Claudia Charles (Navajo) MPH

Claudia completed her MPH at the University of Utah in 2023 with a global health emphasis to address the health disparities and inequities for her Indigenous relatives. Outside of schooling and work, she enjoys reading books, being with her dog and going hiking, fishing and road cycling. She chose public health because she is deeply interested in epidemiology. Claudia wants to continue her education by working towards a PhD in Epidemiology. Claudia says, epidemiology is an important field because it helps identify the health status of our relatives and then focus on the right interventions and reduce disparities in our communities.

“ I am completing my MPH with a global health emphasis to address the health disparities and inequities for my Indigenous relatives. I chose public health because I am deeply interested in epidemiology. I want to continue my education by working towards a PhD in Epidemiology. Epidemiology is an important field because it helps identify the health status of our relatives and then focus on the right interventions and reduce disparities in our communities.”

Enhancing Cancer Survivorship Care for AI/AN Communities through Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs)

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) healthcare providers, including Indian Health Services (IHS) and Urban Indian Health Programs (UIHPs), currently lack a structured program for patient-reported outcomes (PROs) specific to cancer survivorship. A thorough review of existing literature and consultations with experts have confirmed the absence of such initiatives for AI/AN cancer survivors. This gap highlights the underutilization of PROs in AI/AN cancer survivorship care, despite their proven potential to enhance patient-centered care and improve health outcomes.

The primary objective of this project is to develop and implement a culturally appropriate PRO program for AI/AN cancer survivors. This initiative aims to address the disparities in cancer survivorship care by leveraging PROs to enhance patient-centered care and improve health outcomes within AI/AN communities. This project represents a crucial step toward bridging the gap in cancer survivorship care for AI/AN populations by leveraging patient-reported outcomes to create more effective, patient-centered healthcare solutions.