Full Name
Rhonda Sanderson
Job Title
Indigenous patient advocate
Company
James Smith Cree Nation
Speaker Bio
Ms. Rhonda Sanderson is an Indigenous Cree woman from James Smith Cree Nation. She was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2001, although she believes her disease started during her childhood. Ms. Sanderson was a child growing up in a residential school where her gastrointestinal issues were neglected. As an adult, she was exposed to misconceptions of healthcare providers about IBD among Indigenous peoples. Ms. Sanderson was diagnosed with IBD after she went through a non-indicated appendectomy. She also has experienced barriers to accessing gastroenterologist care and became a self-advocate to accessing appropriate care after years of struggles with her disease.