Honoring Indigenous People in the Laboratory

Indigenous People in the United States face multiple healthcare needs, and addressing those needs with empathy and understanding will help foster more inclusive care. Pathology and laboratory professionals can play a unique role in ensuring high-quality care for this population, and Indigenous People working in the laboratory can be leaders in this effort. In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day on October 10, ASCP is highlighting resources related to providing quality care for Indigenous People below.

Lessons We Can Learn from Indigenous Peoples to Improve Health Care

Indigenous cultures have long struggled obtaining and accessing quality health care in the United States. Yet there is much that healthcare professionals can learn from indigenous peoples, if we listen carefully.

For the past 17 years, James Tiesinga, MD, a trained pathologist, has worked closely with the indigenous population in Alaska, as Laboratory Medical Director of the Alaska Native Medical Center, which is owned by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. In recognition of Indigenous People’s Day, Critical Values spoke with Dr. Tiesinga about barriers that prevent Alaska Native people from accessing care and the work that he has done to address this issue. Based in Anchorage, Alaska, Dr. Tiesinga also shares his insights on how the medical laboratory can help improve care delivery for this population.

Sacred Healers: Looking at Healthcare Needs of America’s Indigenous Peoples (Critical Values Article)

Health care for Native Americans trails other groups, despite the United States’ legal commitment to provide health care to Native Americans and Alaskan Natives. Key challenges are access to quality care and the shortage of medical personnel in rural communities, especially those in remote reservation locations.

"Sacred Healers: Looking at Healthcare Needs of America’s Indigenous Peoples" takes a closer look at the particular issues affecting the healthcare needs of indigenous populations in the U.S. in order to provide better patient care.

Changing Course: A Q&A with Dr. Tricia Murdock (Critical Values Article)

Tricia Murdock, MD, grew up on the Tuscarora Nation, thirty minutes north of Buffalo, New York. Her father is Mohawk and her mother is half Tuscarora and half French Canadian, and she spent the first six years of her academic career attending school on the Tuscarora Nation.

During her last year of residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Vermont, Dr. Murdock made the decision to go into pathology to pursue gynecologic pathology. She then completed a gynecologic pathology fellowship at Johns Hopkins, where she is now an assistant professor.

In "Changing Course: A Q&A with Dr. Tricia Murdock," she shares her thoughts on making the switch to pathology and how increased exposure can encourage more Indigenous People to consider a career in the laboratory.

Native American-Specific Challenges with COVID-19 (Inside the Lab Podcast: Season 1, Episode 9)

COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on Native American communities. In fact, a CDC study in 23 selected states found that the incidence of confirmed cases among American Indians and Alaska Natives was 3.5 times that of non-Hispanic whites.

On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Sonya Shin, MD, Thomas Sequist, MD, and Tricia Murdock, MD, to discuss the challenges specific to the Native American population through the COVID-19 pandemic.

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