As we move into fall, I have been reflecting on how much has happened across United Indian Health Services over the past several months. Everywhere I look, I see growth in our facilities and services, in our people and relationships, and in the many ways we continue coming together as a community.
This issue of The Acorn Basket celebrates Paths to Wellness, and I think that idea beautifully reflects the work happening throughout UIHS. There is no single path to health and wellness. For some, that path may include medical care or behavioral health services. For others, it may be about connecting more with culture, spending time outdoors, sharing healing foods, learning something new, or simply feeling supported and connected by family, friends, and our amazing community.
In many ways, all those paths are reflected in everything happening around UIHS.
One of the things I am most proud of is the incredible team we are building! Every new employee brings their own experience, knowledge, gifts, talents and connection to community. At the same time, we continue to celebrate longtime staff who have dedicated years and sometimes decades to serving our clients and families.
We have watched members of our team continue to grow professionally. Staff have earned new certifications, completed degrees, stepped into new positions, and taken on new responsibilities. These accomplishments are important because when our people grow, UIHS grows with them.
We recently saw a wonderful examples of that with Ina Shelly, who first came to UIHS as a teenage dental patient and was encouraged by her dental team to consider becoming a Dental Assistant. Thirty years later, she continues to serve our community as part of the UIHS Dental team! Kendra Myers and Janette Myers, who recently earned their Medical Assistant certifications, are two more such examples. Their accomplishments reflect tremendous individual effort, and we’re very proud to see our staff continue to learn and grow.
We are growing our capacity to serve the community as well. One of our most significant recent accomplishments is the near completion of the remodel of the Potawot Medical and Pharmacy departments. The temporary Eureka Health Clinic on Lucas Street served an important purpose during construction, and I am grateful to everyone who helped make the transition back to Potawot as smooth as possible.
Our Pharmacy team also moved into its newly renovated space at Potawot in August. Pharmacy has grown tremendously since opening at Potawot in 2001, and today this team of just 10 people processes more than 90,000 prescriptions each year. Our Vision department also opened a new location at Rrak Jach Village (Valley East) this summer, creating additional space to provide high-quality vision and eyewear services.
There is much work ahead of us, and there will always be new challenges. But when I look around UIHS today, I see tremendous reasons to be excited for the future of our American Indian community.
I see talented people joining our organization and longtime employees sharing their knowledge. Staff are developing new skills, advancing their careers, and finding new ways to serve our community. Our spaces and services are growing and improving as well, and through it all, culture, community, healthy food, and connection remain at the heart of what we do.
Most of all, I see people who care deeply about one another and the communities we serve. There are many paths to a healthy life. May we continue moving forward together.
Liz Lara-O’Rourke, CEO
