Photo: Senator Claudia Kauffman receives a gift at the CIH Open House celebration.
On June 11, the Center for Indigenous Health (CIH), part of the UW Department of Pediatrics, held an open house to celebrate their new location at the University of Washington Medical Center. The space includes a lounge and study area in addition to offices and a lobby, which will enable CIH to welcome more students and provide a home base for building community and hosting events.
Dr. Jason Deen, Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, who founded CIH in 2023, welcomed attendees and spoke about the vision of the center and the importance of normalizing a pathway for Native students in medicine.
Dr. Deen created CIH to help address the significant shortage of Indigenous physicians in Washington state. American Indian and Alaska Native populations have a lower life expectancy and higher disease burden than other groups, and culturally relevant medical care is one way to help address these inequities. Research shows that care provided by a physician who shares a cultural background with their patients improves health outcomes and contributes to greater trust in the patient-provider relationship. But many Indigenous students face systemic barriers that can discourage or prevent them from pursuing a medical career.
Senator Claudia Kauffman, who was instrumental in securing funding for CIH, also spoke at the event. She praised the Center’s work to help young Native people see themselves reflected in medicine, and to build care “rooted in trust, respect, and a deep understanding of our values.”
“We are creating something lasting where American Indian voices lead,” Senator Kauffman added. “The Center is a promise to ourselves and to future generations.”
The Center’s programs work to increase opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native students considering pursuing a medical career, strengthen support for current students, and expand resources for career development for Indigenous academic faculty within the UW School of Medicine. The CIH team connects with students beginning in elementary school, building a robust support network to ensure that they have the tools they need to reach their academic goals.
More than 35 people attended the open house, which included a tour of the space, traditional gift giving, a potlatch celebration to honor and show gratitude, and recognition of student and faculty achievements.
To learn more about the Center for Indigenous Health, visit their website.