We Are Healers

?? Please join us in welcoming the 2025 Healers Community Circle cohort! These 15 incredible Native students are the faces of the future of Indigenous medicine—the changemakers our ancestors prayed for. As they pursue careers in medicine, nursing, dentistry, and beyond, they are carrying forward a legacy of healing and community care. Through this yearlong program, our cohort will receive: ? Mentorship from Native health professionals & peers ?? Funding to develop a community health project ?? Support for exam fees, school materials & enrichment programs ?? Networking through virtual gatherings with Native health leaders Thanks to your support, we’ve grown from 10 to 15 cohort members this year! Stay tuned as we celebrate each of them over the next two weeks. ??? #WeAreHealers #IndigenousExcellence #FutureHealers #NativeInMedicine #HealthcareWarriors

Last weekend, We Are Healers was proud to support Healers Community Circle Mentor Cailean “Dakota” MacColl (Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Treaty 6) in attending the American Academy of Dermatology conference in Orlando, Florida. As a future dermatologist, Dakota is dedicated to reshaping the field by integrating Indigenous knowledge, traditional healing practices, and a focus on the unique skin health needs of Indigenous and 2Spirit communities. Supporting Native students like Dakota with access to transformative opportunities like this conference is one way we help uplift the next generation of Indigenous healthcare leaders. As a We Are Healers mentor, Dakota is leading "2Spirit Skin Stories"—a project exploring the intersection of identity, gender, and dermatologic care. Through storytelling and research, they aim to highlight barriers Indigenous LGBTQ2S+ individuals face in accessing treatment and advocate for holistic, culturally grounded skin care. #WeAreHealers #IndigenousHealth #2Spirit #Dermatology #NativeMedicalStudents

The primary application for the Post-Baccalaureate Pathway for Enrolled Tribal Members is NOW OPEN! ? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/g9iW7M47 The Post-Baccalaureate Pathway for Enrolled Tribal Members is a FREE 10-month post-baccalaureate health education Pathway for enrolled Tribal members who are passionate about becoming physicians, hosted by the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. The Pathway recruits nationwide and scholars receive a monthly stipend throughout the 10-month Pathway. One of the most valuable attributes of the Post-Baccalaureate Pathway for Enrolled Tribal Members is the provision of conditional acceptance into the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. The primary application for the Post-Baccalaureate Pathway for Enrolled Tribal Members CLOSES on May 10, 2025. Please reach out to [email protected] with questions regarding the application and be sure to Register for the Post-Baccalaureate Pathway for Enrolled Tribal Members Info and Q&A Sessions on March 21st, 2025. WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

?? Celebrating an Accomplishment in Indigenous Medical Education! ?? We are incredibly proud of our Healer Mentor Hailey Baker (Cherokee) and Alec Calac, PhD alongside his father, Dr. Daniel Calac, for their leadership in bringing "An Introduction to Traditional Healing in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities" to #MedEdPORTAL, the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). This groundbreaking module, a collaboration between the Association of Native Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS) and the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), is designed for medical students, residents, and fellows eager to learn about Traditional Healing, the Indian Health Service, and Tribal Health Programs. A huge thank you to NBME and Building The Next Generation of Academic Physicians for supporting this work through the Academic Medicine Writing Fellowship. ?? Download, explore, and share widely! Let’s continue to elevate Indigenous knowledge in medical education. ?? https://lnkd.in/gQbdGb96 #IndigenousHealth #TraditionalHealing #NativeMedicine #MedEdPORTAL #FutureHealers #ANAMS #AAIP #HealthEquity

Please welcome Katlin Wilson, MS (Rincon Band of Luise?o Indians) our final cohort in the Healers Community Circle! Katlin is a third-year medical student at the University of Minnesota with a passion for advancing culturally responsive dermatologic care for Indigenous communities. Inspired by her own experiences and the health disparities faced by Native and Mexican communities, Katlin is dedicated to bridging traditional knowledge with modern dermatology. Through the Healers Community Circle, she is creating an Indigenous Dermatology Guide—a groundbreaking resource that highlights traditional medicine practices and the expertise of Native dermatologists. By preserving Indigenous wisdom and integrating it into dermatologic care, this project aims to improve health outcomes, empower Native patients, and promote culturally informed care. Follow Katlin’s journey as she works to elevate Indigenous voices in dermatology and create lasting change in Native healthcare. #HealersCommunityCircle #IndigenousDermatology #NativeHealth

?? Calling all American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students!! Are you a Native student interested in a healthcare career or thinking about a possible career in Public Health, STEM, or any healthcare career? Not sure? Come with your friends and join us for the Haku Healthcare American Indian Student Summit—a FREE one-day event on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at UC Santa Barbara! ? Connect with Native medical students & health professionals ? Gain mentorship & application guidance for medical, public health, and health professional schools ? Learn how you can make an impact in Native healthcare ? Participate in a HANDS ON integrative medicine activity ? Registration is FREE and meals are included. Gifts, and swag, for those staying the whole day! This regional event, a 2nd annual, for California and Hawaii was created by local physician Nicole Stern (Mescalero Apache) and is hosted this year by the American Indian and Indigenous Cultural Resource Center at UCSB. UCSB is collaborating with the Association of American Indian Physicians and the Association of Native American Medical Students to bring this opportunity to students. Co-sponsors include the American Indian Health & Services, Sansum Clinic, now a part of Sutter Health, the University of California Davis School of Medicine, and a generous gift from an anonymous donor.?? Some travel (airfare or mileage) and housing assistance available to students! Open to any pre-health or pre-public health Native students, but preference to those living in or planning to work in California. MANY spots are still open—apply now! Deadline for out of state students is Friday March 14th or March 28th for instate students not needing housing.?? ?? https://lnkd.in/gqEzZ6iQ #NativeHealth #IndigenousStudents #FutureHealers #HakuSummit #CaliforniaNative

Please join us in welcoming Bailey Williams (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), a first-year medical student at Oregon Health & Science University. Bailey is committed to increasing Indigenous representation in medicine. Their journey to medical school was shaped by transformative programs like Wy’east, RISE Pathway, and AI/AN Medical School Applicant Workshop—opportunities that provided the mentorship and support they needed to navigate the path to becoming a physician. Now, Bailey is dedicated to ensuring future Indigenous students have access to similar resources. Through the Healers Community Circle, Bailey is developing a centralized online hub for Native students pursuing healthcare careers, compiling scholarships, programs, and resources that are often difficult to find. This project will help Indigenous students access the financial and educational support they need to succeed, while also building connections between tribes and institutions that aim to uplift Native healthcare professionals. By bridging these gaps, Bailey hopes to inspire and empower the next generation of Indigenous healers. Stay connected as Bailey shares their journey and works to make medical education more accessible for Native students. #HealersCommunityCircle #IndigenousInMedicine #NativeHealthCareers

Meet Caitlin Wanic, an enrolled citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community, and a first-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Growing up in a medically underserved tribal community, Caitlin was inspired to pursue medicine after realizing the lack of Indigenous representation in healthcare. Now, as one of the first females from her tribe to attend medical school, she is committed to mentoring future Native health professionals and creating spaces for Indigenous students to connect and support one another. Through the Healers Community Circle, Caitlin is developing a unique mentorship project that blends traditional crafting with meaningful discussion. She will lead a series of virtual workshops, guiding Indigenous pre-medical and health profession students through the art of quillwork while fostering conversations about navigating the medical education journey. By combining cultural expression with mentorship, Caitlin hopes to build a strong community of Indigenous students who support and uplift one another. Her project will also explore the impact of mentorship and creative outlets on student well-being, culminating in a research paper or presentation to highlight these findings. Stay tuned as Caitlin shares her journey, insights, and the transformative power of cultural connection in medicine. #HealersCommunityCircle #IndigenousMentorship #NativeInMedicine #quillwork

Way to go Lala Forrest, MD! ?? ?

Two weeks left to apply for the 2025 AI/AN Medical School Applicant Workshop! Application closing March 17, 2025. ? Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/eYi9Y8Wq Through this experience you’ll participate in 1-on-1 personal statement feedback, mock interview practice, a Q&A with a panel of Native medical students, and more. Pro Tip: Don’t forget you need to submit a completed draft of your personal statement along with your application, so get started writing today. ?? Oregon Health & Science University UC Davis Health University of California, Davis - School of Medicine University of Washington - School of Medicine UW Medicine WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine