Caitlin Wanic (Bay Mills Indian Community) First-Year Medical Student

Caitlin Wanic, is an enrolled member of the Bay Mills Indian Community, and a first-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Growing up in a medically underserved tribal community, Caitlin was inspired to pursue medicine after realizing the lack of Indigenous representation in healthcare. Now, as the first female from her tribe to attend medical school, she is committed to mentoring future Native health professionals and creating spaces for Indigenous students to connect and support one another.

Through the Healers Community Circle, Caitlin is developing a unique mentorship project that blends traditional crafting with meaningful discussion. She will lead a series of virtual workshops, guiding Indigenous pre-medical and health profession students through the art of quillwork while fostering conversations about navigating the medical education journey. By combining cultural expression with mentorship, Caitlin hopes to build a strong community of Indigenous students who support and uplift one another. Her project will also explore the impact of mentorship and creative outlets on student well-being, culminating in a research paper or presentation to highlight these findings.

Stay tuned as Caitlin shares her journey, insights, and the transformative power of cultural connection in medicine.