Ty Running Fisher (Blackfeet Confederacy) Medical Student

Ty Running Fisher, a proud Amskapii Pikuni (Southern Piegan) and Quinault Nation descendant, is a medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine with a passion for Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Addiction Medicine. Growing up on the Blackfeet Reservation, he witnessed firsthand the health disparities impacting his community, inspiring him to pursue a career where he can improve healthcare systems in rural and underserved areas.

A Stanford University graduate with a B.S. in Bioengineering, Ty has explored medicine through public health research, oncogene analysis, community service, and teaching. Before medical school, he returned to his alma mater to teach math, coach pole vault, and mentor students, ensuring that future generations see their potential in STEM and healthcare fields.

For his cohort project, Ty is conducting research on youth e-cigarette use and its link to substance use disorders (SUDs) in Indigenous communities. Partnering with Lake County Public Health and the Flathead Tribe’s IRB, he is gathering data and developing educational resources to raise awareness about the health and behavioral risks associated with e-cigarettes. His work aims to equip Native youth and families with knowledge to make informed choices and reduce the prevalence of addiction in tribal communities.

Beyond medicine, Ty enjoys basketball, endurance running, mountain climbing in Glacier National Park, and playing volleyball—staying connected to the land and traditions that ground him.