We are combining the expertise, resources, and strength of Tribes and AI/AN organizations, tribal colleges, prominent universities, the Indian Health Service and American Indian and Alaska Native communities as we work together to solve a major problem that exists today: the shortage of AI/AN healthcare professionals. 

Begun in 2004, Pathways Into Health (PIH) is creating a unique program that enhances Native culture, traditional institutions, values, and way of life. Typically, when students become interested in entering the healthcare fields, they must travel to distant academic institutions for on-site education. These students are often far from their homes and lack the social support and cultural familiarity that is needed for successful completion of their academic goals.  

PIH is creating an innovative, interprofessional, team-based educational program for nurses, physicians, public health workers, pharmacists and other health professions that allows for professional health education to occur near their homes, whether on a distant rural reservation or in an urban Indian healthcare setting. By integrating cutting edge distance education and telehealth technology, Pathways Into Health will employ new curricula and learning will take place in an entirely new environment. Students of differing professions will learn together in classes, small groups, in clinics and at the bedside. 

Although just begun several years ago, numerous successful programs and activities have developed, including:

· The PIH Clinical Laboratory Sciences Training Program 
· The PIH Front End Workforce Development Program (Learning Circles)
· The PIH Mentorship Program
· The PIH Opportunities Program (Pipeline Database)
· An Annual International Conference on AI/AN Healthcare Education and Interprofessional Distance Education, was first held in Denver in September 2006, Chicago 2007, Girdwood, AK 2008, and this year's in Big Sky, MT this October.
· Collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Telehealth and Telemedicine and the University of Arizona – Phoenix medical School 
· Collaboration with the Community-Campus Partnership for Health (CCPH)

Numerous other projects are currently in development, including our:

· Nursing and Public Health Initiative
· Potential Collaboration with Unity
· Health Care Farm Team
· PIH Supplemental Issue of the Journal of Interprofessional Care 
· Pathways Professional Development Conference Proceedings PublicationMultiple other collaborations are underway.  

National Advisory Council 

George Blue Spruce, DDS, MPH
Assistant Dean of Indian Affairs
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health

Don J. Davis, MPH
Phoenix Area Director
Indian Health Service 

John Lowe, PhD 
Associate Professor Florida Atlantic University 

Margaret Knight 
Executive DirectorAssociation of American Indian Physicians  
 
Bette Jacobs, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean School of Nursing& Health Studies Georgetown University

Everett Rhoades, MD, FACP
Past President of Association of American Indian Physicians
Previous Director, Indian Health Service

Judy Sherman
American Dental Association

H. Sally Smith
Chairman, National Indian HealthBoard

Governing Board

Cruz Begay
Jessica Black
Sean Clendaniel
Karine Crow
Jacque Dolberry
Carl Fox
Michael Grey
Jan Harris
Rhonda Johnson
Colette Keith
Jacqueline Kelley
Fred Kopacz
Esther Littlewolf
Brenda Manuelito
Ian Rawson
Larry Roberts
Leona Schick
Mary Ann Sens
Mary Jo Tippconnic-Fox
Lillian Tom-Orme
Cynthia Yahola Wilson
Gerald