January 21, 2026: IHS Updates for Tribes and Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations

The bi-weekly update provides up-to-date information on recent events, meetings, conferences, upcoming deadlines, and recognition of the work being done across the Indian Health Service, other federal agencies, and Indian Country. For more information or questions, please email IHSPublicAffairsStaff@ihs.gov.

Rear Adm. Buchanan Retires After 33 Years of Service

We extend our warmest wishes to Rear Adm. Chris Buchanan, an enrolled member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, on his retirement after 33 years of dedicated service to the Indian Health Service. Throughout his career, Rear Adm. Buchanan has been a steady and trusted leader, committed to strengthening the Indian health care system and supporting the communities we serve. He began his career with IHS in 1993 as an environmental health officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Since 2021, he has served as the IHS deputy director for field operations, providing critical management oversight and resource allocation for the 12 IHS Areas. From 2016 through 2021, he served as IHS deputy director, which included filling the role of acting IHS director—helping ensure continuity and comprehensive care across the Indian health system.

On behalf of the entire IHS team, we thank Rear Adm. Buchanan for his decades of leadership, service, and dedication. We wish him continued fulfillment, good health, and many well-deserved years of retirement.

Dr. Charles “Ty” Reidhead Retires after 28 Years

We also honor Dr. Charles “Ty” Reidhead, MD, MPH, a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, for his tireless commitment to the Indian Health Service for the past 28 years. Dr. Reidhead began his career with IHS in 1997 as a primary care internist in Whiteriver, Arizona. In 2004, the IHS director appointed him to serve as the National Chief Clinical Consultant in Internal Medicine. He coordinated a national initiative to improve the care and prevention of chronic conditions and from 2006-2010, these efforts grew into the contemporary Improving Patient Care Program that brought more than 100 sites together from across the country to participate in innovative work, transforming the delivery of primary care. He served for eight years as the Phoenix Area chief medical officer and has served as the Phoenix Area director since 2016. He retired from the United States Public Health Service as a rear admiral.

We thank Dr. Reidhead for his service, leadership, and excellence in his work. His incredible contributions to delivering on the IHS mission made a lasting impact to the care delivered to patients. We wish him a retirement filled with happiness, adventure, and well-deserved relaxation.

Dixie Gaikowski, an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe and the current Tucson Area director, will serve as the acting Phoenix Area director. We appreciate her stepping up to cover this critical position for the IHS during the transition period.

Phoenix Area Executive Officer Carol S. Lincon presents Dr. Reidhead with a plaque during his retirement reception on January 8 in Phoenix.

Dr. Reidhead with members of the Phoenix Area Leadership Team

IHS Scholarship Program Accepting Applications

The IHS Scholarship Program is currently accepting applications for scholarship support for the 2026–2027 academic year. The IHS strives to develop our next generation of leaders, as well as help make the pursuit of a meaningful career in Indian health attainable for American Indian and Alaska Native students. The list of 2026-2027 Scholarship Program Eligible Degree Programs is available here. Eligible students are encouraged to apply by February 28.

IHS Scholarship Program funding plays a vital role in reducing the financial burden of health professions educational costs for tribal members, while increasing the number of American Indian and Alaska Native health care professionals. These scholarships are essential to expanding access to care and addressing clinical shortages within our communities. Learn more about IHS student opportunities here.

Health IT Modernization Program Seeks Participants for Upcoming Focus Groups

The IHS Health Information Technology (IT) Modernization Program will hold the next focus groups in January and February with sessions on Health IT Modernization, Data Management and Analytics, and Interoperability. Focus groups provide an opportunity for subject matter experts to share information and expertise concerning issues of interest to all IHS, tribal, and urban Indian organizations related to electronic health record (EHR) use and PATH EHR implementation. The Modernization Program has three upcoming focus groups:

• “Health IT Modernization: Cohort Readiness” - January 15 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
• “Data Management and Analytics: Strategic Data Management” - January 22 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
• “Interoperability: Patient Portals” - February 12 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET 

Take an active role in shaping the future of Health IT at IHS by joining a focus group. To participate, email modernization@ihs.gov with your name, title, credentials, tribe or organization, email address, and focus group(s) you wish to join.

ORAP Hosts Purchased/Referred Care Tribal Consultation with Arizona Tribal Leaders

The Office of Resource Access and Partnerships will host a tribal consultation session with Arizona tribal leaders to receive input on establishing Arizona as a state-wide Purchased/Referred Care Delivery Area (PRCDA). A PRCDA defines the geographic area within which PRC services are available to eligible beneficiaries. Expanding this area could affect current services, making tribal input essential before any studies are initiated.  The consultation session will be held on January 21 in Chandler, Arizona. Additional details, including the registration link, are available on the IHS Calendar. An internal session will be scheduled at a later date to receive feedback from PRC staff. For more information, please contact HQPRC@ihs.gov.

