Pathways Into Health is a grassroots collaboration of organizations and individuals whose focus is on increasing the number of American Indians/Alaska Natives trained as physicians, nurses and in other health care related fields as a means of addressing the health and health care disparities that occur in these populations.

This year’s conference, “Achieving Excellence, Harmony, and Balance: Communities Integrating Tradition and Translation,” will feature sessions dealing with cultural attunement, interprofessional education, pipeline activities, student engagement and health career development through the lifespan. Panels on Indian self-determination, the need for Native dentists, successful practices in engaging American Indians/Alaska Natives in health care professions and commentary by Native health professions students are scheduled.

Each day will feature a keynote presentation, including Don Warne, M.D., from North Dakota State University’s Master of Public Health program; Martin Brokenleg, Ph.D., will share his “Circle of Courage Model,” and Larry Roberts, M.Ed., will present the closing session, “Elders & Eldering = Reflections and Purpose.” Additional activities will include an awards dinner, poster presentations and a half-day cultural excursion touring relevant sites around the Black Hills.

A pre-conference research symposium on Tuesday, Oct. 9 will focus on health disparities research and model programs relating to the education of Pathways’ focus populations. Individual presentations by 15 regional and national researchers and program leaders across four areas (behavioral/mental health, chronic diseases, sexual health, innovations in health professions training and education) will provide a diverse series of options for participants. Jeffrey A. Henderson, M.D., president/CEO of the Black Hills Center for Native American Health, will deliver the keynote address, “A Case Study in American Indian/Alaska Native Health Equity.”

For questions about the conference, please contact Jerry Yutrzenka, associate professor of basic biomedical sciences and director of diversity affairs at the Sanford School of Medicine, at (605) 670-0163, (605) 677-5156 or email: gyutrzen@usd.edu. Additional information is available at www.PathwaysIntoHealth.org. Registration for both the regular conference and the pre-conference is open and on-site registration will be available throughout the conference.

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