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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
CAPT Edith Clark, MBA, RD, CDEChief Dietitian Officer
Director, Nutrition ServicesPhoenix Indian Medical Center
Educational Objectives•Describe personal career progression•Differentiate opportunities for dietitians in the Indian Health Service•Identify ways dietitians can contribute to the USPHS mission within the Indian Health Service
My Public Health Service Journey
Bethel, Alaska•The only dietitian for a geographic area the size of the state of Oregon•Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital serves 57 villages between the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.
Yukon Kuskokwim Delta
Major Duties•Duties included supervision of food service staff, inpatient, ambulatory and public health functions.•Accompanied patients back to their villages to work with their community regarding healthy choices/lifestyle changes
Collateral Duties and Other Great Opportunities•Collateral duties included reviewing/analyzing menus for Head Start, local jail and the “prematernal home”•Planned the menu for the “Kusko-300” Musher’s Banquet•Learned many different ways to prepare and serve salmon!!
From Alaska to Arizona
Chinle, Arizona •Began my USPHS career in Chinle as the Supervisory Dietitian and only dietitian at the hospital•Supervised the Food Service staff, provided inpatient and limited outpatient services•Created a clinical dietitian position and was able to hire a Native American RD
Collateral Duties•Assisted Head Start with their meal/snack menus•Provided consultative services to the local tribal nursing home on an occasional basis•Collaborated with the local WIC dietitian to schedule volleyball tournaments during National Nutrition Month and sponsored a contest with the youth on their interpretation of the NNM theme.
From the Navajo Reservation to the Hopi Reservation
Major Duties•Duties included supervision of food service staff, inpatient, ambulatory and public health functions.•Worked collaboratively with Public Health Nursing, Social Services, Community Health Reps (CHR’s) and tribal diabetes program to provide screening/educational events to all of the 11 Hopi villages
Collateral Duties•Assisted Head Start with their meal/snack menus•Served as Project Officer for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI)•Provided assistance to the Elderly Nutrition Programs, taught nutrition classes to the CHR’s.
From the “Rez” to the City•Transferred to Phoenix Indian Medical Center in 1999 as a Community Dietitian•Was appointed as “Acting” Director in 2002•Was appointed permanent Director, Nutrition Services in 2003
Major Duties•Duties included supervision of the inpatient, ambulatory/community and food service section•Chief Dietitian Officer 2009-2013
Collateral Duties•Director/Preceptor, Southwestern Dietetic Internship Consortium •Phoenix Area Nutrition Contact•Participated at the National level in the MNT workgroup, assisted with the development of national Diabetes curricula.
Additional Opportunities•Expanded Employee Meal Program to include breakfast•Expanded clinical services to include Nutrition/Oncology and Nutrition for a Bariatric Program•Added tele-nutrition to the ambulatory section•Created a dietetic internship with a focus on Native American dietetic graduates.
Education, Training and Professional Development•Master’s Degree in Business Administration•Certified Diabetes Educator•Certified in Adult Weight Management•ServSafe Certified•Project Officer Training
Benefits of a Career with the Indian Health Service•Working with underserved and vulnerable populations•Flexibility within your duties•Opportunity to take on additional duties such as Project Officer for Diabetes Programs, Head Start, WIC programs, Elderly Nutrition Programs and providing nutrition training for Community Health Representatives (CHR’s)
Additional Benefits•Unforgettable cultural opportunities.
•Professional satisfaction•Great outdoor activities
Challenges/Cultural Opportunities•Cultural differences•Language barriers•Learning to work through interpreters•Learning about the various traditional foods
Increased Visibility Through
Increased Involvement
•Get involved in your facility, the PAC and the Corps at the national level•Get involved in your local community•Let people know who you are and what makes you stand out as an officer in the USPHS.
Public Health Service is who we are and it is what we do!
