Season 7 of The Expand Podcast examines the impact of COVID-19 and respiratory infections in Métis, Inuit, and First Nations communities. Designed for healthcare professionals and informed listeners, the season highlights trust, culturally safe care, and collaboration to strengthen prevention, treatment access, and community-led initiatives.

Episode 1 | Understanding Healthcare Gaps for Indigenous Communities Facing Respiratory Disease (with Amy Lamb and Mike Boivin)

In this opening episode, pharmacists Mike Boivin and Amy Lamb introduce the series and explore the broader context of respiratory infectious diseases in Indigenous communities across Canada. The conversation highlights the ongoing impact of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza, and discusses the systemic and structural factors that influence health outcomes. The episode examines barriers such as healthcare access, jurisdictional complexity, and policy gaps, while also recognizing the resilience and leadership within Indigenous communities. It sets the foundation for the series by emphasizing the importance of strengths-based approaches and community-centred healthcare solutions.

You’ll learn about:

• The ongoing impact of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza in Indigenous communities
• Structural barriers to healthcare access, including geography, funding, and policy gaps
• How jurisdictional overlaps can affect healthcare coordination and service delivery
• The role pharmacists and healthcare providers can play in addressing health inequities

Episode 2 – How Historical Trauma and Health Inequities Shape Respiratory Outcomes in Indigenous Communities

In this episode, Mike Boivin and Amy Lamb examine why respiratory infections such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV can have different impacts in Indigenous communities. The discussion highlights how chronic conditions, historical factors, and social determinants of health intersect to influence disease risk and outcomes. The conversation also explores practical strategies for improving healthcare delivery in remote settings, including the importance of trust, relationship-building, and community engagement. By understanding the structural and cultural contexts that shape health experiences, healthcare professionals can better support equitable respiratory care.

You’ll learn about:

• How comorbidities such as diabetes, COPD, and cardiovascular disease can increase respiratory infection severity
• The role of historical trauma and social determinants in shaping health disparities
• Barriers to healthcare access, including jurisdictional gaps and transportation challenges
• How community partnerships and trust-based care can improve respiratory health outcomes

Click the URL to access these episodes. Thank you to RESPIPLUS™ for this partnership opportunity with Lung Saskatchewan to collaborate and share these important learnings.