Medical Professional Gathering
The Medical Professional Gatherings serve as a cornerstone event that unites medical students, trainees, faculty, and staff in a shared commitment to advancing health and wellness within American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. These gatherings aim to foster dialogue, collaboration, and partnerships among participants while reinforcing a sense of community. Through interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, participants exchange knowledge, share best practices, and explore innovative approaches to enhancing healthcare outcomes and supporting Indigenous health initiatives.
Pre-Admission Workshop (PAW)
The Pre-Admission Workshop (PAW) is a collaborative effort between the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Office of Academic Culture and Community, Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) and the Four Corners Alliance (FCA), The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, University of Colorado School of Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, aimed to increase the number of highly qualified American Indian and Alaska Native applicants to medical school. PAW provides aspiring medical students with mentorship, guidance, and resources critical to navigating the complex medical school application process.
Resources
- Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake: A non-profit agency who devotes resources to support and develop healthcare programs and services to Native American communities
- Sacred Circle Healthcare: Our mission is to deliver quality healthcare with harmony, respect, and integrity; to provide a full “holistic” continuum of care, while promoting wellness education and increasing access to healthcare for American Indian/Alaskan Natives and our diverse patients, families, and communities.
- Utah State Board of Education Title VI: American Indian Education Program: A federally funded program providing American Indian in Utah’s schools quality education.
- Utah Navajo Health System: Non-profit Community Health Center providing medical and behavioral health care throughout the northern portion of the Navajo Nation and southeastern Utah.
- Association of Native American Medical Students: Jenna Murray and Caroline Nelson, co-founders of the university’s first formal chapter of the Association of Native American Medical Students. The Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS) is a student organization representing Native American graduates, health professionals and students throughout the U.S. and Canada. Our goals include providing support and resources for all Native Americans currently enrolled in various allied health professions schools.
- Native American Research Internship (NARI): NARI is an American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) undergraduate junior and senior 10-week biomedical and Health Science research internship. NARI’ s mission is to increase AI/AN representation in biomedical and health sciences by providing an intensive summer research internship, research and cultural mentoring, and academic/career support.
- Center for Native Excellence and Tribal Engagement: The mission of the Center for Native Excellence and Tribal Engagement at the University of Utah is to facilitate the social, academic, and cultural engagement of American Indian and Alaska Native students, staff, trainees, and faculty through cultural affirmation, academic and professional development, and post-graduation preparation for undergraduate students. Additionally, the center serves all tribal nations as the cultural conduit to both tribal communities and the University of Utah via research, education, cultural reverence, and community outreach.
- Native American Community Health Internship (NACHI): The University of Utah Native American Community Health Internship (NACHI) is a dynamic summer pathway program for Native American undergraduate students interested in healthcare careers in Tribal and rural medicine. Since 2019, 21 NACHI students have experienced healthcare delivery in 5 Tribal communities across the Intermountain and Southwest Region, including the Navajo Area in Arizona and New Mexico, Zuni in New Mexico, and Wind River in Wyoming.
- Utah Division of Indian Affairs: The Utah Division of Indian Affairs promotes positive intergovernmental relations between the State of Utah and Utah's American Indian Tribes.
- American Indian Services: We're dedicated to helping Native Americans have access to a quality education, while still preserving their culture and honoring their heritage. Our mission is to provide preparatory programs for youth and financial assistance for those in pursuit of a college degree.
- Association of American Indian Physician’s mission statement is to pursue excellence in Native American health care by promoting education in the medical disciplines, honoring traditional healing practices and restoring the balance of mind, body and spirit.
Past Event Highlights
Strengthening Native American Outreach and Engagement at the 2024 AAIP Conference
September 4, 2024
University of Utah Health continues to deepen its commitment to Native American outreach and engagement by actively participating in the 52nd Annual Association of American Indian Physicians Conference (AAIP). The conference, held this week in Salt Lake City, is themed “Empowering Indigenous Health: Unifying Efforts for Progress.” It is a pivotal event for medical professionals, educators, and students working to advance the health and well-being of Native communities because it provides a unique platform for collaboration, learning, and advocacy.
Native students learn valuable lessons that could improve their chances of college success
September 13, 2023
During the week of July 25-28, 2023, a group of 84 Native youth participated in IndigeSTEAM; a weeklong summer engagement program where 9-12th grade students accelerate their academic preparation for college, explore Indigenous-led, culturally relevant and immersive programming in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM), along with exploring careers in health sciences and medicine.
Blanket exercise educates about Indigenous history and reconciliation
December 16, 2022
During Native American Heritage Month on November 17, 2022, University of Utah staff, faculty, students, and community members took part in the Blanket Exercise led by the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the University of Utah American Indian Resource Center.
Indigenizing the U
March 25, 2022
As part of the University of Utah’s inaugural Day of Collective Action on March 22, 2022, two 75-minute sessions focused on Indigenizing the U. The first session, on learning, included a moderated panel of speakers who identified as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. The second session engaged in-person participants in a conversation on action—understanding the role of an ally in relation to Indigenizing higher education and committing to allyship strategies and best practices to create an inclusive campus community.
Operation Firewood Rescue
October 12, 2020
After hurricane-force winds toppled hundreds of trees throughout the Wasatch Front on Sept. 8, 2020, two University of Utah staff members had an idea. Donna Eldridge in the School of Medicine Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Samantha Eldridge in the University of Utah Student Development and Inclusion office thought of a way they could help Native American elders prepare for winter.
Supporting the Navajo Nation
June 12, 2020
The rising number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Navajo Nation sparked an overwhelming support from the U of U Health community and Indigenous partnerships—a joint effort to provide crucial supplies to the rural areas of the Navajo reservation in Utah.
