January 2018 Blogs

Cervical Cancer Awareness and Prevention

January 22, 2018
by Andria Apostolou, Ph.D., MPH

Each January we observe cervical cancer awareness month and reflect on a disease that affects over 12,000 women in the U.S. each year with approximately 4,000 associated deaths. Although the rate of cervical cancer in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women has decreased over time, AI/AN women ... Continue reading

IHS 2017 Year in Review

January 12, 2018
by Rear Adm. Michael D. Weahkee, Acting Director, Indian Health Service

When I took the helm of the Indian Health Service in June as the acting director, I was excited about the opportunity to lead an agency responsible for providing preventive, curative and community health care for approximately 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Leading this agency ... Continue reading

Navajo Wellness Model: Keeping the Cultural Teachings Alive to Improve Health

January 4, 2018
by Marie Nelson Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program Director, Navajo Area Indian Health Service

To increase health literacy, self-management, and cultural competency in health care and public health settings, the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, in partnership with Diné cultural experts, philosophers, and traditional healers, has developed the Navajo Wellness Model curriculum entitled ... Continue reading