ALL RIGHT, GREAT.
WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
HONORED GUESTS, SENIOR STAFF,
AREA DIRECTORS, OFFICE DIRECTORS
AND AWARDEES.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU
TO THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
DIRECTOR'S AWARD CEREMONY.
I'M DARRELL LAROCHE, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR MANAGEMENT
OPERATIONS, AND I'LL BE YOUR
MASTER OF CEREMONIES TODAY.
THEY ALSO LET ME KNOW I COULD GO
OFF SCRIPT IF I NEED TO, SO IF
SOMETHING FUNNY COMES UP, I'LL
ROLL WITH IT.
EVERY YEAR, THE DIRECTOR OF THE
I.H.S. RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUALS
AND TEAMS OF EMPLOYEES WHOSE
SPECIAL EFFORTS AND
CONTRIBUTIONS GO ABOVE AND
BEYOND REGULAR DUTY
REQUIREMENTS.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT
BENEFITS AND IMPROVEMENT TO
I.H.S. PROGRAMS AND PRIORITIES
AND THE FULFILLMENT OF THE
I.H.S. MISSION.
TODAY WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE
2023 DIRECTOR'S AWARDS
RECIPIENTS.
THE CEREMONY WILL BE A HYBRID
EVENT WITH AWARDS ANNOUNCED BY
CATEGORY, INDIVIDUAL AND TEAMS,
AND IN-PERSON ATTENDEES WILL BE
ANNOUNCED FIRST AS THEY ACCEPT
THE CRYSTAL AWARD FROM DIRECTOR
TSO, THEN THE VIRTUAL ATTENDEES
IN EVERY CATEGORY WILL BE
RECOGNIZED IN A SLIDESHOW THAT
YOU'LL SEE AFTER THE IN-PERSON
PRESENTATIONS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO WAVE TO
EVERYBODY OUT THERE THAT'S
JOINING US VIRTUALLY, THERE'S
PROBABLY A LOT OF YOU THAT ARE
ON PACIFIC TIME OR ALASKA TIME,
SO DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
JOINING US EARLY.
SO BEFORE WE GET STARTED, PLEASE
MUTE YOUR CELL PHONES FOR THE
DURATION OF THE CEREMONY.
TO BEGIN THE CEREMONY, I AM
PLEASED TO WELCOME THE SURGEON
GENERAL'S HONOR GUARD FOR THE
POSTING OF THE COLORS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
RISE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE
COLORS, AND REMAIN STANDING FOR
THE PRESENTATION AND THE SINGING
OF THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.
HONOR GUARD, ADVANCE THE COLORS.
♪
>> HONOR GUARD, RETIRE THE
COLORS.
>> THANK YOU TO THE SURGEON
GENERAL'S HONOR GUARD FOR YOUR
TIME AND PRESENCE TODAY.
EVERYBODY MAY BE SEATED.
SO AS WE USUALLY DO IN THE
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, WE'RE
GOING TO START OUT WITH A
TRADITIONAL OPENING, SO I'D LIKE
TO CALL CHAIRMAN SINCLAIR TO THE
PODIUM TO START US OFF TODAY.
>> GRANDFATHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS
WHO WATCH OVER US, THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING THAT YOU PROVIDE.
THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE THAT YOU
GIVE US, THANK YOU FOR OUR
FAMILY, OUR FRIENDS, OUR
HERITAGE AN TRIBES.
THANK YOU FOR THE PLACES THAT WE
LIVE.
BLESS US, HELP US TO KEEP THAT
AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
GRANDFATHERS, WE ASK A BLESSING
FOR THOSE WHO TRAVELED MANY
DISTANCES TO COME HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE SAFE JOURNEY.
WE PRAY THAT EVERYONE HAS A SAFE
JOURNEY BACK HOME.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING THAT YOU GIVE US.
WE WANT TO ASK A BLESSING FOR
OUR FAMILIES WHO AREN'T HERE
PRESENT AND A BLESSING FOR ALL
THOSE THAT ARE PRESENT HERE
TODAY.
WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THE PLACES
THAT WE LIVE, THE CREATURES THAT
EXIST THERE.
HELP US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF
THE LAND SO THAT WE MAY PRESERVE
THAT WHICH IS LEFT TO US.
TODAY WE ASK THAT THOSE
RECEIVING THESE AWARDS CONTINUE
TO PERFORM THE DUTIES THAT THEY
HAVE IN THE SPIRIT OF GOOD
STEWARDSHIP AND REPRESENTATION
OF OUR PEOPLE.
HELP THE I.H.S. MEMBERS TO CARRY
OUT THE MISSION OF I.H.S., WHICH
IS TO ENHANCE THE SPIRITUAL,
PHYSICAL, SOCIAL SPIRIT OF
HELPING NATIVE AMERICANS,
WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE LOWER 48
OR IN ALASKA.
AHO.
>> NOW WE HAVE A SPECIAL SONG
THAT WILL BE PROVIDED BY
ROBINSON JONES WHO HAILS FROM
LITTLE WATER, MEXICO.
HE'S A PROUD MEMBER OF THE
NAVAJO AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS
THE OFFICE AUTOMATION CLERK IN
ICU DEPARTMENT AT NORTHERN
NAVAJO MEDICAL CENTER.
WE WELCOME ROBINSON JONES TO THE
STAGE.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA
LAND THAT I LOVE ♪
♪ WALK BESIDE HER
AND GUIDE HER
THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT
FROM ABOVE ♪
♪ TO THE MOUNTAINS
THROUGH THE PRAIRIES
TO THE OCEANS
WHITE WITH FOAM ♪
♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA ♪
♪ MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪
♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA ♪
♪ LAND THAT I LOVE ♪
♪ WALK BESIDE HER
AND GUIDE HER ♪
♪ THROUGH THE NIGHT
WITH THE LIGHT
FROM ABOVE ♪
♪ TO THE MOUNTAINS
THROUGH THE PRAIRIES
TO THE OCEANS
WHITE WITH FOAM ♪
♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA
MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪
♪
♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA
MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪
♪ OUR HOME SWEET HOME ♪
[APPLAUSE]
>> LAST MINUTE CHANGE.
THANK YOU.
I REALLY WANT TO SAY
APPRECIATION TO CHAIRMAN
SINCLAIR FOR HIS OPENING, AS
WELL AS ROBINSON JONES.
A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO START HERE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE
OUR HHS DEPUTY SECRETARY, ANDREA
PALM, TO THE STAGE TO PROVIDE
HER REMARKS.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
ALL-OF-US
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> WE'RE SO FULL RIGHT TO THE
BACK OF THIS PLACE.
THAT'S SO GREAT!
I'M ANDREA PALM, I DO HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE
DEPUTY SECRETARY AT HHS, AND WAS
SO PLEASED TO BE INVITED BACK
AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR THE AWARDS
CEREMONY.
I ENJOYED MYSELF SO MUCH, I PUT
IT ON MY LIST OF THINGS I WAS
HOPING TO GET INVITED BACK TO,
SO THANK YOU, ROSELYN.
CHAIRMAN SINCLAIR, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR BLESSING, MR. ROBINSON FOR
THE SONG, OUR OTHER TRIBAL
CHAIRMAN WHO HAVE JOINED US,
THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU HONOR US
WITH YOUR PRESENCE AS WE LIFT UP
GOOD WORK, GREAT WORK, POSH WORK
IMPORTANTWORK THAT IS HAPPENINGT
THE I.H.S.
I WILL TELL YOU ONE OF THE TRUE
PRIVILEGES OF BEING THE DEPUTY
SECRETARY IS HAVING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ACROSS THIS
DEPARTMENT TO MEET THE
OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO THE
TRIBAL NATIONS, TO THOSE
NATION-TO-NATION OBLIGATIONS
THAT WE NEED TO WORK SO HARD TO
FULFILL, AND TO MEET MISSION NOT
ONLY FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, BUT FOR
THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND SPECIAL
RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH
OUR TRIBAL NATIONS, AND SO I
WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
GETTING UP EVERY DAY TO DO THAT
WORK ON BEHALF OF THE TRIBES
THAT WE SERVE AND ALL THE WAYS
THAT WE SERVE THEM AND ALL THE
WAYS WE DO WELL AND IN ALL THE
WAYS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
STRIVE TO DO BETTER.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, ROSELYN,
FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP
AT I.H.S.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND A PLEASURE
TO WORK WITH YOU, AND TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT YOUR
VISION, THE HARD WORK THAT YOU
DO.
I'M NOT SURE -- SHE SLEEPS IN
THE SAME BED EVERY NIGHT.
SHE'S ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME,
MAKING SURE THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS
AND IS SEEING AND HEARING FROM
YOU ALL IN THE PLACES THAT YOU
LIVE AND WORK, BUT ALSO FROM OUR
TRIBAL PARTNERS ABOUT THE WAYS
IN WHICH WE CAN AND NEED TO BE
DOING THINGS BETTER AND
DIFFERENTLY AND IN PARTNERSHIP
TO, AGAIN, MEET OUR MISSION AND
FULFILL OUR OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE
SO CRITICAL TO THE WAY IN WHICH
WE NEED TO WORK HERE AT HHS.
SO IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
TREMENDOUS PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE
THIS YEAR, CONTINUING -- I SEE
MITCH, OUR HEALTH I.T.
MODERNIZATION, AND OTHER
MILESTONES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
MEETING AS WE, AGAIN, CONTINUE
TO WORK TO FULFILL OUR MISSION
TO SERVE THE TRIBES WITH THE
HIGHEST QUALITY SERVICE AND
PERSONNEL AND EFFORTS THAT WE
CAN BRING TO BEAR.
SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
LET'S GET TO THE FUN PART OF
THIS AND HONOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE
BEING LIFTED UP WITH THE
DIRECTOR'S AWARDS THIS MORNING,
AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD,
HOPEFULLY, TO GETTING AN
INVITATION TO COME BACK AND SEE
YOU AGAIN NEXT YEAR FOR THE
AWARDS, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I
THINK -- SHALL I TURN IT BACK TO
YOU?
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL
THE AWARDEES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEPUTY
SECRETARY, FOR JOINING US TODAY.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE
I.H.S. DIRECTOR, MS. ROSELYN
TSO, TO THE STAGE TO PROVIDE HER
OPENING REMARKS.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T HAVE TO ASK AGAIN.
YOU KNOW I DO THAT FROM TIME TO
TIME.
YOU KNOW, IT IS ABSOLUTELY A
PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE HERE WITH
YOU TODAY.
IT IS 23 MONTHS, I KEEP SAYING
THAT, THAT I'VE BEEN IN THIS
ROLE AND A JUST AMAZING, AMAZING
23 MONTHS.
I CANNOT EVEN -- SOMETIMES
PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT IS THE ONE
THING THAT YOU HAVE THAT HAS
STAYED WITH YOU?
THERE'S SO MANY, THERE'S SO MANY
THINGS TH THATLY CARRY WITH ME D
THROUGHOUT.
FIRST I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN IN THIS
ROLE 23 MONTHS, I AM FIRST A MOM
AND A GRANDMA AND AN AUNT AND A
WIFE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I
SAW MY HUSBAND.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT HE IS STILL MY HUSBAND.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE
GREAT PARTS OF THE WORK THAT WE
DO AT THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE,
IS TO PAUSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE ALL
OF THE WORK THAT WE DO ACROSS
AND IN COUNTRYINDIAN COUNTRY.
THERE IS SO MUCH WE'VE DONE IN
23 MONTHS AND SO MUCH LEFT TO
DO, I WANT TO KEEP THAT IN FRONT
OF US.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT HERE
TOO, ALL OF THESE BLANKETS YOU
SEE, THERE'S SOME OVER THERE,
THOSE WERE A REPRESENTATION OF
WHERE I HAVE BEEN IN INDIAN
COUNTRY, AND WHERE TRIBES AND
TRIBAL LEADERS AND URBAN
PROGRAMS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED ME AS
I GO THROUGH HERE, SO I HEART HN
TO THOSE, I SAY YOU CAN USE THEM
BUT YOU MAKE SURE I GET EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THEM BACK.
SO IT'S JUST BEEN AN AMAZING,
AMAZING JOURNEY THAT I HAVE BEEN
ON AND JUST ABSOLUTELY
APPRECIATE THAT.
WHEN WE COME TOGETHER LIKE THIS,
THIS IS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ALL OF
THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING ACROSS
INDIAN COUNTRY, AND HOW
IMPORTANT THAT IS AS WE CONTINUE
TO MOVE FORWARD.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL
OF THE AWARD RECIPIENTS, BUT
YOUR FAMILIES AS WELL, BECAUSE I
KNOW, I KNOW PERSONALLY HOW MUCH
IT TAKES FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS,
YOUR PARENTS AND YOUR SPOUSES,
CHILDREN, GIVE UP BECAUSE OF THE
WORK WE DO AT THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE.
I'M HOPING THAT NEXT WEEK I'LL
GET A CHANCE TO SPEND A LITTLE
BIT OF TIME WITH MY GRAND
CHILDREN, AND I'M VERY MUCH
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
CHAIRMAN SINCLAIR, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL PRAYER, AND TO
MR. JONES, ROBINSON JONES, THANK
YOU FOR THAT.
THE MISSION OF THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE AS THE CHAIRMAN HAS
ALREADY LAID OUT FOR THAT IS TO
RAISE THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL,
SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF
AMERICAN INDIANS TO THE HIGHEST
LEVEL.
I BELIEVE THAT AS WE DO THE WORK
THAT WE DO, THIS WILL ALWAYS BE
IN FRONT OF US AND SHOULD ALWAYS
BE IN FRONT OF US FOR THE WORK
THAT WE DO.
AND WHAT I'VE TAKEN AWAY FROM
THIS MISSION OF THE INDI INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICE OVER THE PAST
MONTHS, AND THE MANY YEARS THAT
I'VE BEEN HERE, IT HAS NOW COME
TOGETHER FOR ME.
I NOW UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY WHAT
THIS MEANS, AND WHEN THIS WAS
SET UP LONG AGO.
THAT I KNOW NOW THAT WE CANNOT
DO HEALTHCARE WITHOUT TAKING A
STEP BACK AND INCORPORATING THAT
SPIRITUAL ASPECT, INCORPORATING
AND ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH
OF OUR PEOPLE.
AND THE SOCIAL PART OF OUR
PEOPLE.
ALL OF THAT, AS YOU HEAR ME
TALK, I'M NOW SAYING WE NEED TO
PAUSE HERE.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
APPOINTMENTS, IT'S NOT JUST
ABOUT REFERRALS.
IT'S TAKING THE WHOLE PERSON
INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE DO
OUR JOB, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR DOING THAT.
I ALSO ON DAY ONE LAID OUT MY
PRIORITIES FOR THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE, AND THEY'RE VERY SIMPLE
AND THERE'S ONLY TWO.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO ENSURE SAFE
AND QUALITY CARE.
WE CANNOT DETERMINE THAT WE HAVE
DONE THAT WELL UNTIL WE CAN LOOK
AT HOW WE'RE EVALUATING
OURSELVES.
AND SO THAT BRINGS AN
ACCOUNTABILITY AND
RESPONSIBILITY TO EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF US IN THE WORK THAT WE
DO.
THE SECOND PRIORITY IS JUST
EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND
SHOULD BE TO ALL OF US THAT WORK
HERE, IS TO PROTECT THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH
OUR TRIBES, OUR TRIBAL LEADERS,
AND OUR URBAN PROGRAMS.
BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE LEARNED,
WITHOUT A DOUBT, IS WE CANNOT DO
THIS JOB WITHOUT THAT
PARTNERSHIP THAT HE WITH HAVE
-- THAT WE HAVEWITH OUR TRIBESS
AND URBAN PROGRAMS.
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO
WHAT WE DO AND DO IT WELL.
SO AS I HAVE NAVIGATED THROUGH
THE LAST 23 MONTHS, THIS REALLY
IS SORT OF A CULMINATION OF MY
WHOLE CAREER, AND I'M JUST
THINKING, I'M JUST IN AWE,
YESTERDAY WE HAD A MEETING AND
SOMEBODY SAID, WHAT'S GOING TO
BE YOUR LEGACY, ROSELYN?
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CAPTURE --
I'M NOT DONE YET.
[LAUGHTER]
I'M NOT DONE YET.
I HAVE 4 1/2 MONTHS, THAT I'M
NOT DONE, AND I EXPECT WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
IF WE DO THIS WELL, MY LEGACY
WILL SPEAK FOR ITSELF.
SO I DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT
THAT NOW.
THAT'S MY GOAL.
THAT'S MY COMMITMENT TO THE WORK
THAT WE DO AT I.H.S.
AND AS I SAID, ALL OF THE WORK
THAT I SEE, YOU SEE ME -- WE'VE
BEEN TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE I'M
AT, YOU GET AN EMAIL FROM ME
EVERY FRIDAY THAT TELLS YOU
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING ACROSS
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, AND
INDIAN HEALTHCARE OUTSIDE OF
I.H.S. WITH OUR PARTNERS.
BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT ALL OF
THIS AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE DO A BETTER JOB, BECAUSE
I CAN ALSO NOT DO THIS JOB
WITHOUT YOU AS THE I.H.S.
WORKFORCE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THAT, TRULY.
SO THE DEDICATION THAT WE HAVE,
THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE, THE
WORK THAT WE STILL HAVE TO DO IS
STILL TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE
THE BEST CARE TO OUR VETERANS,
WE PROVIDE THE BEST CARE TO OUR
ELDERS, AND WE PROVIDE THE BEST
CARE TO THE CHILDREN THAT WE
HAVE AND THE CHILDREN THAT ARE
YET TO COME.
I THINK ABOUT NOW SHE'S 5 YEARS
OLD, MY GRANDDAUGHTER, AND IN
THE FIVE YEARS, HER LIFE HAS
CHANGED AS A RESULT OF DECISIONS
THAT ARE BEING MADE.
SHE NO LONGER HAS THE FULL
DECISIONS TO MAKE THOSE
DECISIONS WHEN SHE GETS OLDER
ABOUT HERSELF.
BUT WHAT DO WE DO AT I.H.S.?
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT SHE
GETS THE BEST CARE?
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE, AND THAT'S
WHAT I THINK ABOUT, WHAT KIND OF
CARE WILL MY GRANDDAUGHTER GET?
WHAT'S THE PROVIDER -- HOW IS
THE PROVIDER GOING TO TREAT HER?
WHEN SHE GETS AND SHE RELIES ON
INDIAN HEL INDIAN HEALTHCARE FOR
SERVICES.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, IT TAKES A
VILLAGE, A BIG VILLAGE TO HELP
ME DO WHAT I DO, AND I WANT TO
JUST ASK MY LEADERSHIP TEAM TO
PLEASE STAND.
THIS IS A TEAM THAT -- THIS IS
MY ELT MEMBERS, BEN SMITH,
DR. CHRISTIANSON, DARRELL THAT
YOU'VE ALREADY MET, ADMIRAL
BUCHANAN, MR. DRIVING HAWK,
STACY AKAVI, CAPTAIN CLEELAND,
MITCH, MICHELLE BOYLAND, AND
JOSH MARSHAL.
THIS IS A GROUP THAT PROBABLY
KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON
EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE MEET.
EVERY MONDAY MORNING, THEY HEAR
WHERE I'M AT.
WHAT DID I LEARN FROM THE LAST
WEEK AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO
FOCUS ON THIS WEEK, AND THIS IS
MY TEAM.
PLEASE GIVE MY TEAM --
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GREAT, GREAT, GREAT TEAM.
AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR AREA DIRECTORS
WHO ALSO HAVE A VERY, VERY HARD
JOB, HAVING HAD THAT JOB BEFORE,
I KNOW EXACTLY HOW HARD IT IS.
DR. THOMAS FROM ALBUQUERQUE.
ASHA, SHE IS THE ACTING AREA
DIRECTOR BECAUSE WE STOLE AN
EMPLOYEE.
BRYCE REDGRAVE, THE BILLINGS
AREA.
BEVERLY MILLER, CALIFORNIA AREA.
JOE AMIOTT, GREAT PLAINS.
DR. COTTON, NASHVILLE AREA.
LET ME SEE, ADMIRAL WATTS,
OKLAHOMA AREA.
DR. REED HEAD, PHOENIX AREA.
ADMIRAL MARTINEZ FROM THE
PORTLAND AREA, AND I'LL ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGE LYLE, WHO'S
REPRESENTING THE ALASKA AREA
THIS WEEK.
SO AGAIN, THESE ARE OUR AREA
DIRECTORS THAT ARE PRESENT
ACROSS THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE.
WE HAVE 12 AREA DIRECTORS TOTAL.
PLEASE GIVE THEM AN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
[APPLAUSE]
YOU WILL ALSO HEAR A LOT -- SOME
OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL STILL
BE RECOGNIZED, BUT WE HAVE HAD
TO, AT THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE, AS WE MAKE IMPROVEMENTS
ACROSS THE AGENCY, WE HAVE HAD
TO TAP INTO RESOURCES ACROSS THE
AGENCY AND NOT JUST SAY, OKAY,
WE KNOW HOW IT IS AND WHATEVER.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE GO
TO THE FIELD, WE GO TO WHERE
SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED ON
THE GROUND, AND WE TAP INTO
THOSE RESOURCES.
BECAUSE WE CAN SIT OVER HERE,
FROM HERE, AND MAKE POLICY AND
SAY DO THIS AND DO THAT AND
WHATEVER.
BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, OUR
STAFF ON THE GROUND UNDERSTAND
WHAT THOSE POLICIES ARE, SO WE
CAN IMPLEMENT THAT AS WE MOVE
FORWARD.
I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY
ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO DAN FRYE.
WHERE'S DAN?
HE'S OUR NEW H.R. DIRECTOR AND
I'LL TELL YOU, HE'S BEEN RUNNING
AS FAST AS HE CAN, BECAUSE WE
KNOW THAT MAKING SURE THAT WE DO
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AT THE
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AS BEST AS
WE CAN IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
RICK MUELLER, I DON'T KNOW IF
HE'S HERE?
RICK?
HE'S ALSO STEPPED UP TO SERVE AS
THE ACTING URBAN DIRECTOR FOR
I.H.S.
ADMIRAL BRIAN JOHNSON HAS BEEN
LEADING THE BILL, THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WORK FOR US
AT THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE,
JUST AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF
WORK.
CAPTAIN JOE BRYANT.
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT YOU,
SIR.
AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT JOE HAS
DONE FOR US IN THE PAST 10
MONTHS TO IMPROVE PURCHASE AND
REFERRED CARE, BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT OUR PEOPLE RELY ON THE
SERVICE AND THEY RELY ON THIS
CARE.
ADMIRAL WATTS, IF YOU'D PLEASE
STAND AGAIN.
ADMIRAL WATTS HAS BEEN MY
ADVISOR, HE'S ON SPEED-DIAL TO
ME AND I'D SAY I NEED HELP HERE,
HELP ME OUT.
SO I WANT TO JUST REALLY THANK
YOU, ADMIRAL, FOR ALL YOU HAVE
DONE.
LAURA HERBISON, CAPTAIN
HERBISON, SORRY, ALSO BEEN A BIG
RESOURCE TO ME.
I STOLE HER FROM THE HEALTH
CENTER UP IN OREGON.
CAPTAIN KLELAND, PLEASE STAND
AGAIN.
CAPTAIN SERVICES AS MY CHIEF OF
STAFF.
I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THE WORLD
GOES ROUND AND ROUND GOOD WHEN
YOU HAVE A GOOD CHIEF OF STAFF.
AND SO HE IS MY CHIEF OF STAFF
THAT HELPS ME NAVIGATE ACROSS
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO EVERY DAY,
THAT I GET TO DO EVERY DAY.
HE'S BEHIND THE SCENES TRYING TO
MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, SO THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, CAPTAIN.
JENNA TOWNE, CAPTAIN TOWNE.
I'VE TAKEN THESE PEOPLE FROM
THEIR JOBS TO HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT WE DO.
THERE'S A LOT MORE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HIGHLIGHT
THESE.
LET JUST GIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT
TO THE AWARDS COMMITTEE, BECAUSE
I'LL TELL YOU, IT TAKES A LOT OF
WORK TO GET THIS DONE AND
THEY'VE HAD TO WORK -- THEY HAVE
HAD TO BE PATIENT ABOUT ME.
WHERE IS XAVIER AT?
THEY'RE PROBABLY ALL BEHIND THE
SCENES.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
SO XAVIER, KATHRYN, DAVID, LISA,
TRAVIS, AND THEY'RE PART OF THE
H.R. TEAM THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO
PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR US.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND
OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
AND THEN I WANT TO SAY A HUGE,
HUGE THANK YOU TO HHS.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR PALM, YOU KNOW,
YOU AND I HAVE MANY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ESPECIALLY
AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS, AND I
ALWAYS REMEMBER WHEN SHE WAS
INTERVIEWING ME FOR THIS JOB AND
I ASKED HER, I SAID WHAT DO YOU
THINK I.H.S. NEEDS TO DO?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO DO
TO IMPROVE?
AND SHE SAID TO ME, I.H.S. NEEDS
TO GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY
SOMETIMES.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT, AND IT'S
TRUE.
IT'S TRUE, BECAUSE THERE'S SO
MUCH MORE THAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE
WORK TOGETHER INSTEAD OF PUTTING
ALL THESE ROAD BLOCKS IN FRONT
OF EACH OTHER, AND SO I THANK
YOU FOR THAT.
I WANT TO THANK ALSO THE
SECRETARY, SECRETARY BECERRA.
IF I COULD TELL YOU, THE MANY
CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD AND THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT I GET, THERE
IS NO ONE ELSE THAT I KNOW
WITHIN --WITHIN HHS AND IN HISN
THAT SUPPORTS US IN A WAY,
SUPPORTS ME IN THE WAY THAT I'VE
BEEN SUPPORTED.
ON MANY, MANY OCCASIONS, THE
SECRETARY WILL SAY, ROSELYN, YOU
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU NEED AND
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS.
AND HE HAS.
HE HAS DELIVERED ON ALL OF THOSE
THINGS AND ALL OF THE REQUESTS
THAT WE MAKE TO HHS.
SO I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THAT
AND JUST ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE
THE ATTENTION THAT WE GET AT HHS
AND THE AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY
THAT THEY TAKE ON FOR US TO PAVE
THOSE PATHS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAN DO WHAT WE DO.
AND THEN WITH REGARDS TO OUR
TRIBAL AND URBAN PARTNERS, THIS
HAS BEEN PROBABLY AN AREA THAT I
HAVE WORKED SO HARD AT TO MAKE
SURE THAT I MAINTAIN THE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TRIBAL
LEADERS, OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
AND OUR URBAN PROGRAMS.
I HAVE BEEN TO PLACES AT THE
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, THE
PLACES THAT I VISITED OFTEN MORE
THAN TIMES THAT I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE THEY SAID
WE'VE NEVER HAD AN I.H.S.
DIRECTOR COME OUT HERE.
AND LET ME SAY WHAT THE PROBLEM
WITH THAT KIND OF A PICTURE IS
THAT YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY
UNDERSTAND.
YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND
THE LONG DISTANCES THAT OUR
PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL JUST FOR
CARE.
YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND
WHEN OUR SYSTEMS FAIL AND THE
IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON OUR TRIBAL
PEOPLE.
WHEN OUR SYSTEMS DON'T WORK.
AND SO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
I UNDERSTAND THAT AND MAKE SURE
THAT THAT MESSAGE CONTINUES TO
GROW AT THE I.H.S., AND I'LL
ALSO SAY, MANY OF WHAT I'VE SEEN
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR TRIBAL
PARTNERS AND THE PROGRAMS THAT
ARE OPERATED BY OUR TRIBAL
PARTNERS ARE PHENOMENAL.
I'VE SEEN AMAZING THINGS OUT
THERE, I'VE SEEN AMAZING
BUILDINGS THAT THEY HAVE.
THEY DON'T SIT HERE AND SAY,
WELL, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNMENT
DIDN'T GIVE US ANY MONEY SO WE
CAN'T DO THIS AND CAN'T DO THAT.
NO.
THEY SAID WE'RE TIRED OF WAITING
FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT OURSELVES,
RIGHT?
BECAUSE THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR
PEOPLE FIRST.
AND THE TRIBAL LEADERS THAT I
HAVE HAD THE HONOR TO MEET WITH
AND SIT DOWNSIDE DOWN SIDE BY S,
THE ONES THAT ARE AT THE TABLE
AND PUT HEALTH FIRST, THOSE ARE
THE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT I WANT
TO BE PART OF, BECAUSE I'M
THINKING, WOW, THEY'RE MAKING
HEALTH A PRIORITY.
WHICH MEANS THAT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AS WE MOVE
FORWARD AT THE -- THROUGHOUT
TRIBAL COUNTRY.
A COUPLE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO
SHARE, JUST HOW POWERFUL THAT
PARTNERSHIP IS AND HAS JUST
ABSOLUTELY RESONATED FOR ME.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHILE WE WERE
GETTING READY FOR THE SUPREME
COURT AND WE KNEW WE WERE READY,
WHICHEVER MESSAGE WE WERE GOING
TO GIVE OUT IF WE WON, IF WE
LOST, ALL THIS WORK THAT WENT
INTO THE RECENT SUPREME COURT
DECISION REGARDING CONTRACT
SUPPORT COSTS.
AND I HAD A HARD TIME WITH THAT,
BECAUSE I'M A TRIBAL MEMBER, I'M
A TRIBAL MEMBER FIRST.
EVEN THOUGH I'M A FEDERAL
OFFICIAL.
AND I HAVE SAID SEVERAL TIMES
DURING THAT, IF THE GOVERNMENT
PREVAILS, I WILL NOT BE THE
PERSON THAT'S GOING TO TALK
ABOUT IT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THAT DECISION WHEN IT
HAPPENS.
