DOCUMENT RESUME ED 125 828 , / AUTHOR Jennings, Don, d.. TITLE Akerican,Indian Health Careers Handbook. Second . Edition, 1975. INSTITUTION Association of American Indian Physicians, Inc., ,Norman, Okla. y i PUB DATE' 75 4 , r NOTE 64p. EDRS PRICE ME-$0.81rHC-$3.50 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Admission, Criteria; Agencies; *American Indians; *Career Opportunities; Definitions; Education; 'Support;. Guides; *Health Occupations; *Higher Edifcafion; *Information Sources; Special Programs; Student Recruitment ABSTRACT Prepared by the Association of American Indian - Physicians (AAIP)*, this handbook provides ..information relative to American Indian health careers in terms ocneed, opportunity, preparation, andinformation sources. Designed to encourage American Indian youth to Seek careers in the health professions, this handbook describes the-enrmous need. for American Indian health professionals, emphastzing the leaders p role open to those who pursue health professions within-the I dian community. Each of the following health fields IS defined and br efly described: medicine; dentistry; .pharmacy; nursing; ve nary medicine; osteopathy; podiatry; and the public health professions. Health careers are also described in terms of the agenciesand places where one might work (private practice, public practice, school healt1, community health departments, mental health, research, rehabilitation, medical social worker, and ,hospitals)w Discussion of preparation for health careers includes the following: secondary school preparation; college level training and preparation; admission into the health professions schools; special Indian ptograms; and financial planning' (includes lists of financial aid soulces). The, final section of this handbook presents additional infokmation.sources (counseling and adviCe, a listing of other information sources, and a recommended reading list). (7C) w 1 *,*#******************************************************************** Documents acquired by ERIC include many informal unpublished * materials not available from other sources. ERIC makes everyeffort * * to obtain the best copyavailable. nevertheless, items of marginal * ' * reproducibility are often encountered and this affects the quality *, * of the microfiche and hardbopy reproductions ERIC makes avail le * * via the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (El:MS). EDRS is.no * responsible for the of the original document. Eeprodu tions * * supplied by EDRS are the best that cana be made from the origi al. ****W*****.************************************************************ I CAREER o, co R- :+*d% r) Co .00%.° tIHEALTHs.N `ti' IATI Oci'6c° CtINI'%) w U.S. DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH, EDUCATION &WELFARE NATIONAL' INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEENREPRO- DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED,FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATIONORIGIN- ATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OROPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY'RERRE. INSTITUTE OF SENT OFFICIAL NATAONAL EOUCATION POSITIZNORVOLICY 1:# Handbook 2 AMERICAN INDIAN HEALTH )\REERS 1:1AN.DBOtelK, , h o Don Jennings, Editor Eula. Doonkeen Artwork a Sebond Edition Published by Association cif American Indian -Physicians, Inc. 1300 McGee Drive Norman, Oklahoma 73069 O . 19754 (Preface) THE AAIP The Association of American Indian Physiciansis a profession- al organization of American Indian and Alaskan 'Native physicians, founded in 1971 as a charitable, educatiOnal and scientific cor- poration for the following purpOses: bProvide a forum for theexchange of information 0.,between. American Indian physicians. Recruit American Indian students into the health professions., Provide consultation to governmental and other jencies about American India alth matters. The stociation has launched a major recruitment program to bring n ny more American Indiansinto the health professions, including a prominent and,immediate concern of the Indian com- munity about the physician shortages.In cooperation with the Bureau of health tiiresources Development of the U.S. Department of Health, Educaton, and Welfare, the Association currently pro- vides supportive services to American Indian students seeking to enter the health professions. The Association provides counsel to studentsregardingcareer informetion,identifies -professional schools seeking to recruit American Indian students,identifies financial resources for student use, and maintains support of students thoughout their education. The principal function of the organization is to serve the Indian community. Sheldon A. Chicks, M.D. : Frank Clarke, M.D. President - Immediate Past President Everett R. Rhoades,'M.D. Leslie. Collins, M.D. President Elect Member at Large Johanna Clevenger, M.D. Gerald L.'Ignace, M.D. Secretary Member at Large -Moines