Institutional Environmental Health Program Offers Long-Term Training Opportunity

The Division of Environmental Health Services Institutional Environmental Health (IEH) Program provides leadership in the development and implementation of effective environmental health and safety management systems to reduce risks of injury and/or illness to our employees, patients, and visitors in IHS and tribal facilities and institutions. The program is offering a professional development opportunity designed to develop highly competent and technically qualified IEH officers to enhance and advance environmental health and safety. This IEH field-based residency long-term training program is a two-year full-time assignment designed for applicants that do not have a graduate degree in industrial hygiene, occupational safety or environmental health. The candidate will complete two years of distance-learning graduate-level coursework at Montana Tech in the Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene degree program. 

Requirements include:

• Existing IHS staff and existing PHS officers (already assigned to IHS or detailed to a tribal health program)
• Five years' experience as a professional in environmental health and/or safety
• Three years' experience in IHS and/or on as a PHS Commissioned Corps tribal detail assignment
• Demonstrated commitment to institutional environmental health.

Applications are due by February 2. For more details, interested candidates are encouraged to contact their Area’s institutional environmental health officer or DEHS Institutional Environmental Health Program Manager Brian Hroch at brian.hroch@ihs.gov or 240-478-2724.

Hepatitis C Elimination Pilot Designates 20th Site

We are pleased to recognize the designation of the Haskell Indian Health Center as the 20th Hepatitis C Elimination Pilot site as part of the IHS National Chronic Liver Disease Initiative. Chronic liver disease (CLD) is among the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. and represents a major health disparity resulting in premature death among American Indians and Alaska Natives. The IHS advocates a comprehensive strategy to reduce CLD-related morbidity and mortality among Native people. Announced by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Loretta Christensen in October 2025, the IHS National Chronic Liver Disease Initiative is a proactive approach that prioritizes evidence-based prevention, screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of liver disease in tribal communities. As we seek to mitigate the impacts of chronic liver disease, I want to encourage each of our programs to join our Hepatitis C Elimination exemplars as a Hepatitis C Elimination Pilot site.

Indian Health Service Schedules Clinical and Community Workforce Summit

Join Indian Health Service clinical and community professionals for the Clinical and Community Workforce Summit from March 10-12, in Denver, Colorado. Hosted by the IHS Alzheimer’s Program, this is a focused summit on Alzheimer’s and elder care, centered on knowledge, compassion, and community at work. The event will bring together health care providers, program leaders, and community partners to share best practices, strengthen workforce capacity, and support culturally grounded approaches to elder care across tribal and urban Indian communities. For more information, visit the 2026 IHS Summit Registration website. 

Division of Innovation and Improvement Highlights Improvement Work

The Division of Innovation and Improvement’s Innovation Program is recognizing formal improvement work at two facilities across the IHS. In the Great Plains Area, the Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Health Care Facility aimed to improve rates of follow-up and treatment for patients testing positive for any STI. Between January 2024 and January 2025, the average syphilis positivity rate was 7.45 percent. Following the implementation of targeted process improvements in outreach, contact tracing, and treatment follow-up, the average percentage of positive cases decreased to 4.04 percent from February through December 2025. This represents a 46 percent relative reduction in syphilis positivity, demonstrating the effectiveness of the redesigned processes in improving case identification and follow-up outcomes.

In the Phoenix Area, the Phoenix Indian Medical Center aimed to create a comprehensive dementia care plan for at least 75 percent of patients seen in the eldercare clinic by December 2025. During this project, key eldercare workflows were developed, tested, and fully implemented, including a case management initial assessment template, an internal referral process, and a dedicated eldercare order within the electronic health record. After initial provider training, there were early trends in increasing detection of cognitive impairment clinic-wide leading to more appropriate referrals to eldercare. As a result, 73 percent of patients referred to eldercare completed a comprehensive geriatric assessment and case management assessment. Among those assessed, 8 percent were diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and were connected to appropriate support services and resources previously unknown to them, significantly improving early identification and access to care.

Division of Nursing Services Public Health Nursing Program Provides Technical Assistance

On January 8, the Division of Nursing Services Public Health Nursing Program provided a program visit to provide technical assistance to the United American Indian Involvement, Inc. in Los Angeles. UAII received the IHS PHN Sexually Transmitted Infections Case Management Cooperative Agreement Award and continues efforts to mitigate the prevalence of STIs within Indian Country through a case management model that utilizes the PHN as a case manager. This work is critical to ensuring that comprehensive, public health services are available and accessible to American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Patient Safety Awareness Week: Good Catch Competition & Recognition of Excellence

Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) is coming up on March 8–14, and the Office of Quality, Division of Quality Assurance and Patient Safety, is excited to celebrate the outstanding work happening across the IHS to keep patients safe every day. This year, we will mark PSAW with a Good Catch Competition and by recognizing excellence across our workforce.