BUT WHAT WAS AMAZING WHEN I WAS
ABLE TO GO TO THE COURTS AND BE
ON THE STEPS OF THAT HEARING
WHEN IT OCCURRED, WAS TO STAND
SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE NORTHERN
ARAPAHO TRIBE, TAKE PHOTOS WITH
THEM.
SO IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE HAVE AND THESE
DISAGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE, WE
WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER, AND
I WILL CHERISH THAT PHOTO, I
WILL CHERISH THAT.
YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF RALLIED
AROUND ME AND MAYBE THEY ALREADY
KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT TRIBES FIGHT FOR
WHAT THEY NEED TO FIGHT FOR.
AND I RESPECT THAT, AND I HONOR
THE DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
MADE.
AND THEN JUST THIS WEEK VISITING
CHAIRMAN RAMBLER'S TRIBE, AGAIN,
IT'S A REMINDER OF WHAT IT IS
THAT CAN HAPPEN IN INDIAN
COUNTRY, EVEN IF THIS IS THE WAY
THAT WE HAVE TO GET RESOURCES
FOR INDIAN COUNTRY.
I WAS ALSO OUT LAST FRIDAY IN
GANADO, ARIZONA OPENING UP A
GRAND BRAND NEW FACILITY.
THAT WAS A FACILITY WHERE THE
TRIBE ALSO PREVAILED IN
LITIGATION, OR THE SAGE MEMORIAL
PREVAILED IN LITIGATION.
BUT THEY TURNED AROUND AND USED
THAT MONEY TO BUILD A BRAND NEW,
BEAUTIFUL FACILITY IN NAVAJO
COUNTRY.
AND I WAS A FEDERAL
REPRESENTATIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE
THAT FOUGHT AND FOUGHT, SAID NO,
NO, YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO THIS,
BUT THEY PREVAILED.
AND I'M GLAD THEY DID.
AND I HONOR THAT, AND I RESPECT
THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE TRIBAL
LEADERS THAT ARE PRESENT TODAY.
IT'S BEEN AMAZING.
CHAIRMAN SINCLAIR WAS ALSO THE
MOST RECENT TRIBE THAT HAS GONE
638 AND ON THEIR SIDE, WE'RE
LIKE I DON'T THINK THEY'RE
READY, I DON'T THINK THEY CAN DO
IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY DID, THEY DELIVERED,
JULY 1ST.
THAT WAS AWESOME!
THAT WAS AWESOME TO SEE A TRIBE
CONVERT FROM 638 TO -- FROM
I.H.S. TO 638.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO JUST
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR I.H.S.
WORKFORCE.
THERE IS NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY
THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE
I.H.S. WORKFORCE.
THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY
THAT I WONDER, HOW IS MY TEAM
DOING?
THIS MORNING WHEN WE WERE ABLE
TO TAKE PHOTOS, I MET A YOUNG
LADY, SHE'S STANDING IN FOR HER
BROTHER TODAY, BECAUSE HE JUST
PASSED AWAY.
SO WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT OUR
WORKFORCE IS.
AND WE'RE WORKING EXTREMELY HARD
TO GET MORE STAFF, MOR -- MORE
RESOURCES SO YOU CAN DO YOUR
JOB, YOU CAN DELIVER THE BEST
CARE POSSIBLE TO OUR PEOPLE.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING
TO DO HERE.
I KNOW THAT AS I GO THROUGH
INDIAN COUNTRY AGAIN, I HEAR
LOTS OF THINGS FROM TRIBAL
LEADERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- JUST A
VERY RECENT VISIT THAT I HAD
SITTING NEXT TO THE TRIBAL
PRESIDENT, JUST ABSOLUTELY
ACKNOWLEDGING THE I.H.S. STAFF
AND THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO.
BUT I'VE ALSO SAT SIDE BY SIDE
BY TRIBAL LEADERS THAT SAY THIS
AIN'T WORKING, ROSELYN.
YOU'D BETTER DO SOMETHING.
SO THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY WE
STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.
BUT FOR TODAY, I WANT TO SAY
THAT THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE OVER THE
23 MONTHS, WHERE WE HAVE
IMPROVED OUR QUALITY OUTCOMES,
WE'RE BUILDING METRICS NOW THAT
WE CAN ALL LOOK AT AND SAY, THIS
IS HOW WE KNOW THAT WE'RE
IMPROVING INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE.
THIS WEEK WAS ALSO WORLD WATER
WEEK, AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER ON
IMPROVING WATER AND SANITATION
TO OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS A PRIORITY AT INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICE.
AND SO HOW DO WE DO THAT WHEN WE
SAY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH AND WE
CAN'T DO THIS SO WE CAN'T DO
THAT?
THERE IS AMAZING WORK GOING ON.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE PHOTOS THAT
WE HAD, WE DEPLOYED OUR SENIOR
STAFF AND HAD THEM COVER SOME OF
THESE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT ARE
HAPPENING.
BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.
IT'S ABOUT THOSE TRIBAL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING
TO HAVE WATER!
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT THIS, IN THE
YEAR 2024, WE DON'T HAVE WATER
AND SANITATION IN MANY OF OUR
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE THAT ON OUR WEBSITE
WHERE WE'RE HOLDING OURSELVES
ACCOUNTABLE BY PUTTING
INFORMATION OUT THERE TO YOU AND
TO THE PUBLIC THAT HOLDS US
ACCOUNTABLE.
BECAUSE A TRIBAL LEADER CAN SAY
HEY, YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO
GET THIS JOB DONE, WHERE IS IT
AT AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET
THIS DONE?
SO I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE TH
THAT -- I WANT OUR IFS STAFF TO
KNOW THAT I DO THINK ABOUT YOU
EVERY DAY.
I MIGHT NOT KNOW YOU INDIVIDUAL
INDIVIDUALLY BUT I MET A LOT OF
YOU, AND A LOT OF ME REMIND ME
OF WHERE I MET YOU, BUT I WANT
TO JUST SAY THANK YOU, BECAUSE
THE WORK THAT WE DO AT INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICE IS BECAUSE OF
YOU, AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE
MAKING ACROSS INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE IS BECAUSE OF YOU.
SO I WANT TO TAKE TODAY JUST TO
AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND YOUR
FAMILIES AND ALL THAT YOU DO TO
DEDICATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR
RESOURCES TO THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR TSO.
NEXT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR
KEYNOTE SPEAKER, AND REALLY
APPRECIATE HER STEPPING UP.
I WAS KIDDING WITH HER THAT SHE
WAS GOING TO BE THE EMCEE THIS
YEAR, BUT SHE WENT AND TURNED IT
AROUND ON ME AND SHE GOT THE
KEYNOTE INSTEAD.
SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE
DR. BEVERLY COTTON, OUR
NASHVILLE AREA DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE AND HONOR
TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
IT'S EXTREMELY HU HUMBLING TO BE
ABLE TO STAND HERE AND GIVE A
KEYNOTE, ESPECIALLY AS WE HONOR
ALL OF THE 2023 AWARDEES.
I LIKE TO ALWAYS START WITH A
LITTLE JOKE, AND I TELL THE
CORNIEST JOKES, BUT -- HEY.
WHAT DID THE BEAVER SAY AFTER
SWIMMING INTO A WALL?
AGO!
BEAVERS ARE DEVOTED TO THEIR
WORK AS DAM BUILDERS, BORN
EQUIPPED AND READY FOR THE JOB
AND OUT OF ALL CREATION, ONLY
CORAL AND MAN HAVE HAD A GREATER
IMPACT ON THE ECOSYSTEM THAN THE
BEAVER.
MY SPEECH OR MESSAGE TODAY IS
ENTITLED, "LEAVE TO BEAVERS."
[LAUGHTER]
BEAVERS CAN, I AFFECT AN ENTIRE
ECOSYSTEM.
THEY ARE WHAT SCIENTISTS CALL
ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS AND WHEN
THEY CREATE DAMS, THEY CREATE
BRAND NEW PONDS AND THEY CAN
DIVERT THE ENTIRE WAY A RIVER
FLOWS.
THIS CAN HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT ON
THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT,
GOOD AND BAD.
BEAVERS ARE SLOW ON LAND BUT
THEY'RE SLEPT SWIMMERS.
ONCE -- EXCELLENT SWIMMERS.
BEAVERS CAN BUILD THEIR LODGES
IN THE POND AND THEN THEY DON'T
HAVE TO TRAVEL TOO FAR ON LAND
TO GET ACCESS TO NEW TREES.
THE MORE AREA THE DAM FLOODS,
THE EASIER IT IS FOR THEM TO
ACCESS THEIR FOOD SAFELY.
SOMETIMES, BEAVERS WILL EVEN
EXCAVATE CANALS OVER 100 FEET
LONG IN ORDER TO BRING WATER
CLOSER TO THE STANDS OF THEIR
FAVORITE TREES.
THIS ALLOWS THEM TO SWIM UP
CLOSE TO THOSE TREES AND RETREAT
QUICKLY IF THERE'S DANGER.
IN ADDITION, THEY CAN USE THOSE
CANALS TO FLOAT REALLY BIG LOGS
BACK TO THEIR LODGES AND BACK TO
THOSE DAMS.
IN COLD CLIMATES EACH FALL,
BEAVERS WILL STOCKPILE STICKS
UNDER WATER.
THEY DON'T HIBERNATE.
THEY'LL REMAIN INSIDE THEIR
LODGE ALL WINTER, EXCEPT WHEN
THEY SWIM UNDER THE ICE TO THEIR
FOOD STOCKPILE JUST FOR A STICK
TO NIBBLE ON.
TO OBTAIN FOOD AND BUILDING
MATERIALS, BEAVERS ARE
WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR ABILITY TO
TOPPLE ENTIRE LARGE TREES, WE'RE
TALKING HUGE TREES, USING
NOTHING BUT THEIR SPECIALLY
ADAPTED INCISOR TEETH.
AND THEIR POWERFUL JAW MUSCLES.
THOSE TWO AREAS COMBINED.
THEIR TEETH NEVER STOP GROWING,
AND THEY DON'T BECOME WORN.
THEY DON'T WEAR OUT, DESPITE
YEARS OF CHEWING ON HARDWOODS.
THEIR FOUR FRONT TEETH ARE
SELF-SHARPENING BECAUSE OF THE
HIGH LEVEL OF IRON THAT DEVELOPS
A HARD ORANGE ENAMEL ON THE
FRONT OF THE TOOTH AND ON THE
BACK, THERE'S A SOFT DENTIN, SO
AS THEY CHEW THE WOOD IT CREATES
THIS CHISEL-LIKE CUTTING
SURFACE.
THEY BUILD AND THEY MAINTAIN
THEIR LODGES.
WITHIN EACH LODGE, BEAVERS WILL
HOLLOW OUT A CHAMBER WHERE THEY
SLEEP, EAT, GROOM, WHERE THEIR
BABY KITS ARE BORN AND THEY'RE
NURSED EACH SPRING.
THEY BRING IN BEDDINGS OF GRASS,
REED, WOOD CHIPS.
THEY CHANGE THEM REGULARLY AND
IN ORDER TO BREATHE FRESH AIR,
THEY DON'T APPLY MUD TO THE TOP
OF THAT LODGE, CREATING A
VENTILATION SHAFT.
EACH LODGE HAS THESE
WATER-FILLED TUNNELS THAT I
TALKED ABOUT, SO THEY CAN ACCESS
THEIR FOOD AND THEY CAN ENTER
AND EXIT SAFELY.
AND THE WALLS ARE REALLY STRONG
DUE TO THE LAYER OF MUD AND
STICKS THAT THEY USE, SO IT'S
EXTREMELY INSULATED IN COLD
WEATHER, EVEN IN SUB ZERO
OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES, IT WON'T
DROP BELOW FREEZING INSIDE, DUE
TO THE RETAINED BODY HEAT FROM
THE FAMILY OF BEAVERS.
AND THEY'RE HIGHLY ORGANIZED.
THEY'RE VERY SOCIAL, THEY'RE
PEACEFUL ANIMALS, AND THEY HAVE
A REALLY STRONG FAMILY
STRUCTURE.
EACH ESTABLISHED BEAVER COLONY
USUALLY CONSISTS OF ADULT
PARENTS AND TWO YEARS OF
OFFSPRING.
SO ON AVERAGE, THEY HAVE AN
ESTABLISHED FAMILY OF AROUND SIX
OR SEVEN BEAVERS.
WHY DO I TELL YOU THIS STORY?
WELL, YOU KNOW CULTURALLY AND
TRADITIONALLY THAT WE CAN LEARN
LIFE LESSONS, SPIRITUAL TRUTHS
FROM ANIMALS, AND OUR
TRADITIONAL STORIES ARE OFTEN
HINGED IN WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM
OUR ENVIRONMENT, FROM NATURE
AROUND US.
SO I JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM
THE BEAVER.
DILIGENCE AND HARD WORK.
THEY'RE KNOWN FOR THEIR
INDUSTRIOUS NATURE.
THEY TIRELESSLY BUILD THESE DAMS
AND LODGES USING BRANCHES, MUDS
AND ROCKS.
THEY'RE A SYMBOL OF
DETERMINATION, KNOWN FOR THEIR
INCREDIBLE AB ABILITY TO TRANSFM
THE ENVIRONMENT BY BUILDING
COMPLEX DAMS AND LODGES.
THE BEAVER ENCOURAGES US TO BE
CHANGE AGENTS AND BELIEVE THAT
WE, TOO, CAN TRANSFORM OUR
ENVIRONMENTS WITH OUR TIRELESS
EFFORT AND PERSISTENCE.
ADDITIONALLY, THE BEAVER, BEING
A CREATURE THAT THRIVES BOTH ON
LAND AND WATER SIGNIFIES
ADAPTABILITY.
IT SUGGESTS TO US THAT
FLEXIBILITY AND BALANCE ARE
ESSENTIAL TO OUR JOURNEY TO
ACHIEVE OUR MISSION, OUR VISION,
AND OUR GOALS.
THE BEAVER EXEMPLIFIES THE
IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENT EFFORT
AND PLANNING AND IT REMINDS US
IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD FROM
MERE PLANNING TO ACTIVE
EXECUTION.
AND TO TAKE THOSE CRITICAL STEPS
THAT WILL BRING OUR GOALS TO
FULL REALITY.
THEY ALSO TEACH US TO UTILIZE
OUR RESOURCES WISELY.
THE BEAVER IS A MASTER AT
UTILIZING THE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO IT.
BY OBSERVING THE BEAVER'S
RESOURCEFULNESS, WE'RE REMINDED
TO USE OUR GOD-GIVEN TALENTS FOR
THE BETTERMENT OF OUR WORK
ENVIRONMENT AND FOR OTHERS.
AS BEAVERS PREPARE FOR WINTER,
THEY SYMBOLIZE PREPARATION,
RESOURCEFULNESS, AND FORESIGHT.
JUST AS BEAVERS ADAPT TO THE
APPROACHING WINTER BY WORKING
TIRELESSLY, WE, TOO, CAN BE
ENCOURAGED TO ADAPT TO LIFE'S
CHANGING SEASONS WITH GRACE AND
RESILIENCE.