S. Whitecloud, Ill, M.D. Treasurer A A SPECIALMESSAGE TO 'AMERICAN', INDIAN STUDENTS During the past few years the members of theAssociation of American Ihdiari Physicians, other health prcifessionalsand my- self have been meting with Indian studentsthroughout the United States.At these_ meetings we hear thetame .questions raised time and again by students considering ahealth career. All of the stadents want to k ow: Why are there so few ndian physicians? What health careers aravailable to an Indian student? How does one find out abotit the differentschools? Where does one get the oney hemeeds for school? Invariably thediscussion I ads to the standard remark--;"No one ever told ,ms about this.'Consequently,the Association has assailed the Ketponsibility otelling students, schools, agen- cies and leaders about the great oortunities for American Indian careers in the fields of health. e Association is deeply, com- mitted to inform and support eve possible Indiah student who may want to become ahealth pro ssional. The career itself is an awesomeommitment Yet,'I have not met one American Indian health prossional ould trade it for another career. The careers of he. Ithand the, lie Itope'rts are ancient; they have teen with us from the beginningand they are a part of our being.It is within each of us, regardless of ouredu- cation, to care for our bodies and thewell-being of our people. Thus, the commitment to the health professionsis already very much a part of our limes.Given fullness nd special training, we can 'concentrate upon thefull-time pra tice of these arts and skills, even as the medicinemen who hay gonebefore us, and as the few American Indian healthprofessionals who have already been trained in their various career Among This last group, some have alreddy served thecoMaunity for many years. Indeed, they 'are beginning to ask if others will becoming along to join them and carry on after they can no longerlead. The decision abotrt who will beconie thehealth professionals of 'the-future rests in 'part with, every AmericanIndian. The stu- dents, of course, are the ones whowill decide; each will decide for himself and also- for theIndian community as well.It is expected the handbook will beuseful to counselqrs, parents and tribal leaders.'Nevertheless, it is especially addressedto the stu- dent who may wish to consideror complete a' health career. Hopefully, the handbook willcome into the hands of Indian students 'throughout the land:in every village, on everyreserva- tion, in every city, andamong every tribe. From its reading and use, it is hoped the knowledge and experiencedescribed in the handbook will be' applied by each readerto his own needs.It. is expected the handbook willbe shared among friends, family and classmates.11 the members of theAssociation i?r the staff from our offices cannot visitthe school of-each student, it is in- tended that the handbook,to that extent, will speak on our be-. half. The Associationwas formed and the handbook wasprel pared to provide informationjndanswers to those questioni so frequently asked. The Association hopes thatmany American Indian youth will ,find the information helpful andwill be encouraged to seek careers in the health professions. t tot; Don Jennings e Executive Director Association of American Indian Physicians, Inc. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PART I. t, THE NEED FORAMERICAIONDIANS AS HEALTH PROFESSIOIALS 1 PART II. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HEALTH)PROFESSIONS 4 Section A.The Health Fields 4 1. Medicine 4 2.Dentistry 5 3.Pharmacy 6 4.Nursing --- 5. Veterinary Medicine 8' 6.Osteopathy 10- 7.Podiatry 11 8. Public Health Professions 1'2 IV Section B.Professional Practice and Health Service Agencies 14 PART IIIf 6 PREPARING FOR THE HEALTHPROFESSIONS Section A. Secondary. School Preparation 20---. Section B. College Level Training and Preparation z- ' 21 Section C. Admission IntO The Health ProfessionsSchools 24 Section D. Special Indian Programs - 27 Section E.F,inancial Planning 29 PARTIV. WHERETO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE 43 Section A: Counseling and Advice 43 Section B. Additional Sources of.Information' -45 Section C. Recommended Reading List 50 i3 33 Hi 1 .-. oi P., ... ----r-r----- I fe 1,' -J. PART,- THE NEED FOR AMERICANINDIANS AS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS At the present time more thanfour million, professionals serve the health needs ofthe entire United States population. Their work is an ancient calling to safeguard healthand help people enjoy life.Their methods, however, are oftenmodern. Indeed, within the past 10 to 15 years the conceptof health care has changed; it is viewed as the right of everycitizen, and recently enacted federal legislatiOn has generated anunprecedented de-y mend for medical services.% Unfortunately,there aren't enough trained health workersdoctors, nurses,dentists, therapists