Dr. Lavallee dedicated his career to health equity and improving care and outcomes for Indigenous people.
Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, and Melanie MacKinnon, executive director, Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, are saddened to share the news of the passing of Dr. Barry Lavallee, a fearless advocate who dedicated his career to health equity and improving care and outcomes for Indigenous people.
As a clinician, educator, researcher, administrator and advocate, Dr. Lavallee was committed to transforming the health-care system to better serve Indigenous people.
In 1988, Dr. Lavallee was among the first cohort of Indigenous students to graduate from the University of Manitoba’s medical school. He would return to UM and held several positions including director of education for Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing.
He was instrumental in developing the content for the Indigenous health longitudinal course in undergraduate medical education and for the department of community health sciences.
In his most recent role, Dr. Lavallee served as CEO of Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin. The organization supports health and wellness services for 23 First Nation communities in northern Manitoba.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Lavallee worked to develop interventions in support of vaccination for rural and urban Indigenous communities. He personally provided vaccine outreach to Winnipeg’s homeless community.
Dr. Lavallee helped develop the Diabetes Integration Project, which provides mobile diabetes care and treatment for First Nations communities across Manitoba.
For his remarkable work, he was the recipient of the Medal of Excellence from Doctors Manitoba in 2022.
Dr. Lavallee was a member of the Métis community of St. Laurent, Man. and a descendent of Duck Bay and Lake Manitoba First Nations.
UM and the Rady Faculty send sincere condolences to his family, friends and community on this sudden loss.
The University of Manitoba will be lowering the primary grouping of flags at University Crescent and Chancellor Matheson for a period of four days in memory of Dr. Barry Lavallee.
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