Importance of an Indigenous Public Health Workforce

We urgently need specific public health community-based interventions delivered by an informed and competent workforce to address the growing health crisis that Indigenous populations endure. When interventions are created to meet the needs of the most vulnerable (e.g., geographically, politically, socio-demographically), they have application to the public at-large and therefore the health of the entire nation will improve.

The Seattle Indian Health Board has celebrated over 35 years of excellence in healthcare, offering clinical, community, chemical dependency, clinical support and traditional Native health services. While remaining true to its mission, SIHB has expanded its services to include the Urban Indian Health Institute, a public health and research center, and the Family Medicine Residency Program, which emphasizes the importance of returning Indigenous Physicians to their communities.