Mentors and Coordinators

2006 NHI Mentors

Danny Bell (Lumbee/Coharie) - UNC American Indian Studies
Joey Bell, MD (Lumbee) - Pembroke Pediatrics
Missy Brayboy (Lumbee) - NC Commission of Indian Affairs
Mark Deese (Tuscorora) - Indian Education Center in Pembroke, NC
Shannon Fleg (Navajo) - American Indian Not on Tobacco Program, NC Commission of Indian Affairs
Susan Leadingfox (Cherokee) - Deputy Health Officer in Cherokee, NC
Lisa Lefler - Behavioral Science Coordinator, Cherokee Choices Diabetes Prevention Program in Cherokee, NC
Rita Locklear (Lumbee) - Indian Education Center, Pembroke, nc
Dee Patrick (Waccamaw Siouan) - Community developer
Brittany Simmons (Waccamaw Siouan) - Waccamaw youth camp director
Bruce Swett (Lumbee) - director of The Healing Lodge, Pembroke, NC

2005 NHI Mentors

Danny Bell (Lumbee/Coharie) - UNC American Indian Studies
Joey Bell, MD (Lumbee) - Pembroke Pediatrics
Sandra Bonner (Waccamaw Siouan) - Community Developer
Missy Brayboy (Lumbee) - NC Commission of Indian Affairs
Harry Brown, MD - Clinical Director at the Cherokee Indian Hospital in Cherokee, NC
Randi Byrd (Cherokee) - NC Commission on Indian Affairs (Americorps)
Reverend Michael Cummings (Lumbee) -director of the Burnt Swamp Association
Dr. Stanley Knick - Director of American Indian Resource Center, UNC-Pembroke
Lisa Lefler - Behavioral Science Coordinator, Cherokee Choices Diabetes Prevention Program in Cherokee, NC
Tim McGloin - UNC/CDC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Dee Patrick (Waccamaw Siouan)- Community developer
Lawrence Shorty (Navajo/Choctaw) - UNC/CDC Center for health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Bruce Swett (Lumbee) - director of Native American Interfaith Ministry

Coordinators

Anthony Fleg, UNC Chapel Hill MD/MPH candidate

A Letter from Anthony:

Welcome to NHI!

This project is a partnership that seeks to connect tribal communities and health professions students with a purpose of addressing health inequities (e.g. inequalities that are unjust) faced by America’s Indigenous peoples. This work is sorely needed, and we hope to begin a movement that moves us out of the vicious cycle we are caught in through a simple strategy: loving service! Yes, this project is supported by the compassion-filled volunteers, from students in North Carolina and across the U.S. and world…to the Tribal health leaders that serve as NHI mentors…to the Tribal members that serve in so many ways to support our interns and projects.

Simplistic schematic of the perpetuation of AI health inequities; implied in this are the multiple levels at which interventions are needed to achieve health equity
Initial Poor health status of AI population
[an issue that is isolated, either “kept on the rez” (Federally recognized tribes) or an enigma due to “data gaps” (State recognized tribes). It is also left out of the realm of education in health professions, and is often left out of conversations/programs on Minority Health]
+
Substandard education that most AI students receive, along with the negative experiences with substandard health care systems, and few role models leads to very few AI students choosing health careers
+
Health professions students learn nothing about AI culture or health issues

Leads to

AI communities get poor health care, at the hands of clinicians that do not understand AI culture or AI health, and who have limited ability/desire to advocate for AI communities and issues.

Leads to

Continued Poor health status of AI population
(a result of all of the above factors – ignorant health professionals, substandard health care for AI population, few AI as health professionals)

Our collaborative, in connecting health professions students with tribal health leaders to carry out programs that address tribal health needs hopes to begin to change the cycle, one person, one community, one volunteer at a time.
We are, at the core, a group of committed individuals, both American Indian and not, who believe that we can make change happen if we put our energies together. Moreover, we are a group that believes that this must happen, that we can no longer be content with a system that allows America’s first people to die younger and live sicker than its other citizens.
With close to $0 budget, we have worked hard since 2004, under the guidance of our community mentors in 5 tribes…between the 27 health professions volunteers, community mentors, and tribal members, we have put our collective 10,000+ volunteer hours into making NHI what it is!

