Significant Figures
Patricia Nez Henderson, M.D., M.P.H. - Dr. Patricia Nez Henderson is a Navajo physician and public health researcher devoted to improving healthcare for Indigenous communities. Inspired by her grandfather, a Navajo medicine man, she earned a Master of Public Health at Yale before becoming the first Indigenous woman to graduate from Yale Medical School in 2000. Her work has centered on reducing smoking rates and related mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer among Indigenous communities. She co-founded the Black Hills Center for American Indian Health to serve the health needs of Northern Plains tribes. She played a key role in enacting the Navajo Nation's 2021 law prohibiting commercial tobacco use in enclosed public spaces. In 2022, Henderson was elected as the first Indigenous woman to serve as president of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.
Dr. Patricia Nez Henderson elected president of Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. Navajo-Hopi Observer News. Published March 10, 2022. Accessed October 10, 2023.
National Library of Medicine. Patricia Nez Henderson. Changing the Face of Medicine. Published June 3, 2015. Accessed October 10, 2023.
Principle Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. – Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation since 2019, Chuck Hoskin Jr. has led significant initiatives to improve health outcomes for Cherokee citizens. He has overseen the construction of a new $400 million hospital in Tahlequah, designed to expand critical services such as emergency care, surgery, and specialized treatments. In partnership with Oklahoma State University, he helped establish the College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation, the first medical school on tribal land. This program aims to address the severe shortage of Indigenous physicians by training doctors in a culturally relevant environment, focusing on the unique needs of rural and Indigenous communities. Chief Hoskin's vision extends to mental health care, with a $100 million investment in behavioral health services and the development of the Cherokee Nation’s first in-house drug treatment center. He continues to support culturally competent care, ensuring that Cherokee values are integrated into the delivery of healthcare and emphasizing a future where Indigenous communities receive the comprehensive support they deserve.
Hoskin C. Cherokee Nation closes the gap in health care disparities. Indianz.com. July 15, 2024. Accessed October 23, 2024.
Kemp A. First-of-its-kind medical school in Cherokee Nation graduates inaugural class of doctors. PBS News. May 23, 2024. Accessed October 23, 2024.
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. Cherokee Nation Executive Branch. Accessed October 23, 2024.
Allison Kelliher, M.D. – Dr. Allison Kelliher, a Koyukon Athabascan physician, is a leader in blending Indigenous knowledge with Western medicine. Raised in a family with a lineage of healers, she has practiced traditional medicine since childhood. She works as a family and integrative physician, focusing on decolonizing and Indigenizing medical education at Johns Hopkins University, the University of North Dakota, and other institutions. Dr. Kelliher is co-leading efforts to create an Indigenous-focused School of Medicine and Health Sciences, aiming to provide culturally attuned training that incorporates Indigenous knowledge and healing practices. She envisions a school that nurtures future healthcare providers and serves communities nationwide, striving to eliminate Indigenous health disparities and promote health equity.
Allison Kelliher. Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Accessed October 22, 2024.
Benallie K. Indigenous doctors set on developing medical school. ICT News. Published July 5, 2023. Accessed October 22, 2024.
James Makokis, M.D., M.H.S. - Dr. James Makokis is a Saddle Lake Cree physician recognized for integrating Indigenous knowledge into Western medical practice. As a leader in holistic healthcare, he incorporates traditional healing practices alongside Western medicine to serve his patients. Dr. Makokis emphasizes mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness, especially in treating marginalized communities like LGBTQIA+ and Indigenous peoples. He completed his medical training at the University of Ottawa and holds a Master of Health Science degree in Community Health and Epidemiology. His work includes advocating for transgender rights and delivering culturally relevant care to Indigenous patients. He is also known for raising awareness on Two-Spirit issues, which he addresses in his professional and advocacy work. Beyond medicine, Dr. Makokis is a respected public speaker, educator, and champion for health equity. He promotes blending Indigenous and Western perspectives to enrich medical understanding. Through this approach, he aims to challenge healthcare stereotypes and offer a more inclusive framework for wellness.
James Makokis on Indigenous ways. University of Ottawa. Published November 7, 2023. Accessed May 10, 2024.
Savage R. Walking in two worlds: Canada’s “two-spirit” doctor guiding trans teenagers. Reuters. Published January 8, 2020. Accessed May 28, 2024.
Donald Warne, M.D., M.P.H. – A member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, Dr. Donald Warne is a renowned physician, public health leader, and educator dedicated to advancing Indigenous health equity. As Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health and Provost Fellow for Indigenous Health Policy, he integrates traditional knowledge with evidence-based health practices to improve the well-being of Indigenous communities. Dr. Warne has made groundbreaking contributions to Indigenous medical education, creating the first Master of Public Health and PhD programs focused on Indigenous health in the U.S. and Canada during his tenure at the University of North Dakota. Dr. Warne's extensive career spans direct clinical care, research on chronic health disparities, and influential roles in health policy, including serving as Health Policy Research Director for the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona. He has provided critical testimony to Congress and advised leading national health organizations. His leadership at Johns Hopkins includes expanding Indigenous-focused education and developing new programs to prepare the next generation of public health leaders. With a background as a primary care physician and deep-rooted connections to traditional healing, Dr. Warne continues to drive efforts to uplift Indigenous ways of knowing and foster systemic change in public health.
Donald Warne. Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. Accessed October 24, 2024.
Robeznieks A. Native Americans work to grow their own physician workforce. American Medical Association. August 22, 2019. Accessed October 24, 2024.
Weeks R. Donald Warne appointed Co-Director of CAIH and Provost Fellow for Indigenous Policy. Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health. August 2, 2022. Accessed October 24, 2024.