What We Do

The Native American Healthcare Scholars Program (NAHSP) provides mentoring and assistance to students working toward and through medical education. 

 The Native American Healthcare Scholars Program is a collaboration between the University of South Dakota and the Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board. Supported, in part, by grant CPIMP151092 from the Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Services. 

NAHSP Scholars 

The Native American Healthcare Scholarship Program (NAHSP) is a Stanford School of Medicine (SSOM) healthcare workforce development effort component. It supports and fosters the healthcare profession interests of a select cadre of South Dakota American Indian high school students.

NAHSP students gain career development support provided by NAHSP staff, have opportunities to engage with healthcare profession students who serve as near-peer mentors, engage in mentored research or community service projects, and are afforded opportunities to attend national conferences in support of their career interests. NAHSP students continue to be mentored and supported as they progress through their undergraduate education at the University of South Dakota. 

Higher Education Institutions 

• University of South Dakota (USD) 

If you need COVID-19 resources or assistance, contact We Are Warriors Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 605-721-5269

We are here to support our relatives during emergencies.

Emergency Operations Center

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC), established in 2020, serves as an EOC for 17 tribal nations and one service unit across a four-state region and provides training on disaster mitigation to individuals from these areas. The EOC also develops and implements culturally responsive public health emergency management plans and procedures to support Great Plains Area tribal communities.

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Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center

The Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center provides support to tribal nations across the Great Plains to help diagnose health disparities and the presence of diseases and disorders in our communities. 

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Oyate Health Center

The Oyate Health Center is a tribally-owned and operated walk-in primary care clinic located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The facility is under the management of the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board.

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Main Office:

• 2611 Elderberry Blvd
  Rapid City, SD 57703
  Map It
• Phone: 605-721-1922
  Toll Free: 800-745-3466
  Fax: 605-721-1932

Map

Locations 

• Main Office
  2611 Elderberry Blvd
  Rapid City, SD 57703
  Map It
  605-721-1922
  Hours: 8AM - 5PM. M-F
• Behavioral Health
  725 N. Lacrosse Street
  Rapid City, SD 57701
  Map It
  605-718-5095
  Hours: 9AM - 4PM. M-F
• Vaccine Clinic
  725 N. Lacrosse Street
  Rapid City, SD 57701
  Map It
  605-718-5095
  Hours: 9AM - 4PM. M-F
• Oyate Health Center
  3200 Canyon Lake Dr.
  Suite 1
  Rapid City, SD 57702
  Map It
  605-355-2500
  oyatehealth.org
  Hours: 7AM - 7PM. Everyday
  Pharmacy Hours: 8AM - 7PM M-F

Departments

• Behavioral and Community Health Department
  Tosa Two Heart - Director
  Rebecca Leslie - Director at OHC
  (605) 721-1922
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• Health Promotion and Prevention Department
  Nichole Cottier - Director of Community Health Promotion 
  Ruth Allery - Director of Community Health Disease Prevention
  (605) 721-1922
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• Maternal and Child Health Department
  Chelsea Randall - Director
  (605) 721-1922
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• Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center Department
  Tinka Duran - Director
  (605) 721-1922
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• Training and Education Department
  Patty Eagle Bull - Director
  (605) 721-1922
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Our Member Tribes 

Established in 1986, the Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board (GPTLHB) is an organization representing the 18 tribal communities in the four-state region of South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa.

Through public health practices and the formation of tribal partnerships, we work to improve the health of the American Indian peoples we serve by providing public health support and health care advocacy.

Serving as a liaison between the Great Plains Tribes and the various Health and Human Services divisions including the Great Plains Area Indian Health Service, GPTLHB works to reduce public health disparities and improve the health and wellness of the American Indian peoples who are members of the 18 Great Plains tribal nations and communities.

