As we move into March, I find myself thinking about spring – a season of growth, longer days, and renewal. Here at United Indian Health Services, that sense of renewal is visible all around us. Across our clinics and programs, we are growing in ways that will help us better serve our community for generations to come.

One of the most exciting milestones this season is the opening of Rrak Jach Village. Located in Valley East in Arcata, this new space gives our medical, behavioral health, and human resources teams room to grow. It reflects our commitment to strengthening the foundation of care for our community. When our teams can collaborate more easily, it directly improves the care and services we provide to you and your family.

We are also looking ahead with great anticipation to the completion of the expanded medical and pharmacy facility at Potawot Health Village this summer. This long-awaited remodel will dramatically increase access to care and improve the experience for clients and families. Every improvement we make is guided by one goal: ensuring that our community has access to high-quality, culturally grounded health care right here at home.

As UIHS grows physically, we are also growing our team.

Please join me in welcoming several new leaders and providers:

• Todd Spath, LMFT, our new Behavioral Health Director, brings deep experience in tribal behavioral health and a strong commitment to culturally grounded healing.
• Rachael A’dair, Certified Nurse Midwife, joins us with a passion for supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and women’s health care. She also brings training in psychiatry and acupuncture, offering a holistic approach to care.
• Charles Vasquez, Lab Manager, brings valuable expertise that will strengthen the quality and efficiency of our laboratory services.

Each new addition to our team reflects our commitment to expanding access, improving services, and meeting the evolving needs of our community.

Also, in February, members of the UIHS Board of Directors and Executive Leadership traveled to Washington, D.C. While the setting may feel far from home, the purpose was deeply connected to our local community. Our goal was to share the daily realities of rural American Indian health care and to ensure that the voices of our clients, families, and elders are included in conversations that shape federal health policy at home and across the country.

On our trip, we spoke about the unique challenges facing California American Indian health programs and the importance of sustained support for initiatives that have improved the health of our Native communities.

Advocacy like this is not about politics. It’s about showing up, year after year, and raising our collective voice to remind those in power that rural American Indian communities matter. We carried with us the challenges we face, the strength and resilience of our tribes, and our ongoing commitment to culturally grounded healing and care close to home.

Growth takes time. Many of the projects we are celebrating today have been years in the making. They represent thoughtful planning, partnership, and a shared belief that our community deserves equitable, high-quality health care.

Spring reminds us that steady progress can create meaningful change. New health care spaces. New health care providers. More advocacy. Each step is part of a longer journey toward stronger healthier people.

I am deeply grateful for the trust you place in United Indian Health Services. It is an honor to serve you. As we move into this new season with new beginnings and renewed purpose, I feel hopeful and excited about what the future holds for all of us.

Together, we are building a stronger community, rooted in culture and guided by a shared commitment to take care of one another.

With gratidue,