Stanley Vollant is an Innu surgeon from Pessamit who grew up along the St. Lawrence in Quebec鈥檚 North Shore region. From an early age, he learned strong community values through the traditional teachings of his grandfather. Dr. Vollant did his secondary and post-secondary education in the Quebec City area and then earned his medical degree from the Universit茅 de Montr茅al in 1989. He completed his residency in general surgery in 1994, becoming Quebec鈥檚 first Aboriginal surgeon.
In December of the same year, he began his career as a general surgeon at the Baie Comeau regional hospital. A decade later, he joined the Chicoutimi CSSS in the general surgery department, eventually moving to Ottawa, where he practised general surgery at Montfort Hospital and became an adjunct professor of surgery and director of the University of Ottawa鈥檚 Aboriginal Medical Education Program. In 2010, he became coordinator of the Aboriginal medical education program at the Universit茅 de Montr茅al. He continues to practise medicine in his village of Pessamit and is a member of the general surgery team at H么pital Dolbeau-Mistassini.
Dr. Vollant鈥檚 track record in social and professional engagement speaks for itself. Some of the main highlights include acting as president of the Quebec medical association, where he represented the province鈥檚 9,000 physicians, and sitting on the board of directors of the Canadian Medical Association. Dr. Vollant was also a member of the Health Council of Canada, Health Canada鈥檚 Science Advisory Board, Canada鈥檚 Ministerial Advisory Committee on Rural Health, Quebec鈥檚 Conseil de la sant茅 et du bien-锚tre, Quebec鈥檚 Comit茅 d鈥櫭﹖hique des sciences et technologies and numerous other health-related working groups.
In addition to being a highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Vollant has regularly served as honorary chair of several major events. He has also been featured in national newspapers, documentaries and numerous in-depth interviews on public interest programs.
Promoting healthy living among First Nations is Dr. Vollant鈥檚 main cause. He has also been involved in numerous initiatives such as establishing mini medical schools to encourage Aboriginal youth to choose a career in the health field
In the fall of 2010, Dr. Vollant started a multi-year 6,000-km journey to walk the Innu Meshkenu, the path of his ancestors. His goal was to help build bridges between First Nations and neighbouring communities and to, among other things, have conversations with youth about the importance of staying in school and clean living. Along the way, he also gathered knowledge from elders and information on traditional medicine to help preserve and pass on this heritage.
In 2016, Dr. Vollant founded Puamun Meshkenu (path of a thousand dreams). The goal of this foundation is to inspire and support First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit to make their own journey of a thousand dreams by developing their full mental, spiritual, physical and emotional potential.
Dr. Vollant has four children, Sophie-Alys, Clo茅-脡lo茂se, Xavier and B茅atrice.