Nadine Caron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nadine Caron
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Nadine Caron in 2015
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| Born | 1970 |
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| Institutions | Prince George Regional Hospital UBC Faculty of Medicine Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health |
Nadine Rena Caron (born 1970) is a famous Canadian surgeon. She made history as the first female general surgeon in Canada from a First Nations background (specifically Ojibway). She was also the first First Nations woman to graduate from the University of British Columbia's medical school.
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Early Life and School
Dr. Caron was born in Kamloops, British Columbia. Her mother was Ojibwe and a teacher. Her father was an Italian immigrant and a mason. She is part of the Anishnawbe people from Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation.
Nadine grew up in Kamloops. She studied Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University. She finished her degree in 1993. While there, she was a great basketball player. She won many awards, including the Shrum Gold Medal. This award goes to the top undergraduate student.
She then went to medical school at the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Again, she was the top student. Dr. Caron also earned a master's degree in Public Health. She got this from Harvard University while training to be a surgeon. She also did special training at the University of California, San Francisco. This training focused on surgery for glands like the thyroid.
In 2017, she received an honorary degree from the University of the Fraser Valley. In 2019, she got another honorary degree from Simon Fraser University.
Her Work as a Surgeon
Dr. Caron works as a general and endocrine surgeon. She helps patients at Prince George Regional Hospital. She is also a professor at the UBC Faculty of Medicine. In 2014, she became a Co-Director. This role is at UBC's Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health.
In 2016, she won the Dr. Thomas Dignan Indigenous Health Award. This award came from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She was recognized for her public health studies. These studies focused on people in rural areas and First Nations communities.
Dr. Caron leads the Northern Biobank Project. This project helps patients in northern British Columbia. It allows them to join research for personalized medicine. She also works at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
She has been part of several important groups. These include the Native Physicians Association of Canada. She also served on British Columbia's Medical Association's Committee on Health Promotion.
In 2020, Dr. Caron became the first FNHA Chair in Cancer and Wellness. This special position is at the University of British Columbia. She also helped start UBC's Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health. She created it with Martin Schechter.
She is also a professor at the University of Northern British Columbia. She works with the University of British Columbia's School of Population and Public Health. She is also a scientist at the BC Cancer Agency.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Caron has received many awards for her hard work:
- Shrum Gold Medal, Simon Fraser University, 1993
- Awards from the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, 1997:
- Hamber Medal
- Dr. Jay C. Cheng Memorial Education Foundation Prize
- Dr. Jack Margulius Memorial Prize
- Top graduating student in Medicine
- Dr. John Big Canoe Memorial Scholarship, 1997
- "100 Canadians to Watch," Maclean's Magazine, 1997
- Outstanding Alumni Award, Simon Fraser University, 2011
- Dr. Thomas Dignan Indigenous Health Award, 2016
- "Women of the year: 12 Canadians who rocked 2016," Chatelaine Magazine
- Honorary Doctor of Science, Simon Fraser University, 2016
- Wallace Wilson Leadership Award, 2017
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of the Fraser Valley, 2017
- Athletic Hall of Fame, Simon Fraser University, 2019
- Inclusive Excellence Prize, Canadian Cancer Society, 2020
- Member of the Order of BC, 2022
- Director, Terry Fox Foundation (2024-)
- Inductee of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (June 2025)
Research on Health Policy
Dr. Caron's research focuses on health for Indigenous people. She also studies Canadian health policy. She has found important differences in health care in Canada.
For example, she discovered that First Nations people in British Columbia have higher rates of some cancers. They also have lower survival rates for almost all cancers. This is compared to non-First Nations people in B.C. She also led a study that found something important. Indigenous people are 30% more likely to die after surgery. This is compared to non-Indigenous people.
