporting Indigenous learners and welcoming visitors from Indigenous communities to engage students, staff, and faculty with Indigenous cultures.

For students, that impact often shows up in deeply personal ways.

“Dr. Funnell was one of the first Indigenous physicians I had ever met,” says Hannah Strasdin, a Queen’s medical student from Saulteau First Nations. “And so seeing her as a leader here shows us that we belong here – and that Indigenous perspectives matter in medicine.”

For Dr. Funnell, the renewed support means being able to build on that foundation and take the work further.

“This continued funding allows us to strengthen the work already underway, supporting Indigenous health scholarship, mentoring learners, and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities,” says Dr. Funnell. “It helps ensure Indigenous ways of knowing are meaningfully embedded across education, research, and practice at QHS.”

While the Chair is rooted in the faculty, its impact reaches far beyond. By embedding Indigenous health across learning and research, the Chair plays a crucial role in preparing future health professionals to better serve Indigenous communities. It also supports the university’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation.

Dr. Lisa Tannock, Dean of QHS, says the renewed gift shows both responsibility and care.

“This Chair reflects our responsibility to ensure Indigenous health scholarship is central to how we teach, research, and practice,” says Dr. Tannock. “We’re so grateful to Nancy and Donna for their vision, generosity, and continued partnership in sustaining this important work.”

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Renewed gift strengthens Indigenous health learning and research at Queen’s

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