Throughout January and February, the Office of Quality will be tracking patient safety (non-medication) good catches entered into I-STAR. Good catches are circumstances that have the capacity to cause an event or incident, whether or not it would have been adverse, but did not do so by chance recognition or timely intervention. Good catches are learning opportunities and afford the chance to develop preventive strategies and actions. Good catches are also called close calls and near misses. Good catches play a vital role in identifying risks, strengthening systems, and preventing harm.

• The service unit with the highest number of documented patient safety good catches will receive the Preoccupation with Failure Award, recognizing commitment to one of the key High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles.
• The winning service unit will be highlighted on the Patient Safety Awareness Week Recognition SharePoint site, on IHS social media, and in the Week in Review.

Patient safety is strengthened every day by the diligence, compassion, and expertise of staff across all disciplines. PSAW is an opportunity to pause and celebrate those efforts. If you know a colleague who consistently promotes safety, identifies risks, speaks up for patients, or models HRO behaviors, please take a moment to recognize them: Patient Safety Excellence Recognition Nomination.

 

Thank you to all staff for your ongoing dedication to providing safe, high-quality care. Your good catches, your vigilance, and your commitment make a difference every day, for every patient, in every facility.

National Pharmacy Council Wellness Monthly Spotlight: Clinton Service Unit

The Clinton Service Unit Pharmacy teams—Clinton, El Reno, and Watonga, Oklahoma—used National Pharmacy Week to boost wellness and recognition through goodie baskets, thank-you letters, and employee awards, which are now displayed in the department. Staff enjoyed daily pharmacy trivia with candy-filled “prescription” prizes and a team social at a local restaurant. The celebration carried into Halloween, where the Clinton team won the door-decorating contest with their “Welcome to the Pharm” theme. Holiday traditions continue with “Favorite Days of Christmas” gift-sharing and El Reno’s Annual Christmas Party featuring paint-by-numbers canvases. These activities have strengthened team appreciation, connection, and morale.

IHS Pharmacy Presentation at ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting

The IHS was proudly represented by 25 pharmacy residency programs at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas, held from December 7-10. Our teams connected with nearly 230 attendees and worked to recruit for 33 residency positions and share staffing opportunities across the agency. Current residents showcased their hard work by presenting 26 projects during the Federal Forum Poster Session, and program directors came together for valuable workshop discussions. The IHS Pharmacy Residency Program has a long-standing tradition of providing a strong foundation for post-graduate training, which helps pharmacists develop into increasingly advanced clinical and administrative roles. Since 2000, we’ve retained 82% of our residents after their training, an achievement that directly supports the IHS mission to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level.

Special Office Hours: Sterilization & Water Quality Related to Instrument Reprocessing

In collaboration with the CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, the Office of Quality invites staff to attend an upcoming Office Hours session on January 26 from 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET. This session will focus on sterilization and water quality related to instrument reprocessing. Click here to join. This Office Hours session is the second in a series and will be conducted in a question-and-answer format, addressing questions raised during the initial training session held on December 16, 2025, which reached 237 health care professionals from IHS, tribal and urban health care facilities, CDC, and the American Indian and Alaska Native Quality Improvement Organization.

The target audience includes infection preventionists, quality professionals, facilities managers, industrial hygienists, biomedical engineering staff, safety and patient safety officers, staff who use and reprocess instruments and equipment, dental professionals, and leadership. We encourage all relevant staff to participate and bring questions for discussion. Reach out to Infection Control Program Manager Kelly Andrews with any questions.

Elder Health Team Visits Nashville Area

On January 7, the IHS Elder Health Team from the Alzheimer’s Program visited the Chickahominy Tribe and the Mid-Atlantic Tribal Health Center to support their dementia grant. Staff toured facilities and the community, engaged with elders at a Brown Bag Event, and brainstormed with the health center team about their evolving strategies. These conversations provided the team with a firsthand look at how community-driven and culturally responsive dementia care can flourish. It’s all part of a bigger IHS goal: empowering tribal and urban communities to lead the way in elder health. A virtual planning session also reviewed implementation strategies, technical assistance needs, and sustainability priorities, including early dementia screening, caregiver support, referral tracking, and quality-of-life measures. Overall, the visit strengthened partnerships and reinforced the importance of local voices in shaping dementia care.