AS THEY'RE KNOWN FOR THEIR
COOPERATIVE NATURE, THEY TEACH
US TO WORK TOGETHER IN
COMMUNITY.
THEY WORK TOGETHER TO CONSTRUCT
TEASE DAMS AND CREATE HABITATS
THAT BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COLONY.
THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF
COMMUNITY AND UNITY AS WE REACH
OUR MISSION AND OUR GOALS.
THE BIEFER'S COMMUNAL BEHAVIOR
TEACHES US THE SIGNIFICANT OF
TEAM WORK AND SUPPORT AND BY
FOSTERING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE CAN
ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS, AND
SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER THROUGH
LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
A BEAVER CARRIES CONNOTATIONS OF
TEAM WORK AND COOPERATION.
THEY TEACH US THE IMPORTANCE OF
WORKING TOGETHER NOT JUST SIDE
BY SIDE, BUT HARMONIOUSLY.
WITH A SHARED GOAL, EMPHASIZING
OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH AND
UNITY IN NUMBERS, AND A
COORDINATED EFFORT TO GET THE
JOB DONE.
TRANSFORMING AN ENTIRE
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND
MANAGING MASSIVE CHANGE LIKE
WE'RE DOING NOW IS A LOT OF
WORK.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT
WITH PATIENCE AND DETERMINATION,
TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE SOMETHING
SUBSTANTIAL AND ENDURING.
THE BEAVER TEACHES US THE POWER
OF PERSISTENCE AND ENCOURAGES US
TO KEEP WORKING TOWARD OUR
GOALS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE
CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US.
BUT HOW, HOW DO WE REALLY
OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES IN OUR
WAY, AND WHAT MINDSET DO WE NEED
TO LEAD THIS ORGANIZATION TO
FULLY ACHIEVE ITS MISSION?
MANY FACTORS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
OUR ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS.
ONE OF THOSE IS TENACITY.
IT WILL TAKE TENACITY TO GET
THERE.
TENACITY FUELS INNOVATION, IT
FOSTERS CREATIVITY, AND IT
ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO STAY
DETERMINED AND FOCUSED ON THEIR
GOALS.
PUT SIMPLY, TENACITY IS THAT
FIERCE BLEND OF DETERMINATION,
PERSISTENCE, AND GRIT.
IN FACT, HAVING TENACITY OR GRIT
IS DEFINED AS COURAGEOUSLY
PERSISTENT AND HAVING STRONG
QUALITIES OF TOUGH,
UNCOMPROMISING REALISM.
BUT BEING GRITTY ISN'T EASY,
IT'S NOT FUN.
I HEARD CARRIE LORENZ, THE FIRST
FEMALE F-14 TOMCAT FIGHTER PILOT
IN THE U.S. NAVY PUT IT THIS
WAY.
SHE SAID, REMEMBER, GRITTY
RHYMES WITH SCHMITTY.
THIS TELLS US IN ORDER TO GET TO
WHERE WE'RE GOING, WE CAN'T
FORGET THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE
REALLY HARD DAYS.
WE CAN GET OVERWHELMED, WE CAN
REALLY LOSE HOPE, AND WE'VE GOT
TO REMEMBER WHAT IT'S GOING TO
TAKE TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES
AND CHALLENGES IN ORDER TO WHERE
WE'RE -- GET TO WHERE WE'RE
HEADING.
WE CAN'T GIVE UP, WE HAVE TO
HAVE RESILIENCE.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
RESILIENCE, WE TEND TO TALK
ABOUT IT IN THE TERMS OF
BEING -- OF IT BEING REALLY
POSITIVE.
AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M NOT
TRYING TO SUGGEST THAT HAVING
RESILIENCE IS NOT A POSITIVE
ATTRIBUTE.
IT IS.
BUT WHAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IS
HOW THAT RESILIENCE IS BUILT.
WHEN WE SEE INCREDIBLY RESILIENT
PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO BE ABLE TO
BOUNCE BACK, WE ALWAYS COMMENT
HOW STRONG THEY ARE.
SOMETIMES WE MAY SECRETLY WISH
WE WERE MORE LIKE THEM.
WHAT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IS
WHAT THEY HAD TO DO TO GET
THERE, TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF
RESILIENCE.
WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THEIR HARD
TIMES, THE DARK TIMES, THE
EVENTS, THE SITUATIONS AND THE
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HELPED BUILD
THAT RESILIENCE.
I HEARD BERNE BROWN, A RENOWNED
RESEARCHER AND STORYTELLER WHO
STUDIED COURAGE, VULNERABILITY,
SHAME AND EMPATHY SAY SOMETHING
THAT STUCK WITH ME.
SHE SAID EVERY STORY OF
RESILIENCE BEGINS IN DARKNESS.
WITHOUT GRIEF, STRIFE AND
FRUSTRATION, THERE CAN BE NO
RESILIENCE.
SO AS WE LOOK BACK AND WE
APPRECIATE THE RESILIENCE IN
OURSELVES AND THOSE AROUND US,
THOSE WHO WERE HERE BEFORE US
AND THINKING ABOUT THOSE WHO
WILL GO INTO THE FUTURE, THOSE
FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT ARE
DEPENDING ON US, I ENCOURAGE US
AND I SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PULL TOGETHER
WITH TENACIOUS, GRITTY
RESILIENCE.
WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE I.H.S.,
TRIBAL, URBAN INDIAN
ORGANIZATION OR ONE OF OUR
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS, YOU HAVE
TO SETTLE IN YOUR HEART, MIND AN
SPIRIT JUST HOW IMPORTANT AND
CRITICAL YOUR WORK IS TO
ACCOMPLISHING THE I.H.S.
MISSION.
WHEN THE DAYS ARE HARD AND IT
SEEMS LIKE ALL OF YOUR
PERSEVERANCE AND ENDURANCE IS
TURNING INTO HOPELESSNESS, IT
HELPS TO REMEMBER HOW FAR WE'VE
COME, AND THAT IN THE PAST, WE
WEREN'T ALWAYS REALLY DESIGNED
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
IT GIVES ME HOPE TO UNDERSTAND
OUR PAST, AND THOSE THAT HAVE
WENT BEFORE US AND HOW FAR WE'VE
COME.
IN 1880, THE COMMISSIONER OF
INDIAN AFFAIRS, THOMAS J.
MORGAN, REQUESTED MORE FUNDING
TO COVER EXPENSES.
AND HE CALCULATED THE DISPARITY
IN RESOURCES, FINDING THAT THE
ARMY SPENT $21.91 PER SOLDIER,
AND THE NA NAVY SPENT $48.10 PEE
LORE, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT
APPROPRIATED $1.25 PER INDIAN
PATIENT.
WHEN THE BUREAU OF INDIAN
AFFAIRS OPENED A HEALTH DIVISION
IN 1921, THE SYSTEM SUFFERED
FROM POOR FUNDING, UNSANITARY
FACILITIES AND INADEQUATE
SUPPLIES, WHICH PLACED A STRAIN
ON THE QUALITY OF CARE PROVIDED.
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND OUR PAST,
YOU SEE THE STRUGGLE AND THE
BARRIERS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE'VE HAD TO OVERCOME.
WHEN WE LOOK AT DELIVERING ON
OUR MISSION, WE CAN SEE THAT
WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES
AND WE HAVE A LOT TO THANK FOR
THOSE THAT HAVE WENT BEFORE US.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WE'RE
HERE TODAY AND WE STILL HAVE A
WAYS TO GO.
WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME
NOT ONLY THOSE BARRIERS FROM THE
PAST BUT OUR CURRENT ONES, AND
SET US AN ORGANIZATION IN MOTION
TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME OUR
FUTURE CHALLENGES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRUE
ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION.
AS WE MOVE TO ONE I.H.S., IT'S
NOT JUST THE FEDERAL SIDE THAT
NEEDS TO MOVE.
WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT OUR
TRIBAL PARTNERS, WITHOUT OUR
URBAN INDIAN ORGANIZATIONS AND
OUR COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
ACCOMPLISH MORE THAN JUST MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS, PURSUING ONE
I.H.S. IS GOING TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
RE-EVALUATE OUR COLLECTIVE
EXPERIENCES.
SHARING, STANDARDIZING WHERE WE
NEED TO, MAKING BIG CHANGE.
WE VALUE THE INCREDIBLE
DIVERSITY WE'VE HAD I AND THE
UNIQUENESS THAT MAKES US THE
INDIAN HEALTH SYSTEM.
THIS AGENCY NEEDS YOU TO CLEARLY
UNDERSTAND YOUR PURPOSE FOR
BEING IN THE INDIAN HEALTH
SYSTEM.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT AS
INDIVIDUALS, WHEN WE TRULY GET
IT, WE CAN COLLECTIVELY SHIFT
THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE TO
EXCEL AND MEET OUR MISSION IN A
BETTER WAY.
THE FUNDAMENTAL REASON THIS
ORGANIZATION EXISTS IS TO RAISE
THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL,
AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF AMERICAN
INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES TO
THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AND WE NEED
EACH AND EVERY PERSON IN THIS
SYSTEM, IF WE TRULY ARE,
COLLECTIVELY, IN THE I.H.S.
TRIBAL AND URBAN INDIAN
ORGANIZATION, THE 17TH LARGEST
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THIS
COUNTRY, WE NEED EACH OF YOU TO
CENTER ON YOUR PURPOSE AND
UNDERSTAND YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO
OUR MISSION.
AS WE MOVE TO A SYSTEMS APPROACH
OF ONE I.H.S., AND WE WORK TO
BECOME A HIGHLY RELIABLE
ORGANIZATION, OUR ORGANIZATIONAL
CULTURE WILL HAVE TO SHIFT WITH
IT.
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE REFERS TO
THE COLLECTIVE HABITS,
BEHAVIORS, VALUES, AND BELIEFS
THAT ARE SHARED AMONG EMPLOYEES.
AND I ENVISION AN ORGANIZATIONAL
CULTURE THAT PROMOTES TRUST,
PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY, HIGH
ENGAGEMENT, AND A SHARED SENSE
OF BELONGING.
HIGH PERFORMANCE CULTURE IS THE
CORNERSTONE OF SUCCESS.
IT UNDERPINS OUR TALENT AGENDA,
ACCELERATES OUR PEOPLE, AND
SUPPORT OUR PRIORITIES ACROSS
THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THAT TODAY, TO CREATE A TIME,
THE SPACE, THE RESOURCES TO
BECOME THOSE CHANGE AGENTS.
IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US AT ALL
LEVELS, AND NO MATTER WHERE WE
ARE, I.H.S., TRIBAL, URBAN,
INDIAN HEALTH, WE NEED ALL OF
YOU WILLING TO EMERGE AS CHANGE
AGENTS TO HELP INFLUENCE AND
IMPACT THE DESIRED CULTURE THAT
WILL SUPPORT THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE TO MEET ITS MISSION.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE DON'T HAVE
A MINUTE TO WASTE, NOT EVEN ONE.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED
EACH OF YOU CONNECTED TO YOUR
PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE.
WE NEED YOU SHOWING UP EVERY
DAY, WILLING TO PUT THE HARD
WORK IN HELP US GET THERE.
PEOPLE ACROSS THIS NATION, BACK
HOME, OUR RELATIVES, THEY'RE
DEPENDING ON US.
I WAS TRYING NOT TO GO OVER
TIME.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
THEY'RE TBEND DEPENDI DEPENDINGY
SINGLE MINUTE OF EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR WHY, YOUR
REASON AND PURPOSE FOR BEING IN
THIS AGENCY AND DOING THE WORK
THAT YOU DO, IT'S EASIER TO SHOW
UP FOR YOUR CO-WORKERS, FOR YOUR
TEAM, YOUR PATIENTS, FOR
YOURSELF.
IF WE LOSE SIGHT OF OUR PURPOSE,
WE LOSE OUR PASSION, OUR
MOTIVATION, WE SUFFER BURNOUT,
BE AND EVERYTHING AROUND US
SUFFERS, OUR OWN HEALTH, OUR
RELATIONSHIPS, OUR WORK, OUR
PRODUCTIVITY, AND ULTIMATELY
THOSE WE SERVE.
WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME
THOSE THINGS AND I KNOW IT'S NOT
EASY.
BUT WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS
AGENCY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK
HERE, THE PEOPLE THAT PARTNER
WITH US, IS THAT WE CAN DO THIS.
IF A SMALL COMMUNITY OF SIX OR
SEVEN BEAVERS CAN CHANGE AN
ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM, IMAGINE WHAT
WE CAN DO TOGETHER.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023
AWARDEES.
IT BEEN MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS
YOUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER THIS
MORNING.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
DR. COTTON.
I ALWAYS ENJOY HER STORYTELLING
AND HER WAY THAT SHE PRESENTS
THIS.
AND I TAKE IT I'M NOT ON LIKE
SOCIAL MEDIA A LOT, BUT THAT
WASN'T A HERSHEY KISS, RIGHT?
[LAUGHTER ?CHT OKAY.
OKAY.
SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO CHECK
WITH MY DAUGHTERS AT HOME AFTER
THAT.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO
THE RECOGNITION OF OUR
EMPLOYEES, SO WHO'S READY TO
HAVE SOME FUN HERE AND RECOGNIZE
EVERYBODY FOR THEIR GOOD WORK?
[APPLAUSE]
OKAY.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR IN
THIS PART BECAUSE WE'VE ASKED
EVERYBODY TO PUT IN THEIR
PHONETICS PRONUNCIATION OF YOUR
NAMES, AND IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT,
IT'S ALL UP TO ME TO DECIPHER,
AND I'M NOT VERY GOOD WITH
LANGUAGES, SO HOPEFULLY THIS
WILL GO WELL, BUT MY SINCERE
APOLOGIES TO ANYBODY UP FRONT IF
I PRONOUNCE A NAME WRONG.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE
FIVE SMITHS THAT PUT THEIR
PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION IN THERE,
SO I THINK I HAVE YOU ALL.
ALL RIGHT.
SO NOW FOR THE PRESENTATION OF
THE 2023 DIRECTOR'S AWARDS.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE LENGTH OF
SERVICE AWARDS AND SPECIAL
RECOGNITION FOR THEIR DEDICATION
AND COMMITMENT TO THE I.H.S.,
THE DIRECTOR WOULD LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING
INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR
EXTRAORDINARY LENGTH OF SERVICE
TO THE I.H.S.
ARE WE LINING THEM UP?
ALL RIGHT, THIS WAS THE AWKWARD
PAUSE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY IS LINED UP.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL START OFF WITH
THE FIRST RECIPIENT FOR -- WE'LL
START WITH THE 40 YEARS OF
SERVICE.
ROSE CYSEWSKI
FROM THE ALASKA AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT WE HAVE
LYDIA BIRDINGROUND
FROM THE BILLINGS AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE BARBARA TULLOCH,
HEADQUARTERS.
[APPLAUSE]
AWARD RECIPIENTS, YOU'LL BE
STANDING IN THE CENTER THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
ALVINA THOMAS, NAVAJO AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
OKAY, THIS ONE SHE'S SMILING AT
ME BECAUSE I NEED TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO PRONOUNCE THE NAME.
