More Than Beads and Feathers In the 2012 More Than Beads and Feathers campaign, two

Indians Into Medicine Program alumni were recognized

for their commitment, service, and continued success in

their medical careers. Dr. Byron Baker, Mandan-Hidatsa,

and Kimberly Rhoades, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, were

two of nine individuals who were selected to have a

campaign poster printed to recognize them for their

outstanding achievements. Byron Baker received a B.S.,

M.D. and is a Family Medicine Physician at Baker Family

Medicine in Bismarck, ND. Kimberly Rhoades received a

B.S.D and is a Nutritionist for the Standing Rock Sioux

Tribe WIC Program in Fort Yates, ND. Thank you to our

INMED alums for their outstanding services in which

they provide our tribal communities. The Indians Into

Medicine Program congratulates Byron and Kimberly for

this honor they have had bestowed upon them.

Serpent, Staff, and Drum Indians Into Medicine Newsletter

Quentin N. Burdick Indian Health Programs

Student Spotlight-Tyler Parisen Tyler Parisen’s motivation for

pursuing a career in medicine

came from being hospitalized

because of his gallbladder. “I

was really interested in why

blood samples were being

taken and ended up asking the

doctor what was being tested. The

doctor went on to explain that my

bilirubin was high and they had to

monitor it. I immediately took

interest in this and started

researching the medical lab.

Considering I was already declared a

major in

Forensic

Science,

laboratory

science

already

intrigued me.

My stay in the

hospital

helped me

determine

that the

medical field would be more

rewarding for me and I changed my

major,” Tyler stated. Parisen, an

enrolled member of the Turtle

Mountain Band of Chippewa,

worked as a student extern at the

IHS facility in Belcourt, ND. He

was a recipient of the Gates

Millennium Scholarship and

graduated in May of 2011 with a

B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science.

The most rewarding aspect of

working in a health career for Tyler

is “...going home every night

knowing that something I did that

day helped confirm a diagnosis in

time for proper treatment that

could ultimately save a patient’s life.

It is also rewarding to know that

you for a brief moment were

part of a team that helped

someone that may be sick feel

better.” Working in the

laboratory as a Medical

Technologist, Parisen currently

works for the Spirit Lake

Nation at the Spirit Lake Health

Center in Fort Totten, ND.

SLHC is in the Aberdeen area

of Indian Health Service. Tyler’s

B.S. in Clinical Laboratory

Science is proven success of the

INMED program. Tyler is now

a first year graduate student at

the University of North Dakota

pursuing a Master of Science in

Medical Laboratory Science.

Inside this Issue:

More Than Beads and Feathers

Page 1

Student Spotlight:

Tyler Parisen

Page 1

INMED Graduates Honored at

2012 Wacipi Powwow

Page 2

Match Day Results

Page 2

University of South

Dakota Article

Page 2-3

Alumni Review:

Sharon Keene

Page 3

May 2012

PAGE 2 SERPENT, STAFF & DRUM MAY 2012

2012 Honor Ceremony

Match Day Results

Match Day for

medical students

can define where

an individual may

work in their

future medical

career. INMED

graduates matched in the following residency

programs this spring:

Amber Tincher University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences

Bismarck, North Dakota Kathryn McEvoy

University of Missouri

Kansas City Program

Kansas City, Missouri Rochelle Miles-USD University of Arizona Health Sciences Center Estelle Ostgard-USD Univeristy of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences Bismarck, North Dakota Susan Derry Carilion Clinic School of Medicine Roanoke, Virginia Melanie McCarroll

New York Methodist Hospital Program

Brooklyn, New York

Greeting from South Dakota!

It was another busy but rewarding year for the INMED Satellite

Office located in the Sanford School of Medicine at the University

of South Dakota. Since early October, 2011, the INMED Satellite

Office visited 66 schools and attended numerous conferences where

we spoke with over 1400 junior high, high school, and tribal college

students who were able to learn more about the INMED Summer

Institute and Pathway Programs. Particularly impressive this year was the number of teachers,

counselors, and family members who recalled former students or

family who had attended INMED as a teen and are now successfully

involved in healthcare-related careers. One example of this occurred

following a presentation at Pine Ridge High School. Following the

INMED presentation, an elder who had been listening from the

back of the room asked if he could share something with the

students. He went on to speak to the group about his daughter who ...continued on page 3

had attended INMED every summer as a

child and is now a pulmonologist in New

Mexico. He encouraged the students and

emphasized how valuable their education in

medicine would be to the Oglala Lakota

Sioux Nation. By connecting his daughter’s

success as a physician to the Pine Ridge High

School and community, he spoke

significantly more to the students than any

planned presentation ever could. While attending a “Summer Programs Fair”

at Marty Indian School in South Dakota,

former INMED participants Frances

Bullshoe (Black Feet) and Glenn Drapeau

(Yankton Sioux) explained how they chose to

use their INMED experience by teaching

science at Marty. Frances has been with

Indians Into Medicine at USD

This year’s Indians Into Medicine Program graduates were honored at

the 2012 Wacipi Annual Powwow held April 21st, 2012. Graduates

honored at the INMED 2012 Annual Wacipi honor ceremony are

listed as follows: Amber Tincher, Susan Derry, Estelle Ostgard,

Melanie McCarroll, Cassie Roselius, Katheryn McEvoy, Brittany

Crawford, and Jeri Ann Azure.

