2003 Phoenix Area Indian Health Service Honor Awards

The mission of the Indian Health Service is to raise the health status of Native Americans to the highest possible level. The individuals and groups we recognize today have all made significant contributions in one way or another, to helping us accomplish that mission. Some award recipients are being recognized for their clinical skill and compassion in caring for patients, others are being recognized for their innovative ideas in providing better care, and still others are being recognized for their ability to streamline work and make things happen more efficiently and effectively. All are being recognized for their dedication and commitment to raising the health status of our people. I am thankful for the work that each one does and would like to extend my congratulations, and my sincere appreciation for a job well done.

Dr. Eden has served as Director for the Arizona Department of Health Services since May of 2000. She is responsible for an annual budget exceeding one billion dollars, and more than eighteen hundred employees. This recognition is directly related to the Hospital Bioterrorism and Community Bioterrorism Preparedness programs operating within her purview. From the beginning of her tenure, Dr. Eden was fully aware of the unique status of tribal nations, and their need to acquire the same level of homeland security, provided to other Arizona residents. She made it clear to County grant awardees that their plans, exercises, and other expenditures of resources must be coordinated with tribes within their boundaries. She created a position for a Native American liaison within the Arizona Department of Health Services. Dr. Eden directed her Health Alert Network staff to include Indian Health Service and tribal health care facilities in their satellite downlink systems so that they could receive relevant Public Health programming from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most recently, this State Health Director demonstrated her will and determination to serve Indian Country with bioterrorism preparedness resources by tenaciously seeking legal language to remove “road blocks” to implementing IHS and tribal grant agreements. In checking with other IHS Areas, in other states, no other state has succeeded in achieving this level of State, IHS and Tribal collaboration.

The Phoenix Area Indian Health Service is truly indebted to Dr. Eden’s unwavering commitment to include Indian Country as a full partner in The War on Terrorism.

Marion and her husband purchased supplies, approached local markets for donations, and began to cook. Starting with two people the first day, her outreach quickly grew to about 100 people per meal Monday through Friday, and up to 300 people on holidays. Her food is always healthy and plentiful, and is the only nutrition some of the homeless people on the reservation receive. Her work has proven itself so effective that she has inspired other individuals to give of their time, energy, and money to help with the feeding program and the Tribal Chairman granted her use of a tribal trailer for lunch distribution. Marion named her outreach the Kateri Feeding Program after Kateri Tekakwitha (Tek-a-wee-tha), a Mohawk Woman nominated for sainthood in the Catholic Church. Soups, stews, sandwiches, bread and tortillas made in industrial-sized quantities, in her small kitchen, daily feed the poorest of the poor on the reservation.

Marion has proven that her heart is large and her arms are open. As she selflessly gives of her personal energy, cooking skills, and financial resources to feed the poor and hungry of this community, she supports the physical and emotional health among the San Carlos Apache people.

This year after her annual Area review, Delores received a 100% accuracy rate for her field of Data Entry and RPMS for Store Stock Supplies. This means she has an exact count as to what has come in and gone out of the Property and Supply office stores. This is very important for ordering of supplies, not over stocking shelves with high cost items, and making sure the service unit does not run out of patient care items.

She is very conscientious of the requests concerning patient care. She has been an asset to the Ft. Yuma Service Unit Property and Supply department. Ms. Miller’s efforts have demonstrated commitment and dedication to the mission of the Indian Health Service and to the people and has performed in the most outstanding way possible.

At the clinic, patients are given the opportunity to be instructed in Western Shoshone or English for a better understanding of health care. When patients do not understand a certain diagnosis or a test to be performed, Ms. Smith is always available to provide clear communication between staff and the patients. As a result of this patients feel more comfortable and understand the type of treatment received because the language barrier between the medical staff and patient is removed.

Ms. Roselyne Smith’s efforts have shown commitment and dedication to the mission of the Indian Health Service. She has demonstrated an effort well over what would be expected of her position and fellow employees.