'Health Really Is Wealth': Dr. Holly Graham
From Researchers Under the Scope by University of Saskatchewan, OVDR, College of Medicine
March 30, 2026 · 25 min · Season 1 · Episode 99
About this episode
Dr. Holly Graham discusses her journey as an Indigenous nurse and her efforts to address health disparities and racism in healthcare.
Dr. Holly Graham never planned on nursing. She wanted a police badge, then a law degree and a judge's bench. Instead, she followed her mother's wish and walked into nursing school as the only student from a reserve in a class of more than 200. The isolation was real. So were the health gaps she saw every shift. In this episode, Graham traces her path from being the only Cree nurse in her graduating class, to becoming a professor of psychiatry, registered doctoral psychologist, and Indigenous Research Chair in Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan . Her curiosity about widespread health disparities for Indigenous people pushed her back to university, into a master's degree and a PhD focused on Indigenous health. She continues to provide mental health counselling for patients carrying deep-seated trauma and symptoms of PTSD. She also explains why watching Grey's Anatomy during the pandemic inspired her to create a free pocket-sized 'CPR Racism' guide. "CPR underscores the urgency of life," said Graham. "People are unfortunately not having the best health outcomes, and in some situations dying as a result of racism." From that insight, Graham created a free CPR RACISM Guide that…
People in this episode
Guest: Dr. Holly Graham
Topics covered
- Indigenous health
- mental health
- nursing
- health disparities
- racism in healthcare
- education
Keywords
- Indigenous health
- mental health counselling
- CPR RACISM Guide
- health disparities
- nursing education
- PTSD
- Cree nurse
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Saskatchewan, CPR RACISM Guide, Professional Practice Group for Indigenous nurses and nursing students
Places: Saskatchewan, Canada, reserve
More episodes of Researchers Under the Scope
- Inside the Next Chapter of Biomedical Science, with Dr. Linda Chelico · April 30, 2026 · 26 min
- Inside a Drug Trial for a Rare Childhood Disease: Drs. Sarah Tehseen & Katie Felton · February 28, 2026 · 30 min
- This Is Your Brain After Anesthetic: Dr. Peter Hedlin · February 15, 2026 · 20 min
- Not Just Numbers: Vaidehee Lanke Tracks Opiate Use & Perinatal Health · December 21, 2025 · 14 min
- Cross-Linked Clues: Jack Walther on Depression and Alzheimer's · December 1, 2025 · 15 min
- EEEV-ident Passion: Eve Simpson on Doubt, Persistence and Viral Spread · November 16, 2025 · 18 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Researchers Under the Scope podcast page.