Nevaeh is a first-year graduate student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She decided to attend a master’s program prior to applying to medical school because of her desire to further her understanding of physiology and to incorporate the “Exercise is Medicine” philosophy into her medical practice. Ultimately, she would like to one day serve Native athletes.

“I believe I can be a resource in the sports/athletics field for Native athletes seeking treatment and medical guidance when it comes to sports-related injuries and the subsequent impact on overall health.”

Nevaeh’s community health project is to design and distribute a nationwide, survey-based research project. The survey will be to characterize physical activity levels and modes of exercise in Native young adults and to determine whether Native young adults are meeting adequate physical activity levels as physical activity level is a key indicator for multiple health outcomes, which are more prevalent in Native populations such as cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and obesity.

Healers Community Circle project summary:

Naveah Nez (Hopi) is a third-year medical student at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Her community project for the healing circle was to understand the physical activity levels and exercise modes among Native young adults, a demographic underrepresented in biomedical research. The survey sought to characterize these activities and evaluate their association with social determinants of health, environment (including college settings and tribal lands), and culture.

Recognizing young adulthood as a crucial stage for shaping long-term lifestyle behaviors, the ultimate goal is to enhance physical activity recommendations for this population by considering environmental and cultural influences. Despite facing challenges in accessing guidance and expertise, particularly relevant to Native-centered research, Naveah successfully navigated these hurdles through perseverance and community networking.

The project not only contributed to Naveah’s education but also instilled in her a deeper commitment to advocating for culturally sensitive and representative research. Naveah aspires to leverage this knowledge in future medical endeavors, particularly in orthopedic sports medicine, to better support Native athletes and communities. Naveah’s goal is to integrate traditional teachings and practices into healthcare delivery for improved outcomes and relationships within Native communities.