Work ethic came from sports - MD grad

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Leading by example comes easy to Johnny Brisebois. As the first Native graduate from the University of Alberta's medical school since 1913, when the school opened, he's made a habit of setting high goals and achieving them.

Make no mistake, though. Brisebois, 27, didn't always have his nose stuck in a book. The stocky Mohawk from Kahnawake, Quebec readily admits to having spent more time playing hockey and lacrosse than studying during high school and the first year of university. But he attributes sports with instilling a sense of work ethic that carried over into med school.

Brisebois carries himself like an athlete. He enters a room with casual confidence, much like a pro taking an easy skate around the ice just for the fun of if. And there seems to be a lot of room for fun with this new MD, who has a ready smile and welcoming personality.

Having a warm, extended family could have provided the breeding ground for Brisebois' charm. Among the proud relatives gathered at the University of Alberta Faculty Club for a celebratory lunch was his 90-year-old grandmother Terese Brisebois.

"They call me the boss," joked the petite, elegant woman. "My children respect and listen to me. And Johnny listened to my advice to go into medicine. We are very proud of him."

The family also contributed to his succeeding at university, Brisebois said with equal pride. His face lights up with affection when recounting how supportive they are, in words and actions.

"My parents and family were really great. It's an extended family and all the aunts and uncles helped out. They pitched in to buy me suits so I could look good when I started rounds in the hospital," Brisebois said, grinning.

"Medicine was something I thought about since I was a kid. It was a dream - I didn't really think it was within my grasp," he said. "And that's a problem with a lot of young Natives. We don't believe in our ability to achieve our dreams."

Even if medicine hadn't panned out, his degree in bio-chemistry and nutrition would have carried on to other careers, he said.

"As long as you set a goal and strive for it, there are going to be opportunities," he said. "If you don't achieve your first goal, you will always have off-shoot possibilities just by having gone further with your education."

The band and Council of Kahnawake provided financial support to the tune of $8,000 to $12,000 a year during the past eight years for their future doctor. Brisebois plans on practicing at the reserve's new 50-bed hospital following a two-year residency at Ottawa Civic Hospital.

But working for his people means far more than just setting up practice on a reserve. Brisebois has set his eye on working in the national Indian health service, focussing on education and prevention of common diseases states afflicting Aboriginals.

"You can treat from six in the morning to six at night and not do anything for the community,"he said. "Natives have a life span that averages 10 years less than non-Natives in Canada. That is mostly due to motor vehicle accidents, suicides, alcoholism, things that are preventable."

After working for five weeks in a remote part of Bolivia with the Aymera Indians, Brisebois realized many of the problems facing the community were similar to those back home. Among the socially-related conditions like alcoholism and high suicide rates, diabetes and tuberculoses also made their deadly mark on the Aymera people.

And education is the key to bettering that situation, he said. Increasing awareness among Native people and the governments that serve them is essential in making changes in health care. Taking a Masters of Public Health is a step Brisebois plans on taking toward achieving that goal.

Learning more about traditional medicine also plays a part in Brisebois' future.

He believes incorporating traditional healing into medical services for Native peoples to be beneficial to all sides.

"I will not hesitate to refer to a traditional healer i patients feel they need to see one. There are things like the reasons for alcoholism or suicides, that the traditional healer comes in on, working with social aspects of a patient's life."

For now, Brisebois is planning to enjoy the three weeks free time left before starting in Ottawa to relax. Oh, and present a paper at the International Congress on Circumpolar Health in Iceland. Good skating.