Join us on October 14 as we recognize Indigenous Peoples Day with educational initiatives focusing on indigenous medicine and healthcare experiences.
Indigenous Americans and Native Alaskans experience lower health outcomes in almost every major category compared to other Americans. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic liver disease are just a few of the conditions that Indigenous Americans and Native Alaskans face with detrimental health outcomes. These reduced health outcomes are associated with harmful political policies established by the federal government through treaties, underfunding of Indigenous health services, high levels of poverty, reduced literacy, and ingrained mistrust of federal systems. Furthermore, colonialism, systemic and epistemic racism, and the idealization of Western medicine have eroded Indigenous cultural health practices.
To address many of the systemic challenges faced by Indigenous Americans and Native Alaskans and to incorporate cultural competency in medicine, Oklahoma State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation (OSU-COM) opened in 2020. OSU-COM is the first physician training program on an Indigenous American reservation, with a focus on erasing the shortage of Indigenous doctors nationwide, providing culturally competent training, and increasing the workforce in Indigenous health service clinics.
Dr. Allison Kelliher and Dr. Donald Warne are working to establish the first Indigenous-focused School of Medicine and Health Science. They found that many healthcare leaders lacked “the lived experience of Indigenous people.” The goal of the institution they are establishing is to incorporate traditional Indigenous practices into medical professional training and to ensure that students learn from Indigenous faculty and leadership.
Addressing the health disparities faced by Indigenous Americans and Native Alaskans requires a multifaceted approach that respects their cultural heritage and incorporates it into modern healthcare. Initiatives like OSU-COM at the Cherokee Nation and the efforts of Dr. Kelliher and Dr. Warne represent crucial steps toward improving health outcomes and fostering a more inclusive medical education system. By supporting these programs and advocating for culturally competent healthcare, we can begin to rectify historical injustices and ensure that future generations of Indigenous people receive the quality care they deserve.
Author: Jessica Beccari