Sarah Funnell

Dr. Sarah Minwanimad Funnell is a First Nations Family Physician and Public Health Specialist. Sarah is the Founding Director of the Centre for Indigenous Health Research and Education (CIHRE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. Sarah is an Associate Medical Officer of Health at Ottawa Public Health and Director of Indigenous Health within the Department of Family Medicine at Queen’s University. Previously Sarah offered Primary Care services for refugees, immigrants, homeless and Indigenous people. Since March 2020, Sarah has directed her attention towards supporting the COVID-19 response and advancing Indigenous Health Medical Education.

After completing medical school at the University of Ottawa (uOttawa), Dr. Funnell pursued her dual interests in family medicine and epidemiology through the five-year Public Health and Preventive Medicine Residency Program at uOttawa. She received her Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) in 2015 and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) in 2018.

Dr. Funnell’s background is Algonquin (Kitigan Zibi) and Tuscarora and she grew up among the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation. Sarah is on the Board of Directors of both the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada and the Board of Directors of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). She is on the Executive of the National Consortium for Indigenous Medical Education (NCIME). Sarah is co-Chair of the Indigenous Health Committee at the CFPC and also sits on the Indigenous Health Advisory Committee at the Royal College. She is currently working with both colleges to improve Indigenous Health Curriculum in all residency programs. She is lives in Ottawa with her husband and 3 daughters. In her spare time, she speaks to her plants.