National Combined Councils
The Indian Health Service (IHS) National Combined Councils (NCC) consists of twelve councils, varying by discipline, that focus on the clinical and administrative health care needs of the agency:
- National Council of Chief Clinical Consultants (NCCC)
- National Council of Chief Executive Officers (NCCEO)
- National Council of Chief Medical Officers (NCCMO)
- National Council of Clinical Directors (NCCD)
- National Council of Executive Officers (NCEO)
- National Council of Informatics
- National Nurse Leadership Council (NNLC)
- National Oral Health Council (NOHC)
- National Pharmacy Council (NPC)
- National Council for Behavioral Health (NCBH)
- National Laboratory Professionals Council (NLPC)
- National Quality Council (NQC)
The purpose of NCC is to serve as the voice of patient care field operations and teamwork facilitator within IHS. Each council provides consultation to the IHS Director and Chief Medical Officer on pressing issues that require action from IHS Senior Leadership.
NCC convenes for an annual in person meeting, with each council alternating as host. The annual meeting provides opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration. Participants are able to share information, discuss problems and solutions, and develop new networking relationships that promote the IHS mission and priorities. Throughout the remainder of the year, councils are responsible for scheduling council meetings, managing work plans and tracking accomplishments.
National Council of Chief Clinical Consultants (NC4)
The National Council of Chief Clinical Consultants (NC4) is a permanent council of the Indian Health Service, composed of the Chief Clinical Consultants, who are appointed by the Director of the Indian Health Service. All Chief Clinical Consultants are full-time employees of a Native Corporation, Urban, Tribal or Indian Health Service program, are board certified, registered or certified as appropriate for their discipline/specialty, and have significant experience in the discipline/specialty within the Native American healthcare system.
Current Chair: Dr. Jean Howe, MD, MPH
Learn more about our National Chief Clinical Consultants (NC4).
National Council of Chief Executive Officers (NCCEO)
The National Council of Chief Executive Officers (NCCEO) is a council composed of local Chief Executive Officers, Tribal Health Program Directors, and Urban Indian Health Program Directors for all Hospitals and Clinics in the Indian Health System.
Current Chair: CDR Seneca Smith, MHA, BSRT (R) (CT)
Learn more about the National Council of Chief Executive Officers (NCCEO).
National Council of Chief Medical Officers (NCCMO)
The National Council of Chief Medical Officers (NCCMO) is a council for the IHS Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the 12 Area CMOs, and the IHS Office of Clinical and Preventive Services Director. The role of the NCCMO is to support the mission of the Indian Health Service by developing management and clinical recommendations on IHS policies and strategic plans, particularly as they relate to Agency and Tribal health programs, clinical standards, and quality of care improvement. The NCCMO is responsible for providing clinical guidance, leadership and vision to Agency efforts in quality of care and quality improvement.
Current Chair: RDML Greggory Woitte, MD, FACOG
Learn more about our National Council of Chief Medical Officers (NCCMO).
National Council of Clinical Directors (NCCD)
consists of all designated Clinical Directors at the IHS, Tribal and Urban Health Programs. The NCCD continually improves the health status of the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people by responsibly and effectively participating in the development and implementation of the Indian Health Service health care policies. Clinical Directors are responsible for the clinical services administered at the various clinics and hospitals. They are involved in hiring and supervising clinical staff and making procurement decisions on clinical items while adhering to national clinical outcome goals and quality measures; as well as accreditation activities.
Current Chair(s): Dr. Philippe Champagne, MD, FAAP, FACP and CAPT Jennefer Kieran, MD, FACS
National Council of Informatics
The National Council of Informatics (NCI) works to improve delivery of health care services for American Indian and Alaska Native people by identifying, defining, prioritizing, and advocating for the information resource management and technology needs of health care providers in Indian Health Federal, Tribal and Urban (I/T/U) facilities.
Current Chair: CDR Donnie Hodge
Learn more about the National Council of Informatics Voting Members
National Council of Executive Officers (NCEO)
The purpose of the National Council of Executive Officers (NCEO) is to advise the Indian Health Service Director on all the administrative and management matters, including initiating and reviewing proposed (or existing) IHS policies, procedures, guidelines and instructions.
Current Chair: Carol Chicharello
National Laboratory Professionals Council (NLPC)
The National Laboratory Professionals Council (NLPC), established in 2016, consists of Laboratory Supervisors, Laboratory Directors, Area Laboratory Consultants, and Clinical Pathologists. The purpose of the National Laboratory Professionals Council (NLPC) is to ensure that Indian Health Service (IHS) Laboratory Professionals, Tribal Health Laboratory Professionals, and Urban Indian Health Program Laboratory Professionals have continual involvement and participative discussions with IHS Senior Leadership for improvement of care, quality of services, and the role of laboratory in the overall continuum of care within IHS.
Current Chair(s): Arlinda Lee, BSMT (ASCP), MAHSM
Vice Chair: Karla Mankoff
Learn more about the IHS Laboratory and/or NLPC.
National Nurse Leadership Council (NNLC)
The National Nurse Leadership Council (NNLC) provides leadership for Indian Health through advocacy, accountability, communication and integrity. The purpose of the NNLC is to ensure that the Indian Health System Nursing Program representatives effectively participate in the establishment and implementation of Agency strategies to achieve the IHS mission.
Current Chair: Dayle Knutson, RN, BSN
Learn more about the National Nurse Leadership Council (NNLC).
National Oral Health Council (NOHC)
The National Oral Health Council (NOHC) contains all dental staff in the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban programs. The NOHC advocates on behalf of American Indians/Alaskan Natives for improved oral health by advising and assisting IHS leadership concerning relevant health issues and policies while promoting integration of oral health into overall health.
Current Chair: Dr. Timothy Lozon
Learn more about the National Oral Health Council (NOHC).
National Pharmacy Council (NPC)
The Mission of the Indian Health Service is to provide health care services and consultation that raise the level of health among the Indian People to the highest possible level. The National Pharmacy Council (NPC) is hereby promulgated in order to develop and maintain a pharmacy service that would meet this goal by facilitating teamwork within the Indian Health Service pharmacy program. The NPC provides advice and consultation to the Chief Pharmacist of the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban programs on issues and problems related to the business of developing a pharmacy program that will help meet the mission of the Indian Health Service. Committee members and chair-persons are chosen to represent a broad cross section of management and professional expertise as resources to the Indian Health Service as a system. As the NPC is expected to work with all issues related to the practice of pharmacy within the Indian Health Service, the committee will conduct strategic planning sessions to formulate the scope and depth of issues to be addressed and will carry these issues to completion as a work product.
Current Chair: CDR Shannon Lowe, PharmD, MPH, BCPS
Learn more about the National Pharmacy Council (NPC).
National Council for Behavioral Health (NCBH)
The National Council for Behavioral Health (NCBH), established in 2015, is composed of IHS behavioral health staff. The role of the NCBH is to advocate on behalf of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) for improved behavioral health care. This includes contributing to the development, support, and advocacy of behavioral health services for the Indian Health Service (I/T/Us) system including development of action plans, policies, and recommendations. The NCBH is responsible advising and assisting IHS leadership concerning relevant behavioral health issues and policies while promoting integration of behavioral health into overall health care.
Current Chair: Justin Peglowski
Learn more about the National Council for Behavioral Health (NCBH).
National Quality Council (NQC)
The purpose of the Indian Health Service (IHS) National Quality Council (NQC) is to serve as a permanent advisory body established by the IHS Director to ensure that all IHS Health Care quality improvement programs are operated effectively.
Current Chair: Dr. Melissa Hubbard, DNP, RN
