Indigenous Health

Belaynew Adugna Endeshaw ’23 leads projects that address the health needs of his community through integrating Indigenous knowledge and local wisdom with scientific bases. He researched traditional bone setting, which has a long history in Ethiopia, and found that it should be integrated into the healthcare delivery system because of its wide acceptance.

After joining Cherokee Nation Health Services as a Quality Management Nurse, Brandi Payton ’19 was promoted to Clinic Administrator within two years to help open the Cooweescoowee Health Center. She is working to expand primary care and dental services at CHC. She is an active member of the Oklahoma Nurses Association, where she helped develop the Oklahoma Indigenous Nurses Association.

Sara Selig ’17 co-founded the Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment Program, which focuses on achieving health equity among American Indian/Alaska Natives. One way they do that is through the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program, which promotes healthy eating by partnering with healthcare providers and local Native retailers.