University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

September 10, 2001

Contact: Bryant Payne (312) 355-2523; bpayne2@uic.edu

NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH SERVICES CONFERENCE

Forty-five national health professionals will meet Sept. 9-13 at the University of Illinois at Chicago for a leadership workshop focused on the unique needs of the Native American health care system.

Co-hosted by the International Center for Health Leadership Development, a part of the UIC School of Public Health, and the Indian Health Service, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, the invitation-only workshop targets health professionals who face the challenges that influence tribal and urban Native American health care facilities.

Workshop topics will emphasize networking, communication, partnership building and working in collaboration with institutions, agencies and health consumers. The sessions will be based on the common values of the center and the Indian Health Service's Executive Leadership Development Program.

Virginia Martinez, director of the center and conference coordinator, said this type of training is needed in response to the current downsizing and reorganization of the Indian Health Service and the rapid changes in the field of health care and health care delivery.

"The agenda and work plan for the workshop match the approach the center uses in its training efforts," said Martinez. "Leadership development activities through a multidisciplinary approach are necessary as the Indian Health Service moves toward a decentralized structure and more local autonomy."

Seh Welch, an alumna of both the center's Health Partners Fellowship and the Executive Leadership Development Program, will join the staff to ensure that the workshop is inclusive of Indian culture, traditions and experience. Additional resources will be available from the American Indian Center, the Indian Health Service, Native American Educational Services College and UIC Native American Support Program.

Martinez said she is thrilled with the support that the center has received from the university and the local Native American community.

"It is great that the workshop has been incorporated into Unity Month and the Unity Month committee has included a focus on American Indians in its activities," said Martinez. "I'm sure the participants will feel welcomed by the activities that have been planned during their stay."

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