We achieve this by:

• Assisting with tribal participation in the consultation process with the Health and Human Services divisions including the Indian Health Service;
• Assisting the various Health and Human Services divisions with the distribution of health resources for tribal members;
• Advocating for tribal interests and needs at state, regional, and national levels for health-related concerns and initiatives;
• Providing technical assistance to tribes in the development and improvement of tribal health programs;
• Representing GPTLHB and member tribes before the Congress of the United States at hearings and meetings regarding health issues for American Indian peoples; and
• Providing policy analysis and recommendations related to Indian Health Care concerns, to tribally appointed representatives designated to deliver advocacy and testimony to Congressional and Executive Branch leadership.

It is our vision that all tribal nations and communities in the Great Plains will reach optimum health and wellness through lasting partnerships with health organizations and embrace culturally significant values that are empowered by tribal sovereignty.

United under the GPTLHB umbrella, our tribal constituents are able to compete for population-based grants and resources that may not otherwise be available to them. Through GPTLHB, tribes are empowering themselves to address their individual health resource needs in an effective way.

Great Plains Holistic Tribal Information 

• pdf Great Plains Area Tribes
• pdf PRC Counties
• pdf Great Plains Health Educators and Staff Assistants
• pdf Great Plains Radio Stations and Newspapers
• pdf Great Plains Health Directors and Staff Assistants  
• pdf Great Plains Area Tribes States and Counties
• pdf Great Plains Area Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Resources
• pdf Great Plains Area Tribes County Information
• pdf GPTEC Reservation Counties
• pdf Great Plains Area Health Care Sites

Prevention is always better than treatment. To prevent severe illness and even death, we encourage all our relatives to stay updated with their vaccinations. All vaccines are safe and effective. Below are links to resources about all the vaccinations you need from birth until becoming an elder. We want you to have access to the best information out there, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health.

Vaccines for Children

Getting your children vaccinated on time can give your child immunity before exposure to potentially life-threatening diseases. You should always talk with your child's doctor if you have questions or concerns about the vaccines your child needs. With so much information available today, you need to know the facts before making potentially life-altering health decisions. Vaccines prevent dangerous and even deadly diseases. Visit the links below to learn more about what vaccines your children need.

Children ages birth to 15-months should get the following vaccines to protect against common high-risk diseases: 

• DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
• Varicella (chickenpox) – can be combined with MMR vaccine; the combined vaccine is called MMRV
• Pneumococcal
• Haemophilus
• Influenza
• Rotavirus
• Hepatitis B

Among others, please talk with your child's doctor to learn more about what vaccines they need.

Vaccines for Your Children | CDC
Making the Vaccine Decision: Common Concerns | CDC

Vaccines for Adults

Even though we are vaccinated as children, some of that immunity may wear off over time. Some diseases only present a risk when you are an adult. That is why adults need to keep their vaccinations up to date. Vaccination is the easiest and safest way to prevent illness.

All adults should get the following vaccines:

• COVID-19 Vaccine
• Influenza (flu) vaccine every year
• Td or Tdap vaccine and a booster every 10 years

Factors like age, health conditions, job, lifestyle, or travel habits may mean you need other vaccines. Follow the links below to learn more about what other vaccines might be recommended for you or talk with your healthcare provider about what vaccines are right for you.

Adult Vaccination | CDC

Pregnancy and Vaccination

Here are seven facts you need to know about pregnancy and vaccines.

1. When you get vaccinated during pregnancy, you are not just protecting yourself. Your vaccination gives your baby some early protection!

Your body creates and then passes on protective antibodies (proteins produced by our bodies to fight diseases) from vaccines to your baby. This immunity can protect your baby during their first couple of months of life.

2. Maternal vaccines are very safe for you and your baby.

Any vaccines given during pregnancy are proven to be safe, effective, and necessary for you and your baby's health. 

3. Whooping cough can be a very dangerous illness for your baby.

You will be recommended to get a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy during the 27th and 36th week. Tdap protects against whooping cough, an illness that can be life-threatening for newborns.

4. The flu can lead to severe pregnancy complications if caught during pregnancy.

The flu increases the risk of pregnancy complications such as preterm labor and preterm birth. The flu shot can be given during any trimester.

