Indigenous and Rural Health Program

Lisa Spellman and and Siobhan Wescott, MD, of the UNMC Indigenous and Rural Health Program with UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, and Amy Nordness, PhD, of the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute.

The Indigenous and Rural Health Program celebrated several milestones this year, including the opening of a new clinic on the Omaha Reservation; the revival of the Santee Sioux community health fair after a four-year hiatus; as well as participation in several community events in the region including collaborations with the Native American Community Partnership of Omaha Metro Area, Bluebird Cultural Initiative and Healing Ribbons. 

The opening of the renovated Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Center in Walthill, Nebraska came with the announcement of expanded services by the Munroe-Meyer Institute. Thanks to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, MMI will expand its Medically Handicapped Children’s Program to the center providing developmental pediatrics evaluation clinics starting on a quarterly schedule.

Representatives from seven UNMC programs took part in the 15th annual Santee Health Fair held in June in Santee, Nebraska with more than 350 community members participating. Free comprehensive eye exams were provided by Brian Armstrong, MD, from the Truhlsen Eye Institute, dental kits and education for children were handed out to all attendees from the College of Dentistry and an informational presentation and booth on ATV safety protocols was provided by Aaron Yoder, Ph.D. 

Mariah Abney, Lisa Spellman and Siobhan Wescott, MD, MPH.

The Indigenous and Rural Health Program supports both tribal and urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities by promoting ways of knowing, being and doing that align with indigenous knowledge, practices and approaches to health and wellness.

This initiative is committed to supporting the revitalization of American Indian and Alaska Native public health through culturally relevant and innovative practice, research, teaching and service that:

• Honors indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing to develop deeper understandings of indigenous health.
• Builds respectful intercultural, intergenerational and interdisciplinary relationships that support and promote public health, the medical humanities and innovations in health.
• Generates culturally grounded knowledge, curriculum, models, tools and practices that tribal and urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities can employ in health promotion and preventive and societal medicine.