About OHR
About the Office of Human Resources
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Office of Human Resources (OHR) provides strategic human capital leadership and comprehensive human resources services that enable the agency to fulfill its mission of raising the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level.
OHR supports every stage of the employee lifecycle by delivering customer-focused human resources solutions that strengthen organizational performance and enhance the employee experience. Our programs and services include recruitment and staffing, classification, compensation, employee benefits, retirement, employee and labor relations, performance management, workforce planning, organizational development, ethics and personnel security, and learning and development.
We work collaboratively with IHS programs, offices, and health care facilities to ensure human resources practices are consistent, equitable, and aligned with federal laws, regulations, and merit system principles.
Mission/Vision
Our Mission: To provide exceptional, customer-focused human resources services that attract, develop, engage, and retain a highly qualified workforce dedicated to advancing the mission of the Indian Health Service.
Our Vision: To be a trusted strategic partner that delivers innovative human capital solutions, fosters an engaged workforce, and supports organizational excellence across the Indian Health Service.
What We Do
The Office of Human Resources provides leadership and expertise in:
- Talent acquisition and strategic recruitment
- Workforce planning and organizational effectiveness
- Position classification and position management
- Pay, leave, benefits, and retirement administration
- Employee and labor relations
- Performance management and employee engagement
- Leadership and workforce development
- Personnel security, ethics, and suitability
- Human resources policy, accountability, and advisory services
Leadership
- Lisa Gyorda, Office of Human Resources Director
- CAPT Francine Barnett, Principal Deputy Director OHR
- Deanna Dick, Deputy Director OHR
- Jennifer Fry, Deputy Director OHR
- Shirl Eastep, Deputy Director OHR
- CAPT Michael Bartholomew, Deputy Director OHR*
Division Directors
- Division of Employee Accountability, CDR Seneca Smith,
- Division of Organizational Development and Performance, Michelle Rossell
- Division of Personnel Security and Eligibility, Randolph Beasley
- Division of Employee Services, Melissa Loebs
- Division of HR Development and Customer Success, Brenda McGlynn*
- Division of HR Tribal Transitions and Operations, Delphine Brinlee*
- Division of Talent Acquisition, Cathy Ayatta
- Division of Classification, Orlando Haven
- Division of Commissioned Personnel Support, CAPT Michael Bartholomew
- Division of HR Data Analytics, Compliance, and Governance, Larrisa Emerson
- Division of Recruitment and Retention, CDR Theodore Garnett*
*Acting
IHS Fiscal Year 2024 – 2028 Human Capital Operating Plan
With an ever-increasing demand for quality healthcare services in society and the high-performing staff needed to deliver these services, it is critical that the IHS proactively plan to ensure an IHS workforce that can fulfill IHS’s healthcare mission. A well-managed and thriving workforce is critical to accomplishing the IHS mission. The IHS FY 2024-2028 Human Capital Operating Plan serves as a strategic roadmap for the numerous products, services, and human resources solutions that manage the life cycle of the IHS workforce. The Plan lays out three overarching goals and specific strategies to support the IHS mission and vision.
