The DSA is a unit under the Office of Vice-Dean Indigenous Health (OVDIH), within the Dean's Office at the College of Medicine, with a social justice mission to humbly walk alongside all people of Saskatchewan and the College of Medicine towards equitable health, well-being, and belonging; seeking truth and justice now and for the future generations. The OVDIH builds and challenges the capacity of the College of Medicine community to enhance the skills, attitudes, and education necessary to support the citizens of Saskatchewan so they can grow and thrive.

In the Division of Social Accountability, we work with community members, health professionals, administrators, faculty, students, and residents to facilitate a college-wide response that looks to address the priority health needs of those we serve, including underserved populations in Saskatchewan and the broader global community. Through innovative medical education, thoughtful research, community partnerships, and advocacy for health equity, the college strives for social accountability in its education, research, and service.

History

The College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan has had a long history of advocacy in health care, starting with our first dean, Dr. J. Wendall MacLeod, who was considered a pioneer in social medicine and medical education in Canada (Horlick, 2007). During the birth of Medicare in Saskatchewan, a time when there was great resistance from many physicians, MacLeod provided strong public support to the idea of universal health care (Horlick, 2007). 

In 2004, the college established the Social Accountability Committee, and in 2011 a division was created to incorporate social accountability into all that the college does. Today, social accountability is a shared responsibility and a guiding philosophy of the work we do in the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. For the College of Medicine, social accountability means that the unique needs of marginalized and undeserved communities, both locally and globally, are being met. Through our college-wide social accountability mandate, the college continues to uphold MacLeod's values.

In 2018, the College of Medicine received the ASPIRE award for Excellence in Social Accountability. This award goes to the medical school that has shown international leadership and demonstrated deliberate and sustained efforts to integrate social accountability into all functions and speaks to the longstanding work of our college in this area. Watch the interview with previous College of Medicine Dean Dr. Preston Smith during the AMEE 2018 Conference in Basel, Switzerland.

In October 2023, the DSA transitioned under the OVDIH in support of a coordinated approach to community engagement for priority projects of the college and working collaboratively across the college and provincial health system to ensure the high-level aspirations of the college and departments related to Indigenous health, equity, diversity, inclusion, and social accountability strategy are met.