AAIP Conference Focuses on Health Issues in Indian Country

By Pat Bradley
Tribal Health Connections

In the "city different" of Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the shadow of the Sangre de Christo mountains, where cultures, centuries old, come together, the 32nd annual meeting of the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) was held in August. The attendees were typically young, representing tribal communities as diverse as the Lumbee tribe from North Carolina to the Yupik and Aleut of Alaska. A significant contingent of Native American students attending medical schools throughout the country was also present.

The major theme of the conference concerned the health disparities that exist in Indian Country. Researchers, government policy makers, providers and AAIP members who have worked for the elimination of health disparities in Indian country were invited to share their expertise and findings.

Dr. Jim Thompson
Photo courtesy of AAIP

The keynote speaker for the conference was Dr. Charles Grim, the newly appointed Director of the Indian Health Service, who has made addressing Indian health concerns one of his priorities. Dr. Jim Thompson, a member of the Lenape (Delaware) tribe and Executive Director for Graduate Medical Education at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, was elected as the organization's new president.

The objectives of the conference were:

• To identify and share knowledge on eliminating health disparities in Indian Country,



• To identify and share current information on practical management of diseases and conditions that affect American Indians and Alaska Native communities including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and HIV/AIDS and



• To learn what AAIP members are doing to eliminate health disparities for American Indians and Alaska natives through their projects, programs and activities in public health, genetic education and cancer research.

Some of the speakers and their topics included:

"American Indian Researchers," Melvina McCabe, MD, (Navajo), University of New Mexico School of Medicine

"Special Diabetes Program for Indians: Increased Access to Clinical Exams, Laboratory Testing and Newer Medication and Therapies for Diabetes Treatment," by Kelly Moore, MD, (Creek), I.H.S. National Diabetes Program, Albuquerque NM

"Measuring the Quality of Care in Indian Health Diabetes Programs," by Yvette Roubideaux, MD, MPH, (Rosebud Sioux), Arizona College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson

"The Obesity Epidemic: Overview, Evaluation and Treatment," by DeeAnn DeRoin, MD, MPH, (Iowa), The American Medical Women's Association, Lawrence KS

"Men's Health Issues," by Everett Rhoades, MD (Kiowa), The Strong Heart Study, Oklahoma City, OK

"Indian Self-Determination: Truth or Myth," by George Blue Spruce, Jr., DDS, MPH (Laguna-San Juan), Assistant Dean, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, President, Society of American Indian Dentists, Surprise AZ.

A presentation on "Perspectives of Tribal Chairmen on Working with Federal Agencies on Diabetes-Related Surveys," was delivered by Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, (Rosebud Sioux), of the Arizona College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, Tucson. Dr. Roubideaux's talk addressed a study which sought "to identify the policy and social barriers to entering into partnerships with Tribes to conduct behavioral risk factor surveys." For the study, the 19 tribes served by the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona were interviewed as to their reaction to a scenario in which the Centers for Disease Control was willing to help a tribe with a survey on health behaviors related to diabetes. Nine tribal chairpersons responded. The study took a year to complete.

Outgoing AAIP President Ben Muneta, MD (Navajo), moderated what was termed a Traditional Medicine Workshop and that provided a forum for "the sharing of knowledge gained through the growing collaboration between traditional healers and physicians trained in allopathic medicine." The panel consisted of a very diverse group of healers and practitioners that work in conjunction with western practitioners in hospitals, clinics, substance abuse treatment centers, prisons, and schools bringing their perspectives to augment and compliment western-based therapies. The panel included:

• Rose Auger, a medicine woman of the Woodland Cree people in Alberta, Canada,
• Elena Avila, a curandera, Director of the Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center and author of Woman Who Glows in the Dark: A Curandera Reveals Aztec Secrets of Health and Spirit,
• Lisa Dolchok (Yupik, Aleut and Filipino) a certified tribal doctor from Anchorage AK,
• Gerard Kisto—Pima traditional healer from Gila River AZ,
• Anderson Hoskie—a (30 year old) Navajo traditional medicine man from Gallup NM,
• Carol Locust—a Cherokee traditional healer from Tucson, AZ and
• Paul Ritchie—from Fond de Lac Tribal College, Cloquet MN.

Some of the observations made during the Traditional Medicine Workshop included:

• Spiritual pain can be seen. (Carol Locust)
• "When you walk every step should be a prayer." (Gerard Kisto)
• Traditional medicine treats the cause of the illness, the whole person. (Gerard Kisto)
• Work with the spirit in healing. The spirit is sick, when a person is sick. (Rose Auger)
• Relationships are sacred.(Rose Auger)
• Pain is emotional, spiritual. Healing takes place where there is love. (Lisa Dolchok)
• Being a healer is a 24-hour a day job. Prayer is always there. (Anderson Hoskie)
• Elderly people often die of pain and grief, missing their children and grandchildren. (Paul Ritchie)

The 33rd annual meeting of the AAIP will be in Tulsa OK, August 2004.

For more information:
http://www.tribehealth.org
http://www.aaip.com