Michael Mak wants to help diabetes sufferers in Canada's First Nations communities
better cope with the disease – so he's sending them text messages.

Currently working in the northwestern Ontario town of Sioux Lookout, where he is
helping the Keewaytinook Okimakanak, a non-political chiefs council, develop IT
resources with First Nation partners, Mak, a third-year health sciences student, has
seen the devastating effects diabetes has on patients in indigenous communities. He
has also experienced the frustrating lack of internet connectivity in those same
communities – a problem which can keep aboriginal patients from easily accessing
information on how to live with diabetes.

To bridge the gap between knowledge and technology, Mak decided to harness the
power of the cell phone, which is more common in indigenous communities than high
speed internet. By utilizing an SMS text messaging system that allows health care
workers to communicate with patients who suffer from diabetes, Mak feels the
standard of living for those living with the disease would improve.

“We focus so much on ensuring that the quality of Canadian health care is high, but
health care in First Nations communities is completely off the radar,” said Mak. “This
sort of technology can help connect those living with diabetes with health care
professionals who can help them better understand how to treat the disease.”

His system, DiabeTEXTs, is currently being piloted in a number of northern Ontario
First Nations communities, where diabetes workers are now armed with cell phones
and a computer software program that allows them to send text message reminders
and health tips to patients and, one day, could allow patients to schedule their own
appointments or ask specific questions.

“I learned about some of the major issues facing Canada's First Nations communities in
an elective course I took, and I became very concerned,” said Mak. “By working in this
area I really hope to challenge students to better understand those issues and develop
ways to solve them.”

Mak's idea recently made him the first McMaster student to win the Agfa HealthCare
Innovation Challenge, which this year asked students to come up with a solution to a
current challenge associated with universal access, privacy and ease of use pertaining
to disease diagnosis, medical treatment and overall healthcare management.

One of more than 60 proposals from across the province, Mak's submission earned him
his choice of a $3,000 scholarship or a summer job with Agfa.