Two groups from UNMC’s Student Alliance for Global Health (SAGH) will spend their spring break serving the health needs of South Dakota Sioux Indian communities. From March 17-23, nine students from the College of Medicine and four from the Physician Assistant Education program will stay at the Rosebud Lakota Sioux and the Sisseton Dakota Sioux Reservations.
The Rosebud Reservation group includes, Rachael Geidel (PA1), Anna Trauernicht (M1), Joann Sueper (PA1), David Meduna (M1), JoniRae Schmidt (PA1), Neil Bratney (M2), and Elizabeth Bures (M2). The Sisseton Reservation group includes Uzo Nwyoe (M2), Kiran Lassi (M2), Theresa Spitzer (M2), Kim Olsen (M1), Kim Hovseth (PA1) and Casey Nekl (M1).
The SAGH students initially will receive extensive briefings on American Indian history and culture by tribal leaders. The rest of their stay will be spent working in reservation medical facilities assisting resident and visiting family practitioners, surgeons and emergency room doctors. Emergency room assistance is particularly needed during evening shifts. On previous missions to the reservations, SAGH students also attended tribal council meetings and shared dinners and sweat lodges with hospital administrators.
Because diabetes is an epidemic among American Indians, the SAGH group will present a fun-filled diabetes education program for more than 200 fourth- and fifth-grade students at local elementary schools. The 20-minute diabetes program is designed with materials supplied by the American Diabetes Association and the North Dakota Department of Health.
“The reservation medical mission is important to our education because it gives us an opportunity to see a different way of approaching health care in a variety of settings,” said Schmidt, who is participating in her first medical mission. “It also gives us a chance to gain a better understanding of how cultural beliefs may interact with patient treatment. By taking part in this experience we will be able to shape our ideas of patient care that will influence the way we practice medicine in our own future careers.”
Bratney is making a return trip to the Rosebud Reservation. “I am returning for another opportunity to experience this greatly underserved area of our country, ” said Bratney, trip leader. “As a medical student, experiences like this make you appreciate not only your own blessings, but also your obligations to serve the poorest among you.”
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Photos in descending order: SAGH members serving the Rosebud Sioux Reservation are from left, Rachael Geidel, Anna Trauernicht, Joann Sueper, David Meduna, JoniRae Schmidt, Neil Bratney and Elizabeth Bures. SAGH members serving the Sisseton Sioux Reservation are, from left, Uzo Nwyoe, Kiran Lassi, Theresa Spitzer, Kim Olsen, Kim Hovseth and Casey Nekl.