The Center for Indigenous Health provides a space for Indigenous doctors and residents at the UW to connect. The Center aims to foster a sense of community among Indigenous physicians, and works to increase the number of Indigenous physicians in Washington State by inspiring the younger generations to pursue a career in medicine.
Founded by Dr. Jason Deen, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP) (Blackfeet), the Center is homed in UW Medicine's Department of Pediatrics where it is an essential part of the mission to advocate for children and provide the nation's best primary and specialty pediatric clinical care. However, the Center will serve all of UW Medicine and the larger community beyond.
According to a 2018 report from the AMA Council on Medical Education, there are currently 5.2 million American Indians (AI) and Alaska Natives (AN) in the U.S. Yet, only 0.4% of physicians (3,400 individuals) identify as American Indian and Alaska Native.
How it Started:
Dr. Deen recruited Millie Kennedy, formerly the UW's Office of Healthcare Equity's Tribal Liaison. Kennedy's law background and extensive experience working for Tribal, Federal, and State Governments, as well as a non-profit law firm serving Native American communities, made her the ideal candidate. "I worked at UW many year ago helping start a Native American Center of Excellence and create the program for it," said Kennedy.
Together, Kennedy and Deen worked on innovative strategies to obtain funding for the Center.
"Dr. Deen had an idea of the Center a little over a year ago, and we tried applying for funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which is very competitive," said Kennedy. "We then applied for state funding instead due to the shortage of Indigenous physicians serving the 29 tribes in Washington State."
In December of 2022, Ian Goodhew, UW's senior director of External Relations and Associate VP of Medical Affairs, joined Deen and Kennedy to help them acquire state funding. Goodhew guided the team and helped them achieve their goal. The Center was awarded a biannual million-dollar funding in perpetuity.
About the Project:
The Center is where UW indigenous residents and physicians can find support and community. Due to the severe shortage of indigenous doctors, Deen and Kennedy strive to reach out and recruit three indigenous targeted groups with three primary goals.
The first goal is to connect with Indigenous middle school and high school STEM students to gauge their interest in studying medicine and offer guidance and support to begin their careers. The second goal is to recruit indigenous students, residents, and physicians in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (known as the WWAMI region). The third goal is to encourage doctors in academic medicine to give back to tribes in Washington State.
"It's been well documented that if a patient is cared for by a doctor who looks like them, is from their culture, and understands them and their family, that patient is more likely to trust the doctor and follow their recommendations," said Deen. This trust can play a significant role in the degree to which patients seek and benefit from healthcare. Indigenous peoples experience higher rates of ill health, and a lack of cultural understanding can further contribute to major structural barriers for Indigenous populations.
The Center is located in the University of Washington Medical Center's RR wing in the department of Pediatrics. Deen and Kennedy continue to recruit the remainder of the team. They actively participate in conferences to reach their target groups and raise awareness about the Center.
About the CIH Logo:
The Center for Indigenous Health logo was created by Roger Fernandes, a member of the Lower Elwha S'Klallam Tribe, who is an artist, educator, and storyteller who focuses on the culture and arts of the Coast Salish tribes in western Washington.
Fernandes obtained a B.A. in Native American Studies from Evergreen State College and an M.A. in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University. Fernandes teaches storytelling and art courses at the University of Washington, Northwest Indian College, and other educational institutions.
The basket image in the logo design is inspired by the symbology found in Puget Salish basket designs. "A basket is a weaving of many diverse elements: tree bark, grasses, and roots," said Fernandes. "These fibers are woven together to create a harmonious whole, a container that can hold food, tools, clothing, and supplies." Through the basket, Fernandes intends to showcase the diverse ideas and elements in everyday life that define Indigenous peoples.
The basket's detailed weaving and accompanying metaphors are complemented by their meaningful plant designs, which encourage us to contemplate the beneficial teachings that plants can offer. "The Elders believe that the plants are our greatest teachers. All the knowledge we need to live in the world is in the plants." Fernandes adds. "These designs are ancient, woven by our Coast Salish ancestors for millennia, and passed down to us."
The logo features the Devil's Club plant, a powerful medicine for Coastal tribes, represented by a black figure at the top and smaller red ones at the bottom. The space between the shapes creates a symbolic head and two arms, embodying a spirit coming out of the ground to heal the body and spirit of the sick. "When someone is sick, their body and spirit are impacted, and the Devil's Club helps both heal," said Fernandes.
The design features lines extending from its "arms" that go upwards and angles outwards, symbolizing how plants grow and spread. To Fernandes, this might remind us philosophically that we grow into adulthood and elder status and apply our knowledge and wisdom to others.