Patient Safety Program and VHA Offer Training Opportunities for IHS Staff

The IHS Patient Safety Program partners with the Veterans Health Administration National Center for Patient Safety to enhance training opportunities for agency staff. Through this collaboration, IHS personnel have access to a range of VHA-administered training modules designed to strengthen patient safety practices across the system. These training courses are an excellent opportunity for professional development and to promote a culture of safety across IHS. For more information and to register, click here. Upcoming virtual training opportunities include:

• “Proactive Risk Assessment” on January 28 | 6.5 hours | Register by January 21
• “Foundations for Patient Safety Officers” on February 3–26 | 32 hours ?Register by January 27
• “Root Cause Analysis” on April 8 | 6.5 hours ? Register by April 1

Bemidji Area Leadership Attends MAST Meeting

Last week, Bemidji Area leadership attended the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST) meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin. MAST is a quarterly meeting for Bemidji Area tribes to gather and voice their concerns on various governmental topics. Leadership included Dr. Chris Poole and Tammy King, who presented on 105(l) leases, Contract Disputes Act claims, and third-party expenditure contract support costs. Dr. Poole mentioned how beneficial 105(l) leases have been to the Bemidji Area tribes. This was a great opportunity to share general information and receive feedback from the 55 attendees. Leadership continues to be accessible in responding to tribal concerns, including requests for training opportunities regarding the third-party CSC expenditure calculations and one-on-one technical assistance sessions with tribes.  

Fort McDowell Nation Hosts Ribbon Cutting for Arsenic Removal Water Treatment Plant

On December 16, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for a newly constructed arsenic removal water treatment plant on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation near Fountain Hills, Arizona. The new facility provides more than 800,000 gallons of treated water each day and uses an adsorption media filtration system to address elevated arsenic levels in the drinking water supply serving more than 300 homes and 20 non-residential facilities across the reservation. The nearly $6 million construction project included $2.5 million in funding from the IHS Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, along with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Leaders from the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the new arsenic removal water treatment plant.

Community members and project partners tour the new arsenic removal water treatment plant serving the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation.

Navajo Area Hosts Annual Ride to Rock Biking, Run Events

The annual 6-mile Ride to the Rock mountain bike event was held on January 3 at the Shiprock Pinnacle in northwest New Mexico. The event was a collaboration between the Four Corners Regional Healthcare Center’s Health Promotion Disease Prevention/Dental Department, Navajo YES (Youth Empowerment Services), and the Shiprock Chapter House. More than 140 riders from tribal and non-tribal communities as far away as California participated in the event. The event promotes the physical, mental, social, and spiritual benefits of mountain biking, while enjoying one of the most iconic landmarks in the southwest. A 10k Run to the Rock event is set to take place March 21 to celebrate the spring season.

Phoenix UIO Parters with Arizona State University to Design Indigenous Shelter Model Homes

Native American Connections, an urban Indian organization in Phoenix, Arizona, partnered up with Arizona State University Architecture students to design Indigenous shelter model homes for the Native American homeless population. The project focused on creating a rapid-deploy, non-congregate shelter model that could serve 60 individuals at a time, at proposed sites in the Phoenix Area. The design considered single adults, families, and elders. Students used existing site conditions to plan modular units and essential service spaces like administrative offices, dining, laundry, conference rooms, storage, and parking. The goal of the project was to explore how design can support dignity, safety, empowerment, and effective service delivery for people experiencing homelessness, while still being culturally appropriate and realistic. This is an innovative approach to supporting our Native relatives who are experiencing homelessness.

Oklahoma City Indian Clinic Achieves Full Accreditation from the Joint Commission

The Oklahoma City Indian Clinic has achieved full accreditation from The Joint Commission for both ambulatory and behavioral health services, effective December 31, 2025. This milestone affirms that OKCIC meets the national gold standard for health care quality and patient safety. The accreditation strengthens clinical processes, improves care coordination, and supports staff with clear, evidence-based standards—enhancing their ability to deliver safe, consistent, and patient-centered care. This achievement reflects the dedication and teamwork of OKCIC staff and reinforces the clinic’s commitment to excellence in serving the American Indian community.

Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa Earns Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award

The Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa is proud to announce it has achieved state-level three recognition through its Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award journey, as awarded by the Oklahoma Quality Foundation. This accomplishment recognizes the organization’s continued progress toward performance excellence through strong leadership, effective systems, and a patient-centered approach to care. Reaching the state level three milestone reflects the dedication of IHCRC’s staff and reinforces the organization’s commitment to continuous improvement, learning, and high-quality service to the community.

Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence Webinar Series

The Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence Tele-Education Program is hosting the following webinar for health care providers: 

• Behavioral Health Integration Webinar Series: "Integrating Substance Use Treatment into Integrated Care Settings” on January 22 at 12:00 p.m. ET ? Register here.

Advancements in Diabetes Webinar Series

The IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention: Advancements in Diabetes Webinar Series is hosting the following webinar for health care providers:  

• “Uncovering the Power of Diabetes Technology: CGM and its Metrics” on January 21 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Click here to attend. 

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