WELCOME!
NPAIHB www.npaihb.org/nw-narch/
DR. BECKER'S MESSAGE For this issue, Dr. Becker took a detour from his usual written message and sat down to chat with Dr. Tom Weiser, Portland Area Indian Health Service Medical Epidemiologist. Dr. Weiser will be wrapping up his career with Indian Health Service to pursue new life adventures. Dr. Weiser discusses his personal life, career, and plans for the future in this delightful conversation between the Toms. Enjoy!
NW NARCH
Spring/Summer | 2023
NEWS
For more info, visit our website or contact Rochelle Fassler to learn more.
"Wonderful experience! I'm looking forward to future classes."
Register Now
Mark your calendars. Summer Research Training Institute is coming to a screen near you.
SUMMER TRAINING
PROGRAM IN FOCUS
Visit our website or connect with Grazia Cunningham to learn more.
NW NARCH is excited to launch our NEW introductory public health research program for Native youth! The Public Health Research Academy kicks off in Portland (June 26-30) and continues during the 2023-24 school year with virtual sessions and a community-based project. Students will meet Indigenous researchers, participate in hands-on activities, and gain professional skills. Our goal is to inspire Native public health researchers.
We have have expanded fellowship opportunities to include undergraduate students in the biomedical and social sciences! Program details: Undergraduates eligible for $20/hour for up to 10 hours of research completed Graduates eligible for $27/hour for up to 20 hours of research work completed Access to skill-building courses in our Summer Research Training Institute Regular online seminars In-person workshops Near-peer mentorship
Visit our website or e-mail Ashley Thomas to learn more.
Infectious Diseases Track End of Summer Research Training Institute
STAFF PICKS
Maleah Nore
Kristen Adams, APRN, CNP (Cherokee Nation) As a nurse practitioner working in the infectious diseases department at Cherokee Nation Health Services in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, I provide care for AI/AN people with or at risk for infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis B&C, cirrhosis, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, and pulmonary infections. I am married to Jared and we have a 9-year old daughter named Ella and an 8-year old female Labrador retriever named Scout. I live on Fort Gibson Lake where we enjoy camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking, traveling, live music, and gardening. I had the opportunity to participate in the 2022 NARCH End of Summer Institute track, Infectious Diseases in American Indian & Alaska Native People. The course was filled with interesting topics and excellent presenters. Participants are encouraged to engage via written individual assignments and verbal group tasks. I enjoyed learning about the instructors’ backgrounds, as well as the multidisciplinary ideas and input of my colleagues. I was intrigued by Dr. Becker’s Hantavirus presentation. It was very interesting and he made the lecture fun by incorporating stories and jokes. For my capstone project, I am researching influenza in American Indian and Alaska Native people, as this is an illness that greatly impacts our community each year. Kathleen Conte, PhD I am thrilled to join the NARCH program! Previously, I worked in Australia with Aboriginal researchers on quality improvement in primary healthcare and with Oregon tribes to implement chronic disease self-management programs. NARCH has been a wonderful opportunity to re-kindle my interest and knowledge of infectious diseases and begin building new collaborations in the USA. For my capstone, I’m working with Jessica Leston and Ashley Hoover at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB). I am conducting an audit of publicly available Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) surveillance data. We will be interviewing epidemiologists at Tribal Epidemiology Centers to learn more about their barriers to accessing STI data. So far, we’ve found that less than 10 states provide up-to-date STI data that is more current than their previous year report, and of these, only a few report data for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Our aim is to assess current trends in STI/HIV/HCV data availability and to identify ways NPAIHB can leverage innovative and best practices to improve information sharing between Tribes and states for disease monitoring and response. In my other life, my husband and I are parents to 16-month-old Enzo, two cats, and a dog. We live in Portland, and are busy planning our summer garden and wishing the weather would warm up so we can plant it! I’m also a Senior Research Associate at the Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative at Portland State University, and am hopeful that there will be more opportunities to collaborate on projects that bring together health and homelessness. Francesca Toledo-Alexander, MA (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma) Oklahoma City born and raised, I am a descendent of the Mvskoke Nation and a first-generation daughter of a Mexican immigrant parent. I graduated from Oklahoma State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology. In 2017, I completed my Master’s degree in Wellness Management - Health Studies from the University of Central Oklahoma, which introduced me to the public health sector and ignited passion for nonprofit work. I have worked as a Program Coordinator for the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board since 2019. For my capstone project, I will conduct a literature review of at-home testing for STIs. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family, going on coffee adventures, reading, trying new restaurants, and finding ways to serve my local and tribal community through volunteering.
Visit www.npaihb.org/nw-narch/ to learn about the 2023 End of Summer Research Training Institute
STUDENTS IN FOCUS
"The course was filled with interesting topics and excellent presenters."
