Dr. Miles Marchand

Dr. Miles Marchand is the Director of the Centre for Indigenous Cardiovascular Health at the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (DCI) and Canada’s first First Nations cardiologist. Born and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, he is a member of the Okanagan Indian Band of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. His journey into medicine was inspired by his grandfather, Len Marchand Sr., Canada’s first Status Indian Member of Parliament, who dedicated his life to advancing the rights and well-being of Indigenous Peoples.

Dr. Marchand leads initiatives to improve cardiovascular health outcomes for Indigenous communities across British Columbia. His clinical and research work focuses on addressing inequities through culturally safe care, community partnerships and culturally responsive cardiac rehabilitation programs. He supports the integration of Indigenous and Western knowledge systems through a two-eyed seeing approach and contributes to national discussions on advancing Indigenous cardiovascular health. His experience includes working with Indigenous communities in urban, rural and remote settings across Canada, from British Columbia’s west coast to Iqaluit.

Dr. Marchand earned his medical degree and completed residency training in internal medicine and cardiology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), serving as Chief Resident in both programs. During his time at Royal Columbian Hospital, he developed an anti-racism and Indigenous health curriculum to strengthen cultural humility among residents.

He subsequently completed advanced fellowship training in cardiac rehabilitation and prevention, with a focus on Indigenous cardiovascular health. He also completed a research fellowship focused on First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities experiencing heart function inequities, supported by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Pfizer and the CHF Alliance, as well as graduate studies in Indigenous public health at UBC.

In 2023, Dr. Marchand received the Canadian Medical Association Award for Young Leaders in recognition of his work to highlight and address disparities in cardiovascular care and outcomes among Indigenous Peoples.