2006 Intern

Project title: Chronic Disease Amongst the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians: Causes, Effects, and Effective Means of Prevention & Treatment

• School/program/major? UNC-Asheville Alumn, BA - Children's Health and the Developing World; currently in process of applying to medical school
• Where did you grow up? Brevard, NC
• Who have been the primary role models in your life? Mom, Dad, older Brother, Grandmother, Uncle (who is an ER Doc. in Asheville)
• Where you see yourself in 10 years? God-willing(!), I will have either just finished, or be finishing my residency in some field of medicine that will be particularly applicable in underserved areas. I also hope to be pursiung medical work in Haiti, and/or other similar international locations.
• Title of your project this summer? Chronic Disease (primarily Diabetes) Amongst the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians: Causes, Effects, Effective Means of Prevention & Treatment
• Tribe and/or organizations that you worked with this summer: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI)
• Brief description of your project(s) this summer (list all distinct projects you have been involved in this summer)? Assisting the Cherokee Diabetes Project with implementation of a new interactive, Diabetes education tool; Updating handouts on prevention and healthy lifestyle for Diabetes patients and those at high risk for developing Diabetes - making them more up-to-date with current technology and information; Helping in a Glucometer Exchange which will provide all of those members of the EBCI known to be Diabetic, and/or at high-risk for Diabetes, with new glucometers and necessary glucometer supplies.

· Description of one person you met this summer that models positive work being done in American Indian communities to address health disparities?

Actually, it would be all of the front office staff & CMA's/LPN's at the Cherokee Diabetes Project. Each of these women are Native Cherokee Indians, most of whom either suffer from Diabetes, or are at high-risk for developing it b/c of family history. Each of them however, actively works to be healthy, "practicing what they preach" to the patients that are seen through the program - regularly eating less traditional, but more nutritious foods; faithfully exercising on their lunch breaks; keeping track of their sugar levels and the patterns associated with them; etc.

· One major hurdle that you encountered in your work this summer?

In all honesty, I think that the hardest thing for me has been realizing the amount of funding that the EBCI recieves, and attempting not to be judgemental about the extent to which that funding may actually hinder the well-being and optimal growth of the Native American population in Cherokee, NC.

· Something you learned about yourself this summer?

I realized how clueless I am about the sense of community and tradition that still exists among Native Americans living in the very same part of the country that I have always called home.

· Something you learned about American Indian communities this summer? I have learned that there is a strong sense of connection and community amongst the American Indians that I worked with this summer.

· What advice/recommendation would you give to future NHI volunteers? I think that I would just suggest to try to enter with an open mind, letting go of any sorts of prejudices and/or assumptions that one may have about Native Americans prior to their work.