The Brigitte Nolet Scholarship for Indigenous Pathways into Life Sciences will expand opportunities for Indigenous students in York’s Faculty of Health, thanks to support from Roche Canada, a leading pharmaceutical company, and Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC), an industry association representing Canada’s research-based biopharmaceutical companies.
The scholarship, named for the president and CEO of Roche Canada Pharma and chair of the IMC board, offers financial support, mentorship and land-based learning experiences to help Indigenous students explore careers in the health sciences.
Nolet has long championed access to innovative medicines, stronger representation in industry leadership and equitable health care outcomes. Her work on global health initiatives, including expanding essential treatments in lower-income regions, reinforces her belief that diverse voices strengthen health systems and guides her vision for this scholarship.
“This initiative is deeply meaningful to me because it expands paths for communities to pursue careers in the life sciences and shape the future of health,” she says. “By supporting Indigenous students in exploring health and life sciences, we hope to build a more representative, conscious and connected health care ecosystem in Canada.”
“We’re grateful for this generous gift,” says David Peters, dean of the Faculty of Health. “It strengthens our work to support Indigenous students as they develop the skills, knowledge and relationships that prepare them to lead.”
The Brigitte Nolet Scholarship arrives alongside several Faculty of Health initiatives aimed at broadening pathways for Indigenous learners. In September 2024 York signed a relationship agreement with the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council to advance Indigenous health priorities and to help shape planning for the University’s School of Medicine, scheduled to open in 2028; the partnership is intended to inform curriculum development, community engagement and planning for placements and career pathways.
The Faculty of Health's 2024–28 strategic plan, Building a Healthy World for All, highlights social justice, reconciliation and inclusion as priorities across teaching, research and institutional culture, and it calls for integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into health-related learning.
The Faculty also works with the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages and has added Indigenous educators specialized in health disciplines — for example, an Indigenous scholar appointment in the School of Nursing announced in October 2024 — steps the Faculty says will strengthen Indigenous-led research and culturally grounded health education.
The Brigitte Nolet Scholarship will complement these programs and initiatives, positioning recipients and the Faculty of Health to advance health leadership, innovation and equity in Canada.