How you can help . . .

Pathways Into Health is an exciting collaboration of more than 150 individuals – Tribal leaders, healthcare professionals, university professors, students - from across the United States dedicated to eliminating the severe health disparities that exist among American Indian and Alaska Native people. 

• American Indians have the lowest life expectancies in the U.S. or any nation in the Western Hemisphere except Haiti.

• Compared to other Americans, American Indian death rates are 400-700 percent higher for diabetes, tuberculosis, and other chronic diseases.

• The ratio of physicians to the population is 1:1742 in American Indian and Alaska Native communities compared to 1:265 in the U.S. as a whole.

• The vacancy rate for qualified healthcare professionals is as high as 32% in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

• The National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine study confirmed a direct linkage between poorer health care outcomes for minorities and the shortage of minority health care providers.

• In the U.S., only 0.002% of the total U.S. physician workforce is American Indian or Alaska Native.  This is 2200 times lower than the closest minority group.

• American Indian students are the least likely earn a college degree and most likely to drop out of college of any racial or ethnic group.

• American Indian and Alaska Native students comprise only 0.3% of first time medical school applicants and only 9 U.S. medical schools had 2 or more AI/AN students in their graduating class.

• 100,000 deaths in the U.S. are attributable to the lack of teamwork among doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Why is Pathways Into Health Part of the Solution?

We offer a new health professions education program designed to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native healthcare professionals through . . .

• AI/AN Community-based health professions training and degree programs.

• A team-based, interprofessional, and culturally-enhanced curriculum.

• Community-based mentoring support and health career programs for all ages of students.

• Professional development for the AI/AN healthcare workers in the workplace.

• Direct access to health professions degree and non-degree programs from the best U.S. universities.

• Cutting-edge distance learning technology through state-of-the art telehealth programs accessible across the U.S.

You Can Help!   Here’s How . . .

• Personal Giving - tax-deductible donations will help American Indian and Alaska Native students establish careers in the health professions. 

• Be a Member – we warmly welcome all persons interested in Pathways Into Health to become members.  There are no dues, fees, or obligations.

• Volunteer – we are actively seeking individuals to work with Pathways Into Health as committee members, mentors, and project leaders.