"This NARCH track has been an invaluable help in opening up the discussion of Indigenous Health"
Jamie Mayo, PhD, MSN I am the second generation of my family to be born in the United States. My family immigrated from Cuba, Germany, and England. My Cuban ancestors descend from the native Cuban people and were part of the Siboney and Taino Tribes. I currently work as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in Grand Ronde, Oregon. For my capstone project, I will analyze oral histories previously collected from elders in the Grand Ronde community. The aim of my project is to identify pertinent behavioral health themes from these oral histories with the intent of utilizing the histories, reflections, and experiences of community elders to inform long-term goals and planning of the behavioral health department. This NARCH track has been an invaluable help in opening up the discussion of Indigenous Health, broadening knowledge of best practices in this population, and connecting me with a mentor for this specific research project. Charlotte McCloskey, PhD, (Sicangu Lakota) I am a Local Recovery Coordinator/staff psychologist for the Veterans Health Administration. Active in the American Psychological Association, Division 18: Psychologist in Public Service, VA Section, Psychologists In Indian Country Section, former member of Committee for Women in Psychology and member of the Society of Indian Psychologists. I am honored to co-host the national call for the Psychologists of Color Special Interest Group, Association for VA Psychology Leaders. Currently, I work with a wonderful team of people to better serve Native American Veterans and develop culturally aware suicide prevention efforts. Prior to my current position, I worked in grant-driven preventative health research for Native communities. I received my Counseling Psychology Masters and Doctorate from University of Missouri-Columbia. My professional interests include mentorship, consultation, trauma recovery/resiliency, equity/inclusion, and grief/bereavement. I am an outside consultant with the National American Indian/Alaska Native Behavioral Health Center within the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa. For my capstone project, I amworking with Dr. Kathyleen Tomlin’s research-driven initiatives focused on providing community-based training in Motivational Interviewing for Native American communities. This project is mindful of the wisdom of participants and integrates their feedback to make improvements based on cultural considerations. A future project goal is to provide culturally informed Motivational Interviewing trainings to Peer Support Native American Veterans honoring veterans’ unique contributions.
"This NARCH track has been an invaluable help in opening up the discussion of Indigenous Health..."
Behavioral Health Track End of Summer Research Training Institute
"A must-read for anyone who believes preparedness is key to reducing anxiety!" Recommended by Grazia Cunningham
"One of my all-time favorites!" Recommended by Tyanne Connor and Birdie Wermy
"This is a popular one!" Recommended by Celena Ghost Dog
"...it's a children's book but too cute not to share!" Recommended by Asia Brown
Just one of the books recommended by We R Native (WRN). Visit WRN on instagram for more book recommendations.
Recommended by Dr. Danica Brown
"Great read and gives you a basic understanding of the neuroscience of stress." Recommended by Saydie Sago, NARCH Fellow (YEAR)
"I HIGHLY recommend this one, my ultimate fav book and Indigenous researcher." Recommended by Celena Ghost Dog
"I just started Visual Thinking by Temple Grandin. Seems interesting so far! Recommended by Dr. Victoria Warren-Mears
"Tommy's is one I can repeatedly read and the audible is great too with him narrating" Recommended by Dolores Jimerson
"..one that [I] ave read several times and I recommend to all graduate students." Recommended by Dr. Clif Poodry
READING CORNER
It's always a great time to cozy up with a good book. Here's what NPAIHB staff and our NARCHies are reading!
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Mentored Quantitative Research Career Award (K25) The NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22) NIH Pathways to Independence Award (K99/R00) Cancer Research Education Grants Program Mentored Research Scientists Career Development Award (R01) NCI Current & Recent Requests for Applications (FOAs) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Grants Dashboard Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health Scholarships American Cancer Society Grants Research to Improve Native American Health (R21) American Public Health Laboratory Fellowships National Science Foundation - Science of Science Approach to Analyzing and Innovating the Biomedical Research Enterprise
NEW LOOK
Our website got a makeover! The NW NARCH program has evolved to include a variety of projects that support American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students - from high school to graduate school - and AI/AN health professionals. Our new website reflects our continued resolve to build research capacity within the tribes and increase the number of AI/AN researchers who are committed to improving the health of their communities. Click on each box to explore the program! Visit us at www.npaihb.org/nw-narch/ to find your next opportunity!
Thomas Becker, MD, PhD Principal Investigator tbecker@npaihb.org
www.npaihb.org
Ashley Thomas, MPH NW NARCH Sr. Program Manager athomas@npaihb.org
CONTACT US!
Grazia Cunningham, MPH NW NARCH Project Manager GCunningham@npaihb.org
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers S06GM123543, S06GM127164, 1S06GM145214, and 1S06GM141002. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Rochelle Fassler NW NARCH Project Coordinator summerinstitute@npaihb.org