I was born in Montana, on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and I’m a member of the Assiniboine tribe.
From a young age, I knew that I wanted to work in the medical field. My grandma and aunt worked at the Fort Belknap Indian Hospital so I spent a lot of time there as a kid. When I was in third grade, my mom was accepted to medical school at the University of North Dakota, and we had to move. It was hard to be away from my grandparents, but eventually my mom’s hard work paid off when she became a doctor and began working for the Fort Yates hospital.
Following in my mom’s footsteps, I applied and was accepted to medical school at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine in Grand Forks. Throughout medical school, I knew that I wanted to practice family medicine. It’s truly amazing to help bring children into the world and to watch them grow through the years. I graduated from medical school in 2012 and completed my residency at the UND Center for Family Medicine in Bismarck in 2015. The IHS paid much of my tuition through scholarships, so I am debt-free. My 4-year obligation is almost complete but I’m not going anywhere.
I currently serve as the acting clinical director for the Standing Rock Service Unit at Fort Yates Hospital. I enjoy caring for all age groups, adolescent health, diabetic care, women’s health, preventive health, acute care of illnesses, and dermatology. The Fort Yates facility is a well-rounded, rural hospital where I handle every type of ailment and procedure that you could imagine. I see things here that I’d never see at a large facility, which helps to make me the best physician I can be. I love what I do and wouldn’t change a thing.
Fort Yates, North Dakota, is home to me now. I love the area, the community, the culture and the traditions. The seasonal weather and easy access to water make it easy for me to enjoy boating, water sports, skiing, softball, and gardening in my spare time.
I’m a Native American, a doctor, and a rural health advocate - and I am IHS.
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