In health,
Anthony

Shannon Fleg (Navajo), UNC Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, NC Commission of Indian Affairs

Sabina Fattah, Norweigan MD candidate

A Letter from Sabina:

Dear NHI family,

I hope you have enjoyed your summer in North Carolina and are proud to be a part of the NHI family!! My name is Sabina, I’m a medical student on the other side of the Atlantic at the University of Bergen in Norway. I was an intern with the Waccamaw Siouan tribe last summer and am currently one of the project coordinators for NHI. It has been great to read all the e-mails this summer seeing how NHI has grown. Below are some words about the work that has been done and the plans for the future.


Pilot project summer 2006 – NHI becomes a reality:
June last summer I arrived on a delayed flight at Raleigh Durham airport North Carolina, hoping that the person who was picking me up had the patience to still be waiting for me. To my relief I saw a rather tierd looking woman with a sign with my name written on it. Sandra, one of my mentors had spent half the day at the airport waiting. I still remember the heat that hit me when we stepped outside the airport, the car accident less than an hour later where we were the first people to stop and help, the 3 hour car drive afterwards to rural North Carolina. Arriving late at night to the Patrick family with 6 year old Madeline and 11 year old Olivia still awake to meet me at the door, shake my hand and tell me everything about their home and family are still fresh in mind. On the days to come I slowly overcame the jetlag and got used to the heat. I also met Ervin, Ankoor, Thomas and Brian – the 4 interns I worked with. Together with our mentors Dee and Sandra, and the Waccamaw Siouan community we brainstormed and implemented what was to be the NHI pilot project. Teaching first aid, healthy cooking classes, diabetes classes, playing with the children, geography lessons, road trip to Cherokee....all making last summer an unforgettable one for me! I hope this summer was equally great for you!

A few words about IFMSA – the International Federation of Medical Students Associations:
IFMSA is an independent, non-political federation of over 90 national member associations, and more than 1 million members worldwide. It was found in 1951 and has since 1969 been recognized by the WHO as the official forum for medical students. In short IFMSA offers medical students a forum for developing an international network, exchanging idealisme and becoming educated on global health issues. IFMSA holds 2 international meetings every year, in March and August, where more than 500 students world wide gather to work, socialize and inspire each other for 1 week.

Work done since the pilot project – highlights:
- NHI gained recognition within IFMSA Norway and IFMSA USA fall 2005.

- Shortly after the work began for applying for status as an official transnational IFMSA Norway –USA project. The status was granted NHI at the IFMSA March meeting 2006, enabling us to continue our work with the backing of an international organization.

-In March the same year 6 medical students from the University of Tromsoe, Norway spent 2 weeks with the Waccamaw Siouan working efficiently; teaching first aid at the after school care, holding a healthy cooking class, appearing on local television and participating at the “Spirit of eagles conference” - an annual conference addressing health problems amongst native Americans nationwide.

-And of course: all of you making NHI a reality this summer!!!

Now 1 year after the pilot project NHI has been nominated among the top 5 IFMSA projects and is candidating for the Rex Crossely award for best IFMSA project , the result will be revealed first week of August.

All of the above is truely an inspiration to continue working!

The future - NHI expanding:
- There are now efforts being made by medical students in Norway (Sami), Quebec (Inuits) and Australia (Aboriginies) to get a “Native Health Initiative” started in our countries. It is realistic to believe that internships can be offered in these countries in 2007.

To further raise awareness of the topic within IFMSA we hope to hold a workshop on “Native Health” at the IFMSA March Meeting 2007 in Australia – homeland of the Aboriginies.

We plan to have an interactive workshop with international lecturers talking about the similarities and differences between the Natives of the world, cooperation between them, health challenges they face – such as the increasing rate of chronic disease. Time will be allocated to work in small groups to brainstorm and plan specific projects we can implement in different countries. Cultural experiences will be a part of the breaks and social program.

Anyone of you who would like to further work with the international NHI family to raise awareness of Native Health disparities are more than welcome to do so!! Your contribution can be big or small. Spread the word about NHI at your university, start an NHI in your state or country, help planning the meeting in Australia or join one of the internships next summer – the choices are many!

Thank you for making NHI a reality this summer. I hope you enjoyed your stay in North Carolina!

All the best wishes from Norway,

Sabina

"It's amazing how much gets done when no one cares who gets the credit"