Dr. Sarah Funnell
Dr. Sarah Funnell, MD, MSc, CCFP, FRCPC, is a recognized leader in Indigenous health education, research, and clinical care. Her background is mixed Algonquin and Tuscarora ancestry, and she grew up among the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation and is a current band member of Kitigan Zibi First Nation. Her Algonquin name, Minwanimad, meaning “Pleasant Breeze,” reflects the Indigenous values she lives by—truth, honesty, care, and compassion. These principles guide her commitment to advancing culturally safe healthcare and health equity for Indigenous peoples.
She is Associate Dean and Research Chair for Indigenous Health at Queen’s University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Funnell also practices as an academic family physician with the Queen’s Family Health Team. Previously, she was the founding director of the Centre for Indigenous Health Research and Education at the University of Ottawa, where she helped integrate Indigenous knowledge into medical education and research.
Dr. Funnell earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Ottawa’s Aboriginal Medical Program, completed family medicine residency, and specialized in public health and preventive medicine. Her MSc in Epidemiology strengthens her research focus on Indigenous health inequities, data governance, and community-driven approaches to care.
Her leadership extends nationally, where she holds roles in the College of Family Physicians of Canada—including an upcoming term as President—and contributes to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Medical Council of Canada. She also serves as senior editor for the *Canadian Journal of Public Health*, advocating for Indigenous perspectives in health scholarship.
Dr. Funnell’s work has been recognized with awards such as the D2L Innovation Award for Teaching, the Mentorship Award from the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, and the Glenn Sawyer Award from the Ontario Medical Association. Her research projects include culturally informed health programming and initiatives addressing food sovereignty and climate-related health challenges in Indigenous communities.
As an educator, Dr. Funnell is passionate about fostering anti-racist, culturally safe medical training, engaging learners to promote systemic change and Indigenous self-determination.