NEXT WE HAVE
CAROL AHHAITTY-WETSELLINE
FROM OKLAHOMA CITY.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT IS WENDY DUNSON FROM THE
OKLAHOMA CITY AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE WILLIAM SAUPITTY,
CLOSE ENOUGH, FROM OKLAHOMA CITY
AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
OKAY, THE NEXT ONE, I THINK SHE
STARTED WHEN THEY STARTED THE
PATHWAYS PROGRAM FOR
5-YEAR-OLDS.
WE HAVE MS. ROSELYN TSO FOR 40
YEARS.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE
40-YEAR-OF-SERVICE RECIPIENTS.
NEXT WE HAVE THE 45 YEARS.
NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO CLOSER TO
MY AGE.
WE HAVE VINCENT ABEITA,
ALBUQUERQUE.
[APPLAUSE]
ACTUALLY I THINK I RECOGNIZE
YOU, VINCENT, FROM WHEN I WAS A
CO-STEP.
I WON'T SAY WHAT YEAR.
NEXT WE HAVE MARY WALL, BILLINGS
AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE PEARL THOM, NAVAJO
AREA.
NEXT IS VIRGINIA WOODIE, NAVAJO
AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
CONGRATULATIONS.
NOW WE'D ALSO LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OUR AWARDEES FOR
LENGTH OF SERVICE AND YOU'LL SEE
THEM IN THE -- ON THE SLIDES
HERE, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT
IN OUR VIRTUAL LAND,
CONGRATULATIONS.
LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
NOW WE WILL PRESENT THE I.H.S.
DIRECTOR'S INDIVIDUAL AWARDS.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES SERVICE OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO SIGNIFICANTLY
ADVANCE THE I.H.S. MISSION AND
VISION THROUGH WORK FOCUSED ON
THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN THE
I.H.S. STRATEGIC PLAN.
ACCESS, QUALITY, AND MANAGEMENT
OPERATIONS WITH PARTICULAR
EMPHASIS ON QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
ACTIVITIES IN 2023.
SO FIRST WE HAVE, FROM ALASKA
AREA, DR. M MARTHA COTTON FOR
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING THE
QUALITY OF HEALTH SERVICES,
TRAUMA SKILLS AND ADDICTION
TREATMENT ALONG WITH THE
DELIVERY OF TELEPHARMACY IN
RURAL ALASKA.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE COMMANDER ASHLEY
FROST, FOR ELEVATING KANA BY
ENHANCING LABORATORY SERVICES,
SECURING TOP ACCREDITATIONS AND
MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE SHANNON HARRISON,
FOR DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL
LEADERSHIP IN SERVICE AS THE
ALASKA AREA RECORDS MANAGEMENT
OFFICER BY IMPLEMENTING A MAJOR
OMB MANDATED RECORDS MANAGEMENT
MAINTENANCE AND NARA
ASCENSIONING PROJECT FROM 2019
TO 2023.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT, ON TO THE BILLINGS
AREA.
WE HAVE MARJORIE SPOTTED BIRD.
FOR LEADING A PROJECT TO
INCREASE LOCAL PATIENT
TRANSPORTATION, THEREBY
DECREASING HEALTHCARE
DISPARITIES FOR THE UNDERSERVED
IN FORT PACK COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
FOR GREAT PLAINS AREA, WE HAVE
JENCIE RUBIO MAJANO
FOR DEMONSTRATING EXCELLENT
VISION AS A LEADER WITH
INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO IMPROVE
PATIENT CARE.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
ON TO HEADQUARTERS.
WE HAVE CAPTAIN CHARLES WOODLEE
FOR DISTINGUISHED AND SUSTAINED
SERVICE THROUGH LEADERSHIP OF
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM,
CONTINUED TRANSITION SUPPORT TO
THE NATIONAL IEH PROGRAM, AND
LEADERSHIP WITH THE INCIDENT
REPORTING SYSTEM OR ISTAR.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE DR. MATTHEW CLARKE,
FOR DEDICATION AND KNOWLEDGE AS
AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER SUPPORTING
THE MISSION OF THE I.H.S. EVERY
DAY.
[APPLAUSE]
AND BEING ONE OF THE FEW OF US
THAT CAN PULL OFF A BOW TIE.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THAT, BUT
I DON'T THINK I'M BUILT FOR
THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW ON TO NAVAJO AREA, WE HAVE
CIARA HANSEN, FOR SPEARHEADING
AND DEVELOPING THE NEW MEXICO
PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP
COLLABORATIVE FOR THE BENEFIT OF
NATIVE AMERICAN PATIENTS SEEKING
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER
CHELSEA MCFADDEN
, ACTING INPATIENT PHARMACY
SUPERVISOR.
NEXT IS ERICA PERRY, FOR LEADING
PROJECTS AND INNOVATIONS -- OR
INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE
OVERALL HEALTH OF COMMUNITY --
OF THE COMMUNITY WITH EXPERTISE,
INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT IS ARLENE SANDOVAL, FOR
SERVICE EXCELLENCE AND
SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCING THE
I.H.S. MISSION THROUGH
CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
EFFORTS AS THE ACTING PATIENT
ADVOCATE FOR 17 YEARS AT -- I'M
JUST GOING TO CALL IT D.Z., I
THINK EVERY FROM NAVAJO KNOWS
WHICH ONE I'M TALKING ABOUT.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW ON TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY
AREA, WE HAVE LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER WHITNEY MOSELY, FOR
MAKING CONTINUAL EFFORTS TO
ELEVATE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
OF INDIAN COUNTRY IN ALIGNMENT
WITH I.H.S. STRATEGIC PLAN.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT, NOW ON TO THE PHOENIX
AREA.
WE HAVE JONATHAN ENCHIN, FOR
ESTABLISHING HIV AND PREP
INJECTABLE SERVICES AND NOVEL
GIFT CARD INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND
FOSTERING DIALOGUE ON THE IMPACT
OF NATIVE IDENTITY ON
HEALTHCARE.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
PORTLAND AREA, WE HAVE REGINA
ADAMS, FOR EXCEPTIONAL
CONTRIBUTION IN EXPANDING THE
MEDICAL ASSISTANT ROLE IN
MEDICAL HOME TEAM EFFECTIVENESS
LEADING TO SURPASS GIPRA DENTAL
FLUORIDE TREATMENT GOALS.
[APPLAUSE]
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE
I.H.S. DIRECTOR'S INDIVIDUAL
AWARDS AND, AGAIN, WE HAVE ON
THE SCREEN HERE THE SLIDES, THE
PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE
IT HERE, SO GIVE EVERYBODY
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE I.H.S.
DIRECTOR'S TEAM AWARDS.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES GROUPS
SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCING THE
I.H.S. MISSION ENVISIONED
THROUGH WORK FOCUS OND GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES IN THE I.H.S.
STRATEGIC PLAN, THE ACCESS
QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT
OPERATIONS WITH PARTICULAR
EMPHASIS ON QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
ACTIVITIES IN 2023.
SO FIRST WE HAVE FROM THE
ALBUQUERQUE AREA, ALBUQUERQUE
AREA OFFICE DIVISION OF
SANITATION FACILITIES
CONSTRUCTION.
ACCEPTING FOR THEM IS GABRIEL
LUCERO.
[APPLAUSE]
I'M GOING TO READ THESE
CITATIONS HERE SO I'LL GIVE YOU
THE NAME OF THE TEAM AND THEN
THE CITATION AND THEN WHO'S
ACCEPTING.
SO NEXT WE HAVE THE MIHC MEDICAL
AND NURSING TEAM FOR OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TOWARDS
ACHIEVING THE GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES OF I.H.S. E3 VACCINE
STRATEGY, PROVIDING OUTSTANDING
SERVICE WITH NATIONAL
SIGNIFICANCE, IMPROVING
VACCINATION RATES, OUTCOMES, AND
PATIENT EXPERIENCE AT THE -- AT
MESCALERO APACHE COMMUNITY.
ACCEPTING IS LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER REGINA SCOTT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ON TO THE LEECH LAKE
COMMUNITY WELLNESS COMMUNITY
NAVIGATORS, FOR COMMITMENT IN --
NO?
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
SCRATCH THAT.
OKAY, NOW ON TO THE BILLINGS
AREA.
AM I CLOSE?
OKAY.
CROW SERVICE UNIT PHARMACY
DEPARTMENT, FOR EXEMPLARY
LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION IN
EXPANDING ACCESS, QUALITY AND
MANAGEMENT OF HARM REDUCTION
SERVICES, SIGNIFICANTLY
ADVANCING THE I.H.S. MISSION AND
VISION.
ACCEPTING IS COMMANDER DANIEL
HAMMILL.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE THE CROW SERVICE
UNIT QUALITY DEPARTMENT.
FOR BEING LEADING INNOVATORS IN
CREATING SYSTEMS FOR QUALITY AND
SAFETY SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCING
THE I.H.S. MISSION.
AND APOLOGIES, I DON'T HAVE --
OH.
CHEYENNE TALLBULL.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE THE LITTLE SHELL
HEALTH CENTER PHARMACY
DEPARTMENT, FOR BEING
INSTRUMENTAL IN ACHIEVING THE
ONGOING GOAL OF PROVIDING
ESSENTIAL DIRECT HEALTHCARE
SERVICES TO THE LITTLE SHELL
TRIBE.
ACCEPTING IS DR. ADINA CARLISLE
MORGAN.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE THE CALIFORNIA
AREA, FOR THE CALIFORNIA AREA
FINANCE TEAM, FOR EXCEPTIONAL
DEDICATION, COLLABORATION AND
INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
CONTRIBUTING TO EXCEPTIONAL
HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES.
ACCEPTING IS CURT NELSON.
[APPLAUSE]
STAYING IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE
THE CALIFORNIA AREA OEH RIVER
FLOODING EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
FOR OUTSTANDING RESPONSE TO THE
HISTORIC FLOODING OF NORTH FORK
TULE RIVER.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW WE HAVE GREAT PLAINS AREA.
WE HAVE THE SH CHEYENNE RIVER
HEALTH CENTER OUTPATIENT NURSING
DEPARTMENT FOR DEMONSTRATING
DEDICATION TO THE PATIENT CARE
BY ACHIEVING 100% COMPLIANCE
WITH ATTENDANCE IN THE LIFE
SOURCE TRAINING.
ACCEPTING IS KIM HAWK EAGLE.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE OUR HEADQUARTERS
TEAMS.
SO WE HAVE THE GIMC EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
HYBRID SIMULATION PROGRAM, FOR
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING
PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY CARE BY
ENHANCING THEIR PEDIATRIC
READINESS FOR AMERICAN INDIANS
AND ALASKA NATIVE CHILDREN.
ACCEPTING IS CHERYL SMITH.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE OUR I.H.S.
DIRECTOR'S AWARDS COMMITTEE.
FOR OUTSTANDING DEDICATION, TEAM
WORK AND METICULOUS ORGANIZATION
ENSURING EXCELLENCE IN MANAGING
THE I.H.S. DIRECTOR'S AWARDS
PROGRAM, AND ACCEPTING IS TRAVIS
PONTON.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW I DON'T FEEL BAD ASKING HIM
WHERE HIS TIE WAS.
I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS ACCEPTING.
NEXT IS THE I.H.S. FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION ACT TEAM, FOR
INCREDIBLE DEDICATION AND
DILIGENTLY CLOSING OUT OLD
BACKLOG CASES, LITIGATIONS AND
APPEALS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY
MANAGING CURRENT-YEAR CASES AND
ENHANCING THE FOIA E READING
ROOM WITH PROACTIVE DISCLOSURES.
ACCEPTING IS JIM SUTHER.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE OUR OFFICE OF
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING DIVISION
OF BUDGET EXECUTION ADVANCE
APPROPRIATIONS TEAM.
FOR SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING
THE FIRST EVER I.H.S. ADVANCED
APPROPRIATION, ACCEPTING IS
MYRON MUSKET.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE THE ROSE BUT I.H.S.
INDIAN HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
HYBRID SIMULATION PROGRAM.
FOR SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING
PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY CARE BY
ENHANCING THEIR PEDIATRIC
READINESS FOR AMERICAN INDIAN
AND ALASKA NATIVE CHILDREN.
ACCEPTING IS CARMEL MONTALVO,
[APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO OUR
NASHVILLE AREA, THE I.H.S.
CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM, SHARED
SERVICE CENTER, FOR PROVIDING
EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT TO THE
NASHVILLE AREA SINCE
OCTOBER 2023, CLASSIFYING 44
POSITIONS.
ACCEPTING IS DE IS DELPHINE BRI.
[APPLAUSE]
STAYING IN THE NASHVILLE AREA,
WE HAVE THE NASHVILLE AREA
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS, FOR
PROVIDING VITAL SUPPORT TO
CEOs OFFERING LEADERSHIP TO
SUPPORT ADDITIONAL
ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES AMID
INCREASED VACANCIES FROM
RETIREMENTS, TRANSITIONS AND NEW
PRIORITIES.
ACCEPTING IS REMEDIO HOLMES.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE OUR NAVAJO AREA.
THE CHINLEY COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTHCARE FACILITY BRIDGE
CLINIC TEAM.
FOR PROVIDING CRUCIAL ACCESS TO
ADDICTION MEDICINE TREATMENT FOR
THE PATIENT POPULATION EMBODYING
THE SPIRIT OF COMPASSION,
INNOVATION, AND SERVICE
EXCELLENCE.
ACCEPTING IS DR. JONATHAN
POWELL.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE OUR KRINLEY SERVICE
UNIT LABOR AND DELIVERY EPIDURAL
TEAM.
FOR THE CREATION AND EXCEPTIONAL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OBSTETRIC
CARE UNIT'S LABOR AND DELIVERY
EPIDURAL PROGRAM.
ACCEPTING IS LIEUTENANT JUNIOR
GRADE UNEQUA ABRAMS.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE OUR GALLOP INDIAN
MEDICAL CENTER EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT.
FOR IMPROVING EMERGENCY CARE
DELIVERED TO NATIVE AMERICAN
PATIENTS BY DEVELOPING PROCESSES
AND PROCEDURES BASED ON THE BEST
PRACTICES IN CREATING PATHS FOR
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM WORK THAT
ALLOWS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
AND TRANSPARENCY IN CARE.
ACCEPTING, DR. SOPHIA RUBAI.
NEXT IS OUR GALLUP INDIAN
MEDICAL CENTER TRAUMA PROGRAM.
FOR CONTINUOUS DEDICATION TO
PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES
TO PATIENTS AND ENSURING HEALTH
RECORDS ARE SECURED, COMPLETE,
AND READILY AVAILABLE FOR
CONTINUITY OF CARE.
ACCEPTING IS TRACEY DENNETT.
[APPLAUSE]
ON TO OUR OKLAHOMA CITY AREA, WE
HAVE OUR CLINTON SERVICE UNIT
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT.
FOR ELIMINATING AN ENORMOUS
CODING BACKLOG AND FACILITATING
CASE MANAGEMENT, LOOP CLOSURE
COMPLIANCE THROUGH MASSIVE
INCREASES IN DOCUMENT REQUESTS
AND UPLOADS.