Eleven students graduated this spring with nine participating in the

INMED honoring ceremony. Graduates were robed with a Pendelton

blanket by Tribal Board Charter Member Dr. David Gipp and UND

Medical School Dean Joshua Wynne.

The Indians Into Medicine Program is proud to have had these

students as participants in the program the best of luck to them in

their future medical careers.

PAGE 3 SERPENT, STAFF & DRUM MAY 2012

...continued from page 2

Marty Indian School for 11 years and

teaches middle school science. She has

a Bachelor degree in Biology and a

Master degree in Education,

Curriculum and Instruction. Glenn

has a Bachelor degree in Biology and

currently works with the South Dakota

Gear Up Program. Glenn and Frances

not only met while attending INMED,

they married each other and will soon

celebrate their 20th wedding

anniversary! Glenn and Frances are

proud to have grown up drug free and

now take pride in raising their two

children, Kimimina Hota and

Hehaka Waste’ Hoksina, in a

traditional indigenous home. “INMED prepared us academically for science degrees by exposing us to scientific labs. INMED also gave us a helpful base in chemistry and biology that we used throughout college.” It is apparent that throughout South

Dakota and Nebraska INMED is

alive and well. Following almost

every presentation someone

volunteers to discuss their own

INMED experience or that of a

friend or family member. INMED

continues to be a highly respected

program that has clearly made a

great impact on Indian country and

will continue to do so in the years

to come.

Alumni Review After high school in 1974, Dr. Sharon Keene attended the Indians Into Medicine Program at the University of North Dakota. Planning a career in law and politics, she switched focus after dubious political affairs occurred at the time and pursed an education in medicine. With family ties to the Fort Berthold reservation and being an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara), she knew that the lack of immediate medical care in tribal communities was and continues to be a vast challenge among the native population.

Sharon trained in general surgery. “Currently there is no opportunity to utilize this specialty on Fort Berthold where I am a registered tribal member.” In Sharon’s experience, 24 hour emergency care is not available on the reservation and unfortunately one of her dear relatives was lost last fall to a heart attack at the age of 34. In his memory, Sharon has promised to establish a fund to improve health and health care on the reservation. Keene plans on working with medical professionals on Fort Berthold reservation to establish programs to meet this goal.

“I am currently in the process of establishing a non profit 501c3 corporation to solicit funds for programs that I will help identify and oversee. I have pledged $10,000 of my own earnings, and other family

members have pledged their support, too.”

Sharon is a dedicated health care professional seeking out ways to serve her native population and stay connected with her tribal affiliations, culture, and heritage. We leave you with her quote:

“My nephew was a bright, witty and educated young man who had planned to use his talents to improve the lives of people on Fort

Berthold. He was living there and working with the tribal government at the time of his death. To lose him at such a young age, highlighted to

me the problems with health and health care that remain unsolved today. Well trained medical providers are the best way to answer that

need.”

What motivated you to pursue a career in

medicine?

“Like many young people, I was driven by idealism and altruism. From a more mature, practical perspective, it is very rewarding and continuously stimulating intellectually to have the knowledge that comes with medical education and training.”

What is the most rewarding aspect of working in a health career?

“The most rewarding aspect of my career is my ability to change lives for the better-especially for my family-whether by prescribing an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection, or anti viral to prevent a more serious case of the flu, or by making sure that a family member who is seriously ill is receiving the correct treatment!”

What need do you see the INMED program fulfilling within the native tribal culture?

“Teaching western medicine to young Native Americans allows them to blend this information with their own cultural traditions and within the embrace of their families who are more likely to trust and perhaps adhere to their medical advice.”

The “Serpent, Staff and Drum” is a newsletter of the Indians Into Medicine Program, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences. INMED is part of the Quentin N. Burdick Indian Health Programs.

The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University or the School of Medicine & Health Sciences. INMED welcomes further distribution of information contained in this newsletter. We do request the

INMED receive acknowledgement for articles reprinted. Submit articles for publication and address corrections to INMED Program-INMED address is located on back.

Phone: (701)-777-3037 Fax: (701)-777-3277 Website: http://www.med.und.edu/indians-into-medicine/

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Indians Into Medicine is a comprehensive education

program assisting Indian students who are preparing for

health careers. Located at the University of North Dakota

School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks,

INMED support services include academic and personal

counseling for students, assistance with financial aid

application, and summer enrichment sessions at the junior

high through professional school levels.