Sarah is a second-year medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine-Alaska Campus. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Sarah worked at the critical access hospital serving her community and as a commercial fishing deckhand. She hopes to become a physician and return to helping American Indian and Alaskan Native peoples to improve their health outcomes.

“I am passionate about American Indian and Alaska Native health and education pathways, social determinants of health, cultural competent care, access for rural communities, and increasing diversity in medicine.”

Sarah’s community health project is to speak at middle schools, high schools, and with undergraduate students to encourage and inspire future healers. She plans to demystify the pathway to a higher education and show that there is a place for Native youth to use their voice in healthcare and education. Sarah will be building out specific presentations for students at different points in their educational journey and will put together hands-on activities to do together.

Healers Community Circle project summary:

Sarah (Quileute and Makah) is a third-year medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine-Alaska Campus. Sarah’s project was focused on outreach to Native students interested in healthcare careers. Sarah wanted to share with them about the different healthcare career options available and what the educational pathway to those careers looks like, specifically being able to speak to the journey to medical school. As part of these presentations she also wanted to focus on why their voices as Indigenous people are important in healthcare and the healing of our communities. Sarah wanted to create space for them to see how they are already leaders in their community and that their voice and knowledge is important and necessary in these academic healthcare spaces. Sarah says she wanted them to know that not only do they belong in these roles but they are bringing something that no one else can to these spaces and how important and powerful that is.

Sarah worked with high schools and tribal colleges to speak with students. She created a presentation that includes job responsibilities, specific testing/exams needed, schools in PNW region that offer these majors/programs, and specific scholarships/support organizations.

Tamee at the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada.