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While studying for a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Dr. Taylore Dupuis Shalovsky (Anishinaabe name: Waasese Bidishkwanjegehkwe) heard a professor argue that Indigenous practices were archaic compared to modern medicine. A proud member of Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, she was taken aback — and felt compelled to prove him wrong.

Dr. Dupuis Shalovsky took classes at night, passed the MCAT, and was accepted into Western University’s School of Medicine. There, she was drawn to conversations that explored how to weave Indigenous traditions into today’s medical care and integrate them into the curriculum. Later, when it came time for clerkships, she was inspired by emergency medicine.

“I felt I could really connect with patients who are going through high-stress moments,” Dr. Dupuis Shalovsky says. “At the same time, it was such a privilege to be with them during these experiences.”

Her conviction deepened around that time when her grandfather went to a local ER and was discharged without blood work or diagnostic tests. She knew something was wrong and convinced him to return — by then his condition had deteriorated, and he spent three weeks in the ICU.

“I felt there was discrimination at play. I always knew I wanted to be a supportive presence for my Indigenous patients, but this experience was when I realized I wanted to be specifically in the emergency department to advocate for Indigenous patients … to be a safe space for them.”

In June 2025, Dr. Dupuis Shalovsky and her husband drove from London to Calgary, where she accepted an emergency medicine residency. They camped and slept in provincial parks along the way, and Benny, their Bernese Mountain dog, claimed much of the passenger seat on the adventure.

She admits that it’s been hard to move provinces away from her close-knit family but feels fortunate to have made a tight bond with her co-residents in Calgary. She has been able to advocate for providing culturally safe care to each patient, particularly those who are marginalized.

“To me, it means treating each individual in a way that respects their culture, background and values,” she says. “It’s important they feel safe and protected … [treating the individual] leads to better care and better outcomes.”

She understands this can be difficult in busy ERs, particularly those with limited resources, where the reality can be long waits and hallway care. Despite these frustrations, Dr. Dupuis Shalovsky says her most rewarding experiences happen when patients tell her they were reluctant to visit the hospital but left feeling safe, respected and taken care of.

That is especially poignant when her patients are Indigenous. “I try to remember that every little thing you do to support one another and make medicine a safer space carries much more impact than you might think it does,” she says.

She believes that not only are Indigenous practices valuable for modern medicine, but that medical providers have a lot to learn from Indigenous ways of knowing.  “The next step, after ensuring culturally safe care in the clinic, is to connect with these communities. Doctors have specific knowledge and training, but I’d suggest we can learn together from Elders for the good of all patients.”

Dr. Dupuis Shalovsky says she is excited to join the MD Physician Council as MD Management Limited (MD) is an organization she has come to trust, having had no family members in medicine and limited financial knowledge. Upon graduating from medical school with her line of credit and unstructured finances, she was overwhelmed when she first met with an MD Advisor*.

“I couldn’t believe I did this to myself and thought I could never pay it off,” she remembers. “[My Advisor] told me to take a breath, that debt is perfectly normal and gave a real ‘let’s get this done’ mentality. She’s been wonderful.”

For the Council, she plans to tap into her unique background and advocate for medical learners to reach out for advice early — so they can access resources they may not know exist and avoid financial mistakes.

These days in Calgary, she winds down by hiking nearby mountains, connecting with nature and powerlifting the weights she lovingly insisted her husband bring across the country. She also spends time at her local parks, where she has been able to seasonally harvest wild sage with her friends and family.