ACCEPTING IS HALEY FLOYD.
[APPLAUSE]
ON TO OUR LAWTON INDIAN HOSPITAL
DENTAL CLINIC, FOR EXCEPTIONAL
EFFORTS TO SERVE THE LAWTON
COMMUNITY, CONSISTENTLY GOING
ABOVE AND BEYOND.
ACCEPTING IS CANDACE WILLIAMS.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT IS OUR OKLAHOMA CITY AREA
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD.
FOR REVIEWING AND PARTNERING
WITH TRIBES TO ENSURE ALL
RESEARCH WITHIN THEIR AUTHORITY
IS CONDUCTED ETHICALLY AND
APPROPRIATELY.
ACCEPTING IS LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER BRETT WHITEHEAD.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE OUR OKLAHOMA CITY
INDIAN CLINIC COMMUNICATIONS
TEAM.
FOR MANAGING PRESS RELEASES,
PUBLICATIONS, MARKETING
MATERIALS, EVENTS, FUNDRAISING,
DIGITAL OUTREACH, AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, PRIORITIZING PATIENT
AND PARTNER COMMUNICATIONS
THROUGH INNOVATIVE METHODS.
ACCEPTING WAS -- ANGELA REEVES.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA,
WE HAVE OUR PAWNEE INDIAN HEALTH
CENTER E3 INITIATIVE, FOR
INCORPORATING ANCILLARY
DEPARTMENTS, ENHANCING ACCESS TO
CARE AND INCREASING COMMUNITY
OUTREACH CLINICS FOR
VACCINATIONS.
ACCEPTING IS BECKY KNIGHT.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
NOW ON TO OUR PHOENIX AREA.
WE HAVE THE PHOENIX INDIAN
MEDICAL CENTER PEDIATRIC
INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
PROGRAM.
FOR ENHANCING MENTAL HEALTHCARE
ACCESSIBILITY AND QUALITY
THROUGH EXEMPLARY
MULTIDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTIONS
AND TEAM WORK FOR AI/AN YOUTH.
ACCEPTING IS DR. SARAH SHADARAM.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
IT LOOKS LIKE THIS NEXT ONE, WE
HAVE THE SAME PERSON ACCEPTING
FOR TWO OF THE TEAM AWARDS.
IF I GOT THAT RIGHT.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS THE PHOENIX
AREA MEDICAL CENTER, PGY2 HEALTH
SYSTEM PHARMACY AND
ADMINISTRATIVE RESIDENCY
PROGRAM.
FOR BEING THE FIRST
ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACY
RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN THE INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICE TO EQUIP PHARMACY
LEADERS WITH SKILLS NEEDED TO
ADDRESS THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES
OF MODERN HEALTHCARE.
AND ACCEPTING IS LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER ARROL PERRY, AND THE
NEXT AWARD GOES TO THE PHOENIX
INDIAN MEDICAL CENTER PHARMACY
STUDENT PROGRAM, FOR BEING A
BEACON OF EXCELLENCE IN PHARMACY
EDUCATION AND TRAINING, MAKING
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE PHARMACY
LEADERS.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT WE HAVE SUPAI HEALTH
STATION MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH
TEAM.
FOR DEMONSTRATING DEDICATION AND
EXCELLENCE IN ESTABLISHING A
MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM AT
THE SUPAI HEALTH STATION LOCATED
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GRAND
CANYON.
ACCEPTING THE AWARD IS COMMANDER
DAWN BENT.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT IS OUR WHITE RIVER INDIAN
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN HYBRID
SIMULATION PROGRAM.
FOR SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING
PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY CARE BY
ENHANCING THEIR PEDIATRIC
READINESS FOR AMERICAN INDIAN
AND ALASKA NATIVE CHILDREN.
ACCEPTING IS KYLE LUCAS.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT, ON TO OUR PORTLAND
AREA.
WE HAVE THE PIULA TRIBAL HEALTH
AUTHORITY, FOR EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE AND
QUALITY OF CARE FOR THE PATIENTS
SERVICED.
ACCEPTING IS RYAN GILBERT.
[APPLAUSE]
I'LL AISLE JUST JUST SAY, FOR AU
WHO ARE GOING TO BE AROUND
I.H.S. FOR A WHILE IT'S KIND OF
NICE TO HAVE SERVED IN A LOT OF
THE AREAS BECAUSE BOY I WOULD
HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THAT NAME.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF
THE AWARDEES AGAIN.
THEY'VE BEEN SCROLLING THROUGH
ON THE SLIDES HERE, SO I'D LIKE
TO HAVE EVERYBODY GIVE EVERYBODY
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR
TEAM AWARDS.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW WE'LL PRESENT THE I.H.S.
DIRECTORS AWARDS FOR CUSTOMER
SERVICE.
WE'LL START WITH THE INDIVIDUAL
AWARDS.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES SERVICE OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCED THE
I.H.S. MISSION, VISION AND
STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
THROUGH CUSTOMER SERVICE.
THIS AWARD IS DESIGNED TO
RECOGNIZE INNOVATION AND
EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND/OR
EXEMPLARY ACTIONS RESULTING IN
QUALITY SERVICE TO CUSTOMERS,
STAKEHOLDERS, AND OUR PARTNERS
IN INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE.
SO WE'LL FIRST START OUT WITH
THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA.
WE HAVE BRANDON CORDRAY, FOR HIS
EXEMPLARY CAN-DO ATTITUDE AND
PROFESSIONAL DEDICATION IN
ASSISTING THE OEHNE CUSTOMERS
DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2023,
ENSURING THAT I.H.S. AND TRIBAL
PARTNERS RECEIVE COURTEOUS AND
RELIABLE SERVICES.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT ON TO OUR HEADQUARTERS
PROGRAMS, WE HAVE DILLON DELL.
FOR ALWAYS BEING WILLING TO TAKE
AN ADDITIONAL -- TAKE ON
ADDITIONAL PROJECTS AND
CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDING THE
EXPECTATIONS OF HIS POSITION TO
ASSIST COMMISSION OFFICERS
ASSIGNED TO THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE KATHRYN FLYNN, FOR
HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE ON THE
I.H.S. DIRECTOR'S AWARDS
COMMITTEE.
HER DEDICATION, EXPERTISE AND
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE
COMMITTEE'S SUCCESS AND
POSITIVELY IMPACTED I.H.S.
EMPLOYEES AND TRIBAL PARTNERS.
[APPLAUSE]
AND SHE WAS THE ONE BUSY WORKING
ON THE BOOK BACK THERE, SO IT IS
KIND OF AMAZING WHEN YOU SEE IT
HAPPEN UP HERE, HOW MUCH WORK
GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES, SO
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT.
NEXT WE HAVE JEFFREY JOHNSTON,
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING
PERFORMANCE, DEDICATION,
LEADERSHIP, AND EXCEPTIONAL
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE SUPPORT OF
THE AGENCY'S MISSION FOR
ACQUISITIONS AND ACQUISITION
CAREER MANAGER FUNCTIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT, NOW ON TO OUR NAVAJO
AREA.
WE HAVE VALERIE BARKER, FOR
DELIVERING OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER
SERVICE IN THE PATIENT CARE
SETTING, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
HER REALM OF DUTIES IN FISCAL
YEAR '23 TO STAFF AND PATIENTS.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER SHANNON LITTLE WULF,
FOR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP IN
ENHANCING HEALTHCARE DELIVERY
THROUGH A UNIFIED APPROACH
DELIVERING PATIENT EDUCATION,
VACCINES, FOOD, AND SUPPLIES TO
REMOTE POPULATIONS ADVANCING THE
I.H.S. MISSION.
[APPLAUSE]
ON TO OKLAHOMA CITY AREA, WE
HAVE MARJORIE ROGERS, FOR HER
LEAD ROLE FOR THE CHICKASAW
NATION JOINT VENTURE PROJECT,
MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE
PATIENTS IN AND NEAR OKLAHOMA
CITY IN ADDITION TO HER
SUSTAINED EFFORTS AS A SENIOR
LEADER IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY
AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
OFF TO THE NORTHWEST, PORTLAND
AREA.
KAYLA ERICKSON, FOR OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTIONS TO QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
FOR BOTH PATIENT AND COLLEAGUES,
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE AT BOTH
THE LOCAL AND AREA LEVELS.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE KATHY GOULD,
SERVING AS A BEACON OF
INSPIRATION AND WORTHY OF
RECOGNITION.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT, AGAIN I'D LIKE TO
CALL EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION TO
THE SLIDES THAT HAVE BEEN SCROLL
HERE FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO BE WITH US
TODAY, SO LET'S GIVE THEM ALL
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH
THE DIRECTOR'S AWARDS FOR
CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT WE'RE
GOING TO THE TEAM AWARDS.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES SPECIAL
SERVICE OF GROUPS THAT HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCED THE
I.H.S. MISSION, VISION AND
STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
THROUGH CUSTOMER SERVICE.
THIS AWARD IS DESIGNED TO
RECOGNIZE INNOVATION AND
EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND
EXEMPLARY ACTIONS RESULTING IN
QUALITY SERVICE TO CUSTOMERS,
STAKEHOLDERS, AND TRIBAL
PARTNERS.
WE'LL GO TO THE BILLINGS AREA.
BILLINGS AREA OFFICE,
CREDENTIALING TEAM.
AND WE HAVE -- THEY'RE BEING
RECOGNIZED FOR INVALUABLE
DILIGENCE IN PROVIDING TIMELY
AND THOROUGH CREDENTIALING FOR
CONTRACT AND NEW HIRE STAFF
DURING A STAFFING SHORTAGE.
ACCEPTING IS MICHELLE SHOT-GUNN.
[APPLAUSE]
MOVING ON TO OUR HEADQUARTERS
TEAMS, THE DIVISION OF PLANNING,
EVALUATION AND RESEARCH.
YVONNE DAVIS FOR CONSISTENTLY --
OR I GUESS SHE'S GOING TO BE
ACCEPTING, SORRY, FOR
CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATING
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE
REQUIRING AN IN DEPTH
UNDERSTANDING OF CUSTOMERS'
NEEDS FOR PLANNING, EVALUATION,
RESEARCH AND GIS.
[APPLAUSE]
AND SHE'S REALLY GOOD AT INDIAN
COUNTRY TRIVIA.
[LAUGHTER]
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT ON TO OUR INDIAN HEALTH
GERIATRIC SCHOLARS, FOR BEING
PRIMARY CARE CLINICIANS
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE CARE
OF ELDERLY PATIENTS IN THEIR
FACILITIES IN LOCAL TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES.
ACCEPTING IS LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER GARRETT JONES.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE
NAVAJO AREA, THE KAYENTA HEALTH
CENTER OPTOMETRY DEPARTMENT, FOR
PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER
SERVICE AND PATIENT CARE WORKING
DILIGENTLY TO MEET THE EYE CARE
NEEDS OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE IN
THE KAYENTA SERVICE UNITS.
ACCEPTING IS DR. JAMAL MASAIMEH.
[APPLAUSE]
ANOTHER ONE WE HAVE HERE,
THERE'S GOING TO BE A PERSON
ACCEPTING THESE NEXT TWO AWARDS
SO I'LL READ THROUGH BOTH OF THE
TEAM AWARDS HERE.
THE TOHATHCHI HEALTHCARE CENTER
DENTIST SUPPORT STAFF.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS FOR THE
PHARMACY SUPPORT STAFF, FOR
BEING PRIME EXAMPLES OF
PROVIDERS WHO DEMONSTRATE
GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT BY
PROVIDING EXTRAORDINARY CUSTOMER
SERVICE WITH A SMILE DURING
PATIENT CARE, AND FOR THE
PHARMACY STAFF, IT'S FOR
EXEMPLARY CUSTOMER SERVICE TO
THE TOHATCHI COMMUNITY DURING A
CRITICAL STAFFING PERIOD WITHIN
THE PHARMACY DEPARTMENT.
ACCEPTING IS JENNIFER ASHLEY.
[APPLAUSE]
OH, I JUST READ BOTH OF THEM.
SORRY.
[APPLAUSE]
FOR A MINUTE I THOUGHT WE WERE
GOING TO HAVE TO START CHISELING
OUT ANOTHER CRYSTAL BACK THERE
FOR THEM.
NOW ON TO OKLAHOMA CITY AREA.
OKLAHOMA CITY INDIAN CLINIC,
CLINICAL PHARMACY TEAM.
FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE
OKLAHOMA CITY CLINICAL PHARMACY
AND THE I.H.S., AND ACCEPTING IS
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DANICA
BROWN.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW ON TO OUR PHOENIX AREA, THE
HAVASUPAI BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH TEAM.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE
COLLABORATION OF EFFORTS -- WAS
IT COLORADO RIVER SERVICE UNIT
AND THE PHOENIX AREA OFFICE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MATERNAL
CHILD HEALTH STAFF, THE TRIBAL
CHRs, SOCIAL SERVICES, FIRST
THINGS FIRST, IQA EARLY
CHILDHOOD AND NATIVE CONNECTION
STAFF OF THE HAVASUPAI TRIBE.
I CAN'T READ THESE FAST ENOUGH.
[APPLAUSE]
ACCEPTING WAS COMMANDER
MACARTHUR LUCIO.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR PIMC HICS SOBER
LIVING COMMUNITY INTAKE CENTER
TEAM, FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO
THE COMMUNITY DURING
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.
ACCEPTING IS MISS CANDACE LEE.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO ON TO THE PORTLAND
AREA.
WE HAVE THE WESTERN OREGON
SERVICE UNIT PHARMACY TEAM.
DESPITE A VACANCY RATE OF 40%,
THE WESTERN OREGON SERVICE UNIT
PHARMACY TEAM CONTINUED TO
PROVIDE PROCESSES AND PROVIDE
EXCEPTIONAL PATIENT CARE WITH
THE INCREASING WORKLOAD.
ACCEPTING IS -- OH, WE'VE GOT
HIM?
DEBRA -- IS IT BASSO?
[APPLAUSE]
NOW WHO DO WE HAVE?
I HAVE TO GET ON TRACK AGAIN.
I HAVE THIS -- YOU'RE DEBRA?
OKAY.
SO I READ YOURS.
SO DESPITE THE VACANCY RATE, THE
40%, THE PHARMACY TEAM CONTINUED
TO IMPROVE PROCESSES AND PROVIDE
EXCEPTIONAL PATIENT CARE WITH
THE INCREASING WORKLOAD.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW I ALMOST SEEM LIKE I SHOULD
SAY THIS AS QUESTIONS.
SO THIS IS THE FINAL CUSTOMER
SERVICE TEAM AWARDS.
OKAY, GOOD.
SO AGAIN, WE'LL CALL -- ONE
MORE?
OKAY.
THEY'RE CUTTING ME OFF.
WE'RE GOOD.
OKAY.
SO AGAIN, CALL OUR ATTENTION TO
THE SLIDES FOR THE OTHERS WHO
RECEIVED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE
TEAM AWARDS, AND GIVE THEM ALL
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
SEE, I TOLD YOU THERE WAS A
LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR TO THIS.
