Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion

Dr. Susan and Suzette La Flesche Professor of American Indian Health
Director, American Indian Health Program
University of Nebraska Medical Center
College of Public Health

Professional Summary

• 2021-present, Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion, UNMC College of Public Health
• 2019-2021, Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, and Co-Director, Indians Into Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• 2016-2019, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University
• 2011-2015, Associate Scientist and Senior Consultant, Sanford Research/University of South Dakota

Education

• 2008, MD, Harvard Medical School
• 1994, MPH, UCLA School of Public Health
• 1989, AB, Dartmouth College

Research Interests 

• American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) health and increasing the number of Native healthcare professionals
• Health education
• Reducing racial bias in biomedical publishing
• Public health for Tribes and Native communities
• Nutrition science, especially vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies

Selected Publications

• Wescott S, Johnson R, Lamba S, et al. Feasibility of an Assessment Tool as a Data-Driven Approach to Reducing Racial Bias in Biomedical Publications. J Med Syst. Dec 17 2021;46(1):10. doi:10.1007/s10916-021-01777-w
• Wescott S, Mittelstet B. Three Levels of Autonomy and One Long-Term Solution for Native American Health Care. AMA J Ethics. Oct 1 2020;22(10):E856-861. doi:10.1001/amajethics.2020.856
• Vasquez Guzman C, M L, D Y, et al. The Time is Now: Transforming Recruitment and Retention of American Indian and Alaska Native Medical Students Using the Medicine Wheel Model. J Health Science & Education. November 2020;4(5):1-9. doi:10.0000/JHSE.1000198
• Wescott S. The Art of Medicine in an Alaska Native Way. Physician Family. Fall 2020 ed. Madison, WI: American Medical Association Alliance, Inc.; 2020. p. 16-17.
• Warne D, Wescott S. Social Determinants of American Indian Nutritional Health. Curr Dev Nutr. Aug 2019;3(Suppl 2):12-18. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzz054
• Morenz AM, Wescott S, Mostaghimi A, Sequist TD, Tobey M. Evaluation of Barriers to Telehealth Programs and Dermatological Care for American Indian Individuals in Rural Communities. JAMA Dermatology. 2019;doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.0872
• Simon R, Brorowsky L, Wescott S, Tobey M. To Advance Well-Being in Indian Country, Limit the Health Harms of Incarceration. July 30, 2019, 2019. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20190725.492229/full/

Professional Affiliations

• Association of American Indian Physicians
• American Medical Association