5. Timing, timing, timing.

Timing is crucial for vaccines. The CDC recommends getting the flu shot by the end of October to be best protected before any flu activity increases. The Tdap shot protects your baby, which is why the CDC recommends that you get the Tdap vaccine at the 27th and 36th week of pregnancy so you can pass on as many protective antibodies as possible before you give birth.

6. ANYONE around your baby needs to be vaccinated as well.

When your baby is born, their immune system is not fully developed, making them vulnerable to infections. ANYONE (your other children, grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc.) who meets your baby should be up to date on all the routine vaccines, including the Tdap and flu vaccines. Any vaccine updates should be done two weeks before meeting the new baby.

7. If you get pregnant again, you will need the vaccines again.

When you get vaccinated during pregnancy, you are, in part, getting your baby vaccinated. So, for each new pregnancy, you need another round of vaccines. You give protection to your baby during each pregnancy. When you are pregnant, you should get the Tdap vaccine and flu shot (recommended annually).

The links below discuss more in-depth information about vaccination during pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Vaccination | CDC

Traveling and Vaccination

Traveling to different locations will require additional vaccinations because of potential exposure to diseases not native to your region. Before traveling out of the county, visit the link below to learn about travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine preventable illness, and more to plan safe and fun travel.

Destinations | Travelers' Health | CDC

Immunization Schedule

Follow the link below to view the complete Immunization Schedules approved and promoted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Immunization Schedules | CDC

We can help you get vaccinated.  

Emergency Operations Center

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC), established in 2020, serves as an EOC for 17 tribal nations and one service unit across a four-state region and provides training on disaster mitigation to individuals from these areas. The EOC also develops and implements culturally responsive public health emergency management plans and procedures to support Great Plains Area tribal communities.

Read more

Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center

The Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center provides support to tribal nations across the Great Plains to help diagnose health disparities and the presence of diseases and disorders in our communities. 

Read more

Oyate Health Center

The Oyate Health Center is a tribally-owned and operated walk-in primary care clinic located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The facility is under the management of the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board.

Read more

What is HIV?

HIV is a virus that attacks the cells in your body’s immune system. Because your immune system normally defends your body against illness, HIV makes it difficult for your body to fight off diseases and infections. HIV can be passed on during unprotected vaginal, oral, and anal sex, through sharing needles or syringes, and from an HIV-positive mother to her child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. People who have HIV often show no symptoms, which is why HIV-positive people may spread the infection without knowing it.

What is AIDS?

AIDS is an advanced stage of HIV. There are two ways doctors decide if an HIV positive person has AIDS:

1. Based on infections, when an HIV-positive person gets one or more infections that do not usually affect someone who is healthy.
2. Based on blood tests, the number of healthy immune cells in an HIV-positive person drops to a certain low point or when the amount of HIV in their blood reaches a certain high point.

That’s why it’s so important to get tested, learn your status, and get treated if you learn you are HIV positive. Treatments for HIV have improved significantly, and many people who receive treatment early live long healthy lives.

If you are HIV positive, your healthcare provider can teach you how to care for yourself and will provide you with information on different treatment options.

Do I have HIV?

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. Getting tested is easy. To test you for HIV your healthcare provider will collect either a blood sample or a swab from your mouth. These tests should not hurt, but if you experience any discomfort tell your provider.

How often should I get tested?

Young people who are sexually active should get tested at least once a year. It’s also smart to get tested before you start a new sexual relationship, or if someone you’ve had sex with tells you that they are HIV positive. It’s easy. Just ask your healthcare provider.

How quickly someone with HIV advances to AIDS depends on many different factors. One important factor is how quickly a person gets tested and gets into care.

Talk with your healthcare provider or local tribal health facility about access to HIV/AIDs testing near you.

 Source: weRnative.org

What is Breast Cancer?