NOW WE'LL PRESENT THE I.H.S.
DIRECTOR'S AWARDS FOR PATIENT
SAFETY AND WE'LL START OFF WITH
THE INDIVIDUAL AWARDS.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES SERVICE
THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED
PATIENT SAFETY THROUGH RISK
RECOGNITION, REPORTING, AND
MITIGATION CONTRIBUTING TO THE
ACHIEVEMENT AND SUSTAINMENT OF
HIGH RELIABILITY PRINCIPLES AND
LEADERSHIP IN CARRYING OUT
PROJECTS TO IMPLEMENT AND
SUSTAIN TOTAL SYSTEM SAFETY.
FIRST WE'LL START OUT WITH THE
ALBUQUERQUE AREA, AND DR
DR. LINDSEY MCCOY FOR
IDENTIFYING MULTIPLE
DEFICIENCIES AND PROCESS ERRORS
INSTITUTING A QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT STUDY TO REGULARLY
MONITOR PATIENTS WITH IMPAIRED
RENAL FUNCTIONS AND HIGH RISK
PATIENTS.
[APPLAUSE]
WE HAVE ELIZABETH JENSEN FOR
STEADFAST LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW
CENTRAL STERILE PROCESSING
PROJECT, LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT
PATIENT SAFETY AND PROCESS
IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE RED
LAKE SERVICE UNIT AND DEDIC DEAD
DEDICATION TO INFECTION
PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
NEXT WE HAVE ANTHONY LINDOM, IN
WRECK NATION OF EXCEPTIONAL
DEDICATION AND UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT TO PATIENT SAFETY BY
SURPASSING EXPECTATIONS IN HIS
ROLE AT I.H.S., IMPROVING
PATIENT SAFETY THROUGH THE BEST
PRACTICES IN THE STERILIZATION
OF MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS.
[APPLAUSE]
ON TO OUR HEADQUARTERS PROGRAMS.
CARMEN PERCIV.
LA., FOR ACHIEVING BRONZE LEVEL
ACCREDITATION FOR PAIN AND
ADDICTION CARE IN EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENTS AT LAWTON INDIAN
HOSPITAL DEMONSTRATING
OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN
DEDICATION TO PATIENT SAFETY.
>> NOW TO NASHVILLE AREA.
WE HAVE LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
GARRETT JONES, AS SAFETY
OFFICER, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
JONES CREATED A SAFER
ENVIRONMENT FOR EMPLOYEES AND
PATIENTS LEADING TO A 27%
DECREASE IN REPORTED MEDICAL
ERRORS.
[APPLAUSE]
GOING TO THE NAVAJO AREA, WE
HTOENHANCE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
SERVICES TO PATIENTS AND
INSTITUTING STAFF WELLNESS AND
SAFETY INITIATIVES.
[APPLAUSE]
SO AGAIN THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS FOR PATIENT
SAFETY, SO AGAIN ALL OF THE
RECIPIENTS ARE LISTED ON THE
SLIDE SO LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY A
ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
IF ANYBODY SEES THIS PATTERN
HERE, WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE
NEXT AWARDS?
TEAMS, GOOD JOB.
ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE THE IHS DIRECTOR'S
AWARDS FOR PATIENT SAFETY TEAM
AWARDS.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES SERVICE
THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED
PATIENT SAFETY THROUGH RISK
RECOGNITION, REPORTING AND
MITIGATION CONTRIBUTING TO THE
ACHIEVEMENT AND SUSTAINMENT OF
HIGH RELIABILITY PRINCIPLES AND
LEADERSHIP IN CARRYING OUT
PROJECTS TO IMPLEMENT AND
SUSTAIN WHAT?
TOTAL SYSTEM SAFETY.
JUST CHECKING IF EVERYBODY IS
STILL AWAKE THERE.
SO WE HAVE THE BEMIDJI AREA,
WHITE EARTH RESERVATION
AMBULANCE AND WHITE EARTH HARM
REDUCTION TEAM, FOR LEADING THE
WAY IN HARM REDUCTION SERVICES
ALONG WITH THE EMS SUPPORT AND
CULTURAL RESPECT UNDER THE
GUIDANCE OF FRAN CARLSSON.
ACCEPTING IS RACHEL LAFRINIER.
>> ON TO THE NAVAJO AREA, FOR
RAPID IMPLEMENTATION IN
SUSTENANCE OF MULTIPLE QUALITY
SAFETY AND REPORTING ROLES AND
ENHANCEMENTS, IMPROVING PATIENT
SAFETY BEYOND THE PHARMACY
DEPARTMENTS.
YOU'VE GOT TO STAY HERE SO I CAN
PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME.
SO ACCEPTING IS LIEUTENANT
SHOGHI SGBORTOKO.
AGBORTOKO.
I HAD TO TO DO THAT ONE.
AND THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR TEAM AWARDS
SO WE'RE AGAIN GOING TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THE SLIDES THERE AND
RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY, GIVE
EVERYBODY ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT WE'LL PRESENT THE I.H.S.
DIRECTOR'S AWARDS FOR DEIA
EXCELLENCE.
THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES EXEMPLARY
CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICE MANAGERS,
SUPERVISORS, NON-SUPERVISORY
EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS AND
TEAMS, WHO WORK TO CULTIVATE AN
INCLUSIVE DIVERSE, FAIR,
EQUITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE
WORKPLACE.
WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL AWARD IN
ATTENDANCE TODAY AND THEY'RE
FROM THE BILLINGS AREA.
AND WE HAVE DR. EDINA
CARLILE-MORGAN, BEING RECOGNIZED
FOR HER EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTING
EXECUTIVE ORDER 13583 WITH A
STRONG DEVOTION TO EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY, DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION AT THE LITTLE SHELL
SERVICE UNIT.
[APPLAUSE]
WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR
COMMISSION CORPS AWARDS.
SO THIS IS WHEN I USED TO BE A
COMMISSION OFFICER RETIRED ABOUT
10 YEARS AGO, I WAS TRYING TO
NEGOTIATE A CHANGE OF CLOTHES,
BUT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THE
PROGRAM ROLLING SO I WASN'T ABLE
TO BRING OUT MY OLD UNIFORM, BUT
WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR
COMMISSION CORPS AWARDS HERE.
SO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS
HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE USPHS
COMMISSION CORPS DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE MEDAL.
WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDALS,
THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL,
AND THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE
MEDALS DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR
OF 2023.
THE DIRECTOR WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR EFFORTS AND
DEDICATION.
SO FIRST WE HAVE FOR THE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL,
CAPTAIN CAROL LINCOLN, FOR HER
30 YEARS DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN
THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE CAPTAIN JEFFREY
LAWRENCE FROM NAVAJO.
FOR EXEMPLARY CAREER
ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH THE USPHS
DISTINGUISHING HIMSELF IN
ADVANCING THE MISSION OF THE
USPHS FROM LOCAL TO NATIONAL
LEVELS.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
THIS NEXT ONE IS A SPECIAL ONE.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL,
ACCEPTING ON BEHALF OF CAPTAIN
DAVID JOHNSON IS HIS WIFE,
MS. KELLY JOHNSON, FOR HIS
MERITORIOUS SERVICE POSTHUMOUSLY
AWARDED TO CAPTAIN JOHNSON,
DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF THROUGH
THE 24-YEAR CAREER AND IN THE
DIVISION OF SANITATION
FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION.
[APPLAUSE]
ARE NEXT WE HAVE OUR OUTSTANDING
SERVICE MEDALS.
WE HAVE LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
MICHAEL BAKKER.
FOR CONTINUOUS EXCEPTIONAL
SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS THE
SENIOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AT
THE ANMC PRIMARY CARE CENTER.
[APPLAUSE]
COMMANDER WILLIAM FRASIER FOR
CONTINUOUS OUTSTANDING SERVICE
WITH THE ALASKA AREA.
NEXT WE HAVE LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER YEKA TERINA MAN YOKY.
FOR CONTINUOUS EXCEPTIONAL
SERVICES AS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
AT THE SOUTH CENTRAL FOUNDATION,
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE LIEUTENANT ADRIEL
PERRY, FOR SIX YEARS OF SERVICE
IN THE LEADERSHIP ROLE AT THE
CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL LOCATED
30 MILES ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
IN AN EXTREMELY ISOLATED
HARDSHIP AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE HOPEFULLY --
HOPEFULLY I'M IN THE RIGHT ORDER
HERE, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER UBONG
AKPAN, FOR CONTINUOUS
OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS A
CLINICAL PHARMACIST IN ACTING
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND
COMPLIANCE OFFICER IN SUPPORTING
THE MISSION OF THE I.H.S. IN THE
USPHS.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT WE HAVE -- LOOKS LIKE
COMMANDER, RIGHT?
DID YOU GET PROMOTED, JASON
HARRIS?
ALL RIGHT, GOT IT, FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP AND ACHIEVEMENTS AS
PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER AND
PERFORMING A HEROIC ACT
RESULTING IN THE PRESERVATION OF
LIFE OR HEALTH.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT WE HAVE COMMANDER JEFFREY
ALLEN, WITH OUR HEADQUARTERS
PROGRAM, FOR OUTSTANDING
LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVE IN
IMPROVING ACCESS TO SAFE WATER
AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES ON THE
NAVAJO NATION.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE CAPTAIN STEPHEN
PIONTOWSKI, FOR OUTSTANDING
SERVICE, LEADERSHIP IN HIGH
IMPACT CONTRIBUTIONS WHILE
ASSIGNED TO THE HEADQUARTERS,
INDIAN HELL'S SERVICE, DIVISION
OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE COMMANDER ESTER
ARVISO, FOR DEDICATED AND
EXEMPLARY WORK COVERING TWO
OFFICES THAT CONTRIBUTED
SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS ADVANCING
THE OBJECTIVES AND MISSIONS OF
THE ORGANIZATION, AS WELL AS
SUSTAIN SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE AND
COMMITMENT TO THE DIVISION OF
SANITATION FACILITIES
CONSTRUCTION DURING THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
[APPLAUSE]
ALSO FROM THE NAVAJO AREA,
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER CHELSEA MCF
ADDEN, FOR EXEMPLARY ACHIEVEMENT
AS PHARMACY LEAD IN THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF
THE CHINLEY I.H.S. SERVICE UNIT
COVID-19 MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY
INFUSION CLINIC.
[APPLAUSE]
GOT AHEAD OF ME HERE.
COMMANDER MARTIN TAXERA, FOR
CONTINUOUS OUTSTANDING SERVICE
AND LEADERSHIP AS TRIBAL
HEALTHCARE FACILITY NURSING
LEADER AND INFECTION
PREVENTIONIST DURING THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT IS COMMANDER KAREN
BEUVAIS, FOR OVERSEEING AND
CODEVELOPING THE HEP C AND PREP
PROGRAMS AT THE PHOENIX INDIAN
MEDICAL CENTER, ALSO SERVING
AS -- I THINK IT'S HEMATOLOGY
AND ONCOLOGY AND HIV CLINICS.
[APPLAUSE]
MUST HAVE ANOTHER PROMOTION
HERE.
LOU AT THE PRLIEUTENANT COMMANDK
JAEGER, FOR ESTABLISHING THE
FIRST MULTIDISCIPLINARY
PENICILLIN ALLERGY SKIN TESTING
INITIATIVE AND SHARING EXPERTISE
ON THE SUBJECT NATIONALLY
THROUGHOUT I.H.S.
[APPLAUSE]
SO AGAIN WE'D LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF OUR
COMMISSION CORPS HONOR AWARDS
AND GIVE EVERYBODY ANOTHER ROUND
OF ABLAWS.
[APPLAUSE]
THE FINAL CATEGORY IS I.H.S.
DIRECTOR'S SPECIAL RECOGNITION
AWARDS.
THE AWARDEES THIS YEAR WERE
SELECTED BY DIRECTOR TSO TO BE
RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR DEDICATION
AND SERVICE.
SO FIRST WE HAVE JOE AMIOTT,
GREAT PLAINS AREA, DIRECTOR.
[APPLAUSE]
DO WE HAVE -- SORRY, THERE WAS
ONE PERSON THAT I HEARD HAD SOME
TRAVEL DELAYS, SO WE WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT SHE MADE IT AND
WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE
MARJORIE SPOTTED BIRD FOR
LEADING A PROJECT TO INCREASE
LOCAL PATIENT TRANSPORTATION,
THEREBY DECREASING HEALTHCARE
DISPARITIES FOR THE UNDERSERVED
POPULATION IN FORT PECK
COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT WE HAVE CAPTAIN -- GOING
BACK TO THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION
AWARDS, WE HAVE CAPTAIN JOE
BRYANT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AT THE CLINTON INDIAN HEALTH
CENTER, FOR OUTSTANDING
COMMITMENT AND SERVICE IN
RE-ENGINEERING HOW I.H.S. TRACKS
AND IDENTIFIES PURCHASE AND
REFERRED CARE PROGRAM THAT WILL
HAVE IMPACTS ON OUR PATIENTS
USING THE PROGRAM NOW AND INTO
THE FUTURE.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE OUR CHIEF OF STAFF
CAPTAIN CARMEN CLELLAND.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE
JIM DRIVING HAWK
, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR FIELD
OPERATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE
DANIEL FRYE
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF HUMAN
RESOURCES FOR OUTSTANDING
COMMITMENT TO THE REORGANIZATION
OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE
AND HAS RE-ENGINEERED THE
OPERATIONS TO SUPPORT IMPROVED
RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND
SATISFACTION OF EMPLOYEES OF THE
AGENCY.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT IS CAPTAIN
LAURA HERBISON
, CEO AT THE CHEMAWA INDIAN
HEALTH CENTER, FOR OUTSTANDING
COMMITMENT TO THE AGENCY WITH
QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND
ORGANIZATION WHICH IS KEY TO THE
OVERALL CARE AND WELL-BEING OF
PATIENTS SERVED.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT IS DANIEL HIBBERT,
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AT
CLINTON SERVICE UNIT FOR
OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO THE
AGENCY AND PROVIDING EXPERTISE
AND RESOURCE AND SUPPORT OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,
SUPPORTING BOTH THE PURCHASE AND
REFERRED CARE PROGRAM AND THE
THIRD PARTY REVENUE GENERATION.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE COMMANDER DEONDA
ROBERSON, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
OFFICER AT THE CLINTON SERVICE
UNIT FOR OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT
AND SERVICE IN RE-ENGINEERING
HOW I.H.S. TRACKS, MONITORS AND
IMPROVES THE OVERALL AGENCY
REVENUE ENHANCEMENT, ALLOWING
SERVICE UNITS THE INFORMATION TO
INCREASE REVENUE GENERATION AT
THE LOCAL SITES.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NEXT WE HAVE CAPTAIN JANA
TOWNE, NURSE CONSULTANT,
DIVISION OF DIABETES TREATMENT
AND PREVENTION, FOR OUTSTANDING
COMMITMENT TO THE AGENCY AND
QUALITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN
OVERSEEING THE REORGANIZATION OF
KEY DIVISIONS WITHIN THE AGENCY,
WHICH IS KEY TO THE OVERALL CARE
AND WELL-BEING OF ALL PATIENTS
SERVED.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL
RECOGNITIONS FOR OUR TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP
AWARDS.
