American Indian Health in South Dakota
ME 563M.3
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
Students may add themselves to the waiting list for this course during add/drop periods but not during lottery periods. Prior approval required: please email Dr. Stephanie Sun <swsun@mgh.harvard.edu> and Laura Ricci <lricci@mgh.harvard.edu> to obtain approval, and forward approval to registrar@hms.harvard.edu.
Rural American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities face substantial health challenges. In South Dakota, Lakota tribes have built remarkable communities with growing, energetic efforts to renew traditional values in a modern context. Nevertheless, four such counties experience the lowest life expectancy at birth in the United States, with high mortality rates across major causes.
This 4-week rotation offers clinical and community-based experiences for medical students who seek to learn from and with members of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in Rosebud, South Dakota. Clinical experiences are based at the Indian Health Service (IHS) facility. Students are expected to display a high degree of professionalism, integrity and cultural humility throughout the experience.
Clinical opportunities include (at least 4 half-days per week):
-Primarily: Outpatient and inpatient care at the IHS facility in Rosebud, SD, supervised by MGH faculty. -Community-based clinical care including community clinics, health outreach activities, public health home visits, and care at substance use recovery facilities.
-Depending on interest and availability, supplemental clinical experiences in emergency medicine, pediatrics, women's health, behavioral health, physical therapy, wound care, diabetes education, dentistry, and optometry. Community-based opportunities, each subject to availability:
-Health education with 1) residents at the methamphetamine treatment program, 2) clients at the Social Detox facility, and 3) the Rosebud community health worker team.
-Meetings or collaboration with tribal health programs and non-profit organizations operating in Rosebud.
-Miscellaneous community outreach, e.g. educating high school students about health careers.
-In discussion with the elective director, students may pursue community-based activities matching career interest.
All students are encouraged to participate in the full 4-week elective. Alternate visit plans may be possible in discussion with the elective director, but will not count toward completion of this elective. Housing is provided.
Not Available for Cross Registration
