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ASB 2012-2013 - Rural and American Indian Health Disparities

Basic Information
Application Process: 
ASB 2012-2013
Trip Name: 
Rural and American Indian Health Disparities
Trip Location: 
Lakota Nation, SD
Air Travel Trip: 
No
Number of Participants: 
12
Trip Description: 

The first Alternative Spring Break trip offered through Stanford Medical School occurred during March 2009 when seven medical students traveled to the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota to learn about Lakota culture and the health issues affecting a community with the lowest life expectancy in the United States. However, it was noted that service without forethought, planning, reflection and sustainability is a disservice both to the community and to the students themselves—an educational opportunity missed. Thus, this service-learning trip, “Rural and American Indian Health Disparities,” seeks to connect the classroom to upstream factors that lead to health disparities faced by rural and Native American communities and then engage students in service projects that directly address these factors.

The course will begin with classroom instruction, lectures and discussions that will expose students to the challenges and promise of Native American and rural health care as well as the role of communities as leaders and problem solvers. Throughout the winter quarter, students will be given reading assignments that pertain to Native American culture, current research in Native healthcare and the practice of community based participatory research. Additionally, guest lecturers will present on related topics in community based research, health disparities, cultural competence and Lakota culture. Time will also be allotted for students to formulate a plan for communicating with and engaging our community partners we will be working with in South Dakota. Furthermore, students will have an opportunity to set personal and team goals and timelines regarding potential community projects. Throughout the course and trip, we will be working with our companion ASB, Rural and American Indian Education, to better understand the interconnected roles of education and healthcare on these rural communities while developing future community projects.

During the week-long trip to South Dakota, we will have opportunities to work with the following community partners: Indian Health Service, Habitat for Humanity, Sinte Gleska University, Wiconi Wakan Suicide Prevention Center and Buffalo Jump Youth Center. Students will have the opportunity to work with clinicians, public health nurses, and a dynamic set of community leaders to address the social determinants of healthcare through direct service projects. Additional projects and collaborations with our companion ASB will provide an in-depth experience that provides greater understanding of some of the major challenges faced by Native American and rural communities today.

Trip Leaders
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Adrian Begaye

Adrian Begaye is a third year medical student at Stanford University School of Medicine with a concentration in clinical research.  He grew up in Window Rock, Arizona on the Navajo Reservation and later attended the University of Arizona, earning his BS in both Political Science and Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics.  He later performed research at the National Institutes of Health, the major biomedical research branch of the U.S. Government.  Since starting medical school at Stanford, Adrian has been the co-chair of the Stanford American Indigenous Medical Students (SAIMS) organization.  Through collaborations with other medical school organizations through SUMMA (Stanford University Minority Medical Alliance), SAIMS works to promote diversity in medical schools and provide support to students interested in medicine.  Through this course, we will present a portrait of life on a reservation while introducing many facets of the healthcare challenges and disparities faced by these communities.

Keith Glover

Keith Glover is a third year medical school student at Stanford University School of Medicine. He was born and raised in Long Beach, California and attended California State University of Long Beach, where he earned degrees in Biochemistry and Chemistry. While at Stanford, Keith has been the co-chair of Stanford American Indigenous Medical Students (SAIMS) for the past three years and community liaison of Student National Medical Association (SNMA). Currently, he is leading the Stanford University Minority Medical Alliance (SUMMA) conference, a conference that hosts 500 undergraduate students and is geared toward increasing the diversity in the health professions to better care for underserved communities. He has three goals as the co-leader of this course: First, enlighten students about the vast health care disparities the American Indians face. Second, learn from the diverse opinions and ideas of the students taking the class. Lastly, to inspire future leaders that seek to improve health disparities in communities such as those faced by Indian Country.