SO FIRST WE HAVE ANDY JOSEPH,
JR., CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF
COLVILLE RESERVATION FOR HIS
MANY YEARS OF SERVICE ON VARIOUS
I.H.S. TRIBAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEES.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE NICK LEWIS, FOR HIS
DEDICATION AND ADVOCACY FOR THE
NATIONAL TRIBAL OPIOID SUMMIT
LAST YEAR AND HIS LEADERSHIP ON
THE I.H.S. DIRECTOR'S ADVISORY
WORK GROUP ON TRIBAL
CONSULTATION SERVING AS THE
TRIBAL CO-CHAIR.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE CHAIRMAN TERRY
RAMBLER FROM THE SAN CARLOS
APACHE TRIBE, FOR OUTSTANDING
COMMITMENT TO THE ONGOING SELF
GOVERNANCE OF TRIBAL ISSUES THAT
IMPACT INDIAN COUNTRY IN HEALTH
AND WELFARE OF FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE CLAIRN JOHN
ST. CLAIRE, EASTERN SHOSHONE
TRIBE, FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL
LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION
PARTICULARLY IN OVERSEEING THE
SUCCESSFUL ASSUMPTION OF THE FOR
THE WASHIKI SERVICE UNIT BY THE
EASTERN SHOSHONE TRIBE AND
ENDEAVOR INITIATED IN 2019 AND
ACCOMPLISHED IN JULY 1 OF 2024.
CHAIRMAN JOHN ST. CLAIRE OF THE
EASTERN SHOSHONE BUSINESS
COUNCIL IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED.
HIS RELENTLESS EFFORTS AND
ENGAGEMENT IN KEY MEETINGS AND
NEGOTIATIONS HIGHLIGHT HIS
COMMITMENT TO SERVING HIS
COMMUNITY, OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
WITH GRACE AND PATIENCE.
UNDER HIS GUIDANCE, THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF WARM VALLEY
HEALTHCARE EXEMPLIFIES HIS
UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO
ENHANCING THE WELL-BEING OF HIS
COMMUNITY.
THIS AWARD HONORS CHAIRMAN
ST. CLAIRE'S OUTSTANDING
LEADERSHIP AND STEADFAST
COMMITMENT TO THE EASTERN
SHOSHONE TRIBE.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE A SPECIAL
RECOGNITION FOR URBAN
LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE MIS-C ARMELITA SKEETER,
CEO OF THE INDIAN HEALTHCARE
RESOURCE CENTER OF TULSA, FOR
OUTSTANDING CAREER AND
COMMITMENT TO THE INDIAN COUNTRY
THROUGH THE SERVICE TO PATIENTS
IMPACTING MANY LIVES AND
EXPANDING HEALTH RESOURCES IN
THE OKLAHOMA AREA.
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT WE HAVE A SPECIAL
RECOGNITION FOR OUR NATIONAL
COUNCIL LEADERSHIP.
FIRST WE HAVE ARLINDA LEE, CHAIR
OF THE I.H.S. NATIONAL
LABORATORY PROFESSIONAL
COMMITTEE, FOR EXTRAORDINARY
ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF OUR
LABORATORY PROFESSIONALS.
[APPLAUSE]
NEXT WE HAVE DR. TIMOTHY LOZOON,
CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL ORAL
HEALTH COUNCIL, FOR EXEMPLARY
AND INNOVATIVE WORK IN THE
DELIVERY OF ORAL HEALTHCARE.
[APPLAUSE]
AND AGAIN, THAT CONCLUDES OUR
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS, SO
WE HAVE THE SLIDE AGAIN FOR SOME
OF THE PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ABLE
TO BE HERE, SO LET'S GIVE
EVERYBODY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
SO THE NEXT ONE, IN IS THIS ISR
FINAL AWARD AND I'M GOING TO BE
READING THE INTRODUCTION HERE
AND THEN I'LL ASK MS. ECO FY TO
JOIN ME.
THE FINAL AWARD IS THE
PRESTIGIOUS LUWANA REYES
LEADERSHIP AWARD.
EACH YEAR THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE INDIVIDUAL WHO EMBODIES
THE EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP
QUALITIES DEMONSTRATED BY
MS. REYES THROUGHOUT HER
DISTINGUISHED CAREER.
SHE WAS NOT ONLY THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE INDIAN
HEALTH BOARD BUT ALSO THE
FOUNDER OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION AND
NATIONAL COALITION OF URBAN
INDIAN HEALTH CENTERS.
IN 1982, SHE PLAYED A PIVOTAL
ROLE AS DIRECTOR OF I.H.S.
HEADQUARTERS OPERATIONS AND AS
THE I.H.S. CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER, HER EFFORTS WERE
INSTRUMENTAL IN ENSURING THE
GOVERNMENT FULFILLED ITS TREATY
OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE
HEALTHCARE TO AMERICAN INDIANS
AND ALASKA NATIVES.
IN 2001, THE YEAR SHE PASSED
AWAY, SHE WAS AWARDED THE
PRESIDENTIAL RANK MERITORIOUS
SERVICE AWARD, AN HONOR GIVEN
ANNUALLY TO TOP FEDERAL MANAGERS
FOR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE.
MENT LUANA REYES AWARD IS GIVEN
TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S A
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT EXEMPLIFIES THE
LEADERSHIP THAT MIDST LUANA
REYES SHOWED.
SO SOME OF THE PAST AWARDEES --
I'M GETTING THERE -- SOME OF THE
PAST AWARDEES OF THIS
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD RECOGNITION
INCLUDE NOTABLE FIGURES SUCH AS
CAPTAIN JOE BRYANT, TRAVIS
SCOTT, HOLLY VAN LEU, CALEY
FRETLAND, STEPHANIE PORTER,
LAURA HERBISON, ANGEL DOTAMANE,
ROBYN SUNDAY ALLEN, ASHLEY
METCALF, REAR ADMIRAL CHRIS
BUCHANAN, CLIFTON C NON-,
JUNIOR, AND THEY'VE ALL MADE
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IN THEIR
FIELDS.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AS SHE
MAKES THE PRESENTATION.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, DARRELL.
SO IT'S A GREAT HONOR TODAY TO
BE ABLE TO AWARD THIS YEAR'S
LUANA REYES LEADERSHIP AWARD TO
MS. RANMACY, WORKED FOR THE
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE FOR THE
LAST 24 YEARS.
SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE
LEADERSHIP, INSIGHT WITHIN THE
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND HAS
AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE'S
PLAYED KEY ROLES IN NEGOTIATING
CRITICAL CONTRACTS AND COMPACTS
WITH 43 TRIBES IN THE COUNTRY.
SHE HAS ALSO BEEN INSTRUMENTAL
IN OUR RECENT RESPONSE TO THE
SUPREME COURT CASE FOR CONTRACT
CARE -- FOR CONTRACT SUPPORT
SERVICES, AND SHE HOLDS A
BACHELOR'S IN MANAGEMENT AND
COMMUNICATION AND ACCOUNTING AND
ETHICS AS HER CONCENTRATION,
SHE'S FROM PORTLAND AND
CURRENTLY SERVING AS ACTING
DIRECTOR OF SELF GOVERNANCE.
LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> YOU KNOW, I'M USUALLY REALLY
GOOD ON THE FLY, I DON'T HAVE MY
GLASSES ON.
BOY, I'M HAVING A HECK OF A DAY.
BUT WE ARE AT OUR CLOSING, AND
LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY A ROUND OF
APPLAUSE AGAIN.
[APPLAUSE]
AS WE OPENED WITH A TRADITIONAL
BLESSING, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE
WITH ONE, AND IT'S AN A MORE NO
WELCOME COUNCILMAN NICK LEWIS TO
COME UP AND CLOSE US OUT FOR OUR
DAY AND FOR THIS YEAR'S AWARD
CEREMONY.
COUNCILMAN?
>> THANK YOU, STACY, FOR PUTTING
ME ON THE SPOT AND ASKING ME TO
DO A PRAYER.
I THINK MANY THAT WORK WITH
TRIBAL LEADERS KNOW, DON'T GIVE
A TRIBAL LEADER A MIC BECAUSE MY
STAFF HAD SENT ME WITH A WHOLE
BUNCH OF BULLET POINTS SO I'M
GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO DO
SOME ADVOCACY WHILE I'M UP HERE
AND I'VE GOT SOME KEY PEOPLE I
WANT TO TALK TO.
BUT BEFORE I DO, SHARE A CLOSING
PRAYER.
I ALWAYS WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THE OPPORTUNITY WITH
SOMETHING THAT MY GRANDMOTHER
WHO PASSED AWAY ALWAYS SAID TO
TALK ABOUT IF YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY.
AND AS NATIVE PEOPLE, WE KNOW
THE REALITY OF INEQUITY ALL TOO
WELL.
OUR HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE OFTEN
UNDERFUNDED AND OUR COMMUNITIES
FACE DISPROPORTIONATE HEALTH
CHALLENGES ALL TOO OFTEN, BUT
THOSE CHALLENGES DO NOT DEFINE
US.
THEY REMIND US OF OUR STRENGTH,
OF OUR RESILIENCY, AND THE
URGENCY AND OUR CALL TO SERVICE
TO OUR PEOPLE.
WE REMIND US THAT WE MUST BE
UNWAVERING AND UNAPOLOGETIC IN
OUR ADVOCACY.
WE ARE NOT JUST FIGHTING FOR
BETTER HEALTHCARE FOR OUR
PEOPLE, WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR
FUTURE, FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND
FOR OUR ELDERS, BECAUSE OUR
ANCESTORS DIDN'T SACRIFICE ALL
THEY DID FOR US TO JUST SIT IDLE
TODAY.
ADVOCACY IS NOT JUST ABOUT
RAISING OUR VOICES IN THE TIMES
OF CRISIS, IT IS, I FEEL, MORE
IMPORTANTLY ABOUT LIFTING UP
EACH AND EVERY VOICE IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND ACKNOWLEDGING
THEIR TRUTH EACH AND EVERY DAY.
IT IS ABOUT LISTENING TO THEIR
CONCERNS AND UNDERSTANDING THE
STRUGGLES THAT THEY SHARE, AND
TAKING ALL OF THAT IN AND USING
OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH AS
TRIBAL LEADERS OR WHATEVER HAT
THAT WE WEAR TO DEMAND THE
DIGNITY AND THE CARE THAT OUR
PEOPLE DESERVE.
TRUE LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT
SERVICE.
IT IS ABOUT STANDING BESIDE OUR
PEOPLE AND NEVER ABOVE THEM.
IT IS USI ABOUT USING EVERY TE
HAVE, EVERY CONVERSATION WE
ENGAGE IN, EVERY OPPORTUNITY
THAT COMES OUR WAY TO CREATE THE
POSITIVE CHANGES THAT OUR PEOPLE
ARE ASKING FOR.
WE'RE EACH CALLED TO BE LEADERS
IN OUR OWN WAY, WHETHER THAT IS
THROUGH SPEAKING OUT, LENDING A
HAND, OR JUST LISTENING WITH AN
OPEN HEART.
EVERY ACTION THAT WE TAKE IS A
STEP TOWARDS WRITING THE WRONGS
OF THE PAST, AND LET US NEVER
FORGET THAT OUR STRENGTH LIES
ALSO IN OUR UNITY, IN OUR SHARED
COMMITMENT TO OUR PEOPLE.
TODAY LET'S REDEDICATE OURSELVES
TO THIS MISSION.
LET US BE THE LEADERS WHO SERVE
WITH HUMILITY AND DETERMINE
NAIG, WHO SEE BEYOND THE
LIMITATIONS PLACED UPON US.
AND WHO UNDERSTAND THE REAL
CHANGE COMES FROM WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEN WE LEAD WITH A
SERVANT'S HEART, WE EMPOWER
OTHERS TO FIND THEIR VOICE AND
CLAIM THEIR PLACE IN UPLIFTING
AND INSPIRING OUR PEOPLE AND THE
GENERATIONS THAT WE WILL NEVER
SEE.
THESE AWARDS THAT WERE GIVEN OUT
TODAY IS NOT JUST ABOUT A
RECOGNITION OF A SINGLE PERSON,
BUT ALSO IS A REMINDER TO EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF US TO ALWAYS
ANSWER THAT CALL TO SERVICE, TO
KEEP ADVOCATING, TO KEEP
BELIEVING, TO KEEP INSPIRING,
AND TO KEEP GIVING HOPE TO ALL
OF OUR PEOPLE NO MATTER WHERE
THEY ARE.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE
STAND TOGETHER, WHEN WE SERVE
TOGETHER, WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE.
SO ONCE AGAIN, I THANK EVERYONE
FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE
DONE, AND I HONOR EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU THAT WERE HONORED
HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR FUTURE
BETTER FOR THOSE THAT WE WILL
NEVER SEE.
AND IN GETTING TO THE SHORT
LITTLE PRAYER, I KNOW THAT WE
ALL HAVE DIFFERENT FAITHS, WE
ALL HAVE DIFFERENT BELIEFS, BUT
I'D WATCH THE KREE A -- I'D ASK
THE CREATOR TO WATCH OVER EVERY
ONE OF US THAT ARE HERE TODAY,
WATCH OVER OUR LOVED ONES, WATCH
OVER THOSE STRUGGLING WITH THE
MENTAL HEALTH, STRUGGLING WITH
THE ADDICTION, BECAUSE THE ROOT
OF IT IS TRAUMA THAT THEY NEVER
DESERVED, AND WE ASK THE CREATOR
TO WATCH OVER THOSE THAT ARE
STRUGGLING IN THE DARKNESS, AND
LET THE LIGHT THAT THOSE
SERVANTS THAT ARE HERE, LET THE
LIGHT OF THOSE SERVANTS THAT ARE
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES HELP GUIDE
OUR LOVED ONES BACK HOME TO
WHERE THEY BELONG.
WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER OUR
ELDERS FOR THEY'RE SACRED, WE
ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER OUR
WOMEN AS THEY ARE THE GIVERS OF
LIFE AND WE ASK THAT YOU ALWAYS
WATCH OVER OUR YOUTH BECAUSE
THEY WILL SOON TAKE OUR PLACE.
WE SAY THIS IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMAN.
SO THIS CONCLUDES OUR AWARD
CEREMONY FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2023.
ON BEHALF OF DIRECTOR TSO AND
THE I.H.S., I'D LIKE TO THANK
ALL OF YOU FOR ATTENDING TODAY'S
AWARD CEREMONY AND FOR HELPING
US RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
OF 2023 AWARDS RECIPIENTS.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL THE
AWARDEES AND ESPECIALLY ALL OF
YOU THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO SEE
OUT THERE VIRTUALLY, AND I'D
LIKE TO HAVE EVERYBODY PLEASE
JOIN US FOR SOME LIGHT
REFRESHMENTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER
HERE BACK OUT THERE.
IN THE BLUE CURTAINED AREA.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
HAVE SAFE TRAVELS, AND
APPRECIATE IT.
[APPLAUSE]