Striking health disparities exist in Native
communities and there are too few
Native health providers.
Together we can reverse these trends.
WELCOME TO
WE ARE HEALERS
Culture-Centric Approach
We Are Healers is a nonprofit dedicated to increasing Native representation in healthcare. By providing mentorship, resources, and inspiring storytelling, it helps Native youth explore career pathways and gain the confidence to pursue their goals. Through a strong community of support, We Are Healers empowers the next generation of Indigenous healthcare leaders to make a lasting impact in their communities.
Providing Mentorship, Resources and Inspiring Storytelling
We believe in the continued support and representation of our Native health professionals in the different aspects of their journey
A unique opportunity to join a supportive, close-knit community of Native students who are passionate about health professions.
Growing the next generation of Native health leaders — those who carry forward cultural knowledge and healing.
Our projects highlight why working on public health initiatives is so important and how directly impact communities.
We Are Healers is focused on providing the most current resources related to our Indigenous health care providers.
supporting current and future generations
Who We Are and What We Do
Our Mission & Vision
Mission: We Are Healers supports the next generation of Native Americans in navigating health career pathways. Together we transform systems and uplift Indigenous approaches to health.
We accomplish this through our four core values: Inspire, Connect, Advise, Ascend.
Vision: We envision a world where Native excellence in health and healing is visible, celebrated, and expected — and where health systems honor sovereignty, reflect Indigenous knowledge, and center Indigenous identities.
Our Core Values & Key Strategies
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We INSPIRE Native youth to pursue health careers and to achieve their greatest potential
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We ADVISE health profession schools and programs on best practices to recruit and retain Native students
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We CONNECT Native youth to enrichment opportunities to achieve their health career aspirations
Digital Outreach
We Are Healers is a proud partner with Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and We R Native to empower Native voices through the INSPIRE text-mentoring campaign. This two-year project, supported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, spotlights 6 Native health professionals in public health pathways.
Through our social media campaigns we have reached 240,000 people online with the stories of Native role-models.
Additionally, we have connected our cohorts to mentors and Native health leaders at Oregon Health & Science University, Northwest Native American Center of Excellence, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, and Seattle Indian Health Board.
As it pertains to improved performance and preparation for standardized examinations, We Are Healers provided cohorts with Blueprint membership; a tutoring service that offers preparatory courses, private tutoring, and practice examinations for medical schools—as well as Amboss, an online platform that compartmentalizes medical knowledge for students, residents, and physicians. These resources are typically unobtainable due to the financial hardships that befall our targeted communities.
Our Impact
As the only national nonprofit with our logic model, from late 2022 to the end of 2023, we will have mobilized over $150,000 in educational and workforce development opportunities for AI/AN health students.
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In under one year, we have grown our Healing Circle Cohort (HCC) from 4 AI/AN health students to 10, ages 18-30
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High School Seniors to Residents—an additional 33 HCC applicants are receiving mentorship, wellness trainings, and roundtable discussions to mitigate loss of follow-up, cultural disconnect, and further perpetuation of harmful health outcomes.
-
Through this initiative we have witnessed an increase in AI/AN students enrolling in health-related educational programs that follow non-traditional and traditional pathways to achieve their dreams.
Our Mission & Vision
Mission: We Are Healers supports the next generation of Native Americans in navigating health career pathways. Together we transform systems and uplift Indigenous approaches to health.
We accomplish this through our four core values: Inspire, Connect, Advise, Ascend.
Vision: We envision a world where Native excellence in health and healing is visible, celebrated, and expected — and where health systems honor sovereignty, reflect Indigenous knowledge, and center Indigenous identities.
Our Core Values & Key Strategies
-
We INSPIRE Native youth to pursue health careers and to achieve their greatest potential
-
We ADVISE health profession schools and programs on best practices to recruit and retain Native students
-
We CONNECT Native youth to enrichment opportunities to achieve their health career aspirations
Digital Outreach
We Are Healers is a proud partner with Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and We R Native to empower Native voices through the INSPIRE text-mentoring campaign. This two-year project, supported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, spotlights 6 Native health professionals in public health pathways.
Through our social media campaigns we have reached 240,000 people online with the stories of Native role-models.
Additionally, we have connected our cohorts to mentors and Native health leaders at Oregon Health & Science University, Northwest Native American Center of Excellence, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, and Seattle Indian Health Board.
As it pertains to improved performance and preparation for standardized examinations, We Are Healers provided cohorts with Blueprint membership; a tutoring service that offers preparatory courses, private tutoring, and practice examinations for medical schools—as well as Amboss, an online platform that compartmentalizes medical knowledge for students, residents, and physicians. These resources are typically unobtainable due to the financial hardships that befall our targeted communities.
Our Impact
As the only national nonprofit with our logic model, from late 2022 to the end of 2023, we will have mobilized over $150,000 in educational and workforce development opportunities for AI/AN health students.
-
In under one year, we have grown our Healing Circle Cohort (HCC) from 4 AI/AN health students to 10, ages 18-30
-
High School Seniors to Residents—an additional 33 HCC applicants are receiving mentorship, wellness trainings, and roundtable discussions to mitigate loss of follow-up, cultural disconnect, and further perpetuation of harmful health outcomes.
-
Through this initiative we have witnessed an increase in AI/AN students enrolling in health-related educational programs that follow non-traditional and traditional pathways to achieve their dreams.
LISTEN TO INSPIRING STORIES OF NATIVE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS TURTLE ISLAND
Our Stories
Michelle Strickler
Siletz – Rogue River Shasta & Applegate
Dr. Joseph Bull
Delaware Tribe of Indians
Grace Bruschi
Karuk
Contact Us