Like any cancer, breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. The genes are in each cell’s nucleus, which acts as the “control room” of each cell. Normally, the cells in our bodies replace themselves through an orderly process of cell growth: healthy new cells take over as old ones die out. But over time, mutations can “turn on” certain genes and “turn off” others in a cell. That changed cell gains the ability to keep dividing without control or order, producing more cells just like it and forming a tumor.

A tumor can be benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous). Benign tumors are not considered cancerous: their cells are close to normal in appearance, they grow slowly, and they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous.

Left unchecked, malignant cells eventually can spread beyond the original tumor to other parts of the body. The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually, breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands; or in the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, breast cancer can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast.

Numbers at a Glance 

2nd: Breast Cancer is the 2nd most common cause of cancer death among American Indians/Alaskan Natives.

1 in 8: Women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

41,211: Number of women who died from breast cancer in 2017. 

3.1 million: Women in the U.S. have a history of breast cancer.

85%: Percentage of women who develop breast cancer with no family history. 

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Widespread use of screening mammograms has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause any symptoms. Still, some breast cancers are not found by mammograms, either because the test was not done or because even under ideal conditions mammograms do not find every breast cancer. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A mass that is painless, hard, and has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. They can even be painful. For this reason, it is important to have any new breast mass or lump, or breast change checked by a health care professional experienced in diagnosing breast diseases.

Other possible signs of breast cancer include: 

• Swelling of all or part of the breast (even if no distinct lump is felt)
• Skin irritation or dimpling
• Breast or nipple pain
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Redness, scaly-ness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• A nipple discharge other than breast milk 

Although any of these symptoms can be caused by things other than breast cancer, if you have them, they should be reported to your doctor so that he or she can find the cause. 

Treatment for Breast Cancer 

Breast cancer treatments can be local or systemic. Local treatments are used to remove or destroy the disease within the breast and surrounding regions, such as lymph nodes.
Surgery includes the following two procedures

• Mastectomy – includes the removal of the cancer and the breast in which the cancer was found, sometimes a double mastectomy is needed, where both breasts are removed.
• Lumpectomy – also called breast-conserving therapy, where only the tumor or lump is removed, leaving the remaining part of the breast or breasts intact.

Systemic treatments are used to destroy or control cancer cells all over the body and include: Radiation and Chemotherapy use drugs to kill cancer cells. Side effects can include nausea, hair loss, early menopause, hot flashes, fatigue, and temporarily lowered blood counts.

Sources for information above: http://www.cancer.org ; http://www.cdc.gov ; http://www.breastcancer.org ; http://ww5.komen.org

We can help you get screened for breast cancer.

Honor Every Woman Program 

Honor Every Woman program increases breast and cervical cancer screening services for uninsured and underinsured women and implements strategies to reduce structural barriers within health systems. The program implements a comprehensive and coordinated approach to policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to prevent and control cancer.

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that happens in the cells of the cervix - the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. 

Cervical Cancer Risk Factors 

All women are at risk for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer happens the most in women over the age of 30. The main cause of cervical cancer is long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus. Most people will get it at some time in their lives. There are typically no symptoms with HPV so many people will never know they have it. Some things that increase your risk of cervical cancer: 

• Smoking 
• Having HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or some other condition that makes it hard for your body to fight infection 
• Using birth control pills for a long time (five or more years) 
• Giving birth to three or more children
• Having several sexual partners 

How Can I Reduce My Risk?

Get screened for cervical cancer and get the HPV vaccine.

These things can also help lower your risk for cervical cancer:

• Don't smoke
• If you are sexually active, use protection (i.e. condoms)
• Limit your number of sexual partners 

Source: What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk of Cervical Cancer? | CDC

We can help you get screened for cervical cancer. 

Honor Every Woman Program 

Honor Every Woman program increases breast and cervical cancer screening services for uninsured and underinsured women and implements strategies to reduce structural barriers within health systems. The program implements a comprehensive and coordinated approach to policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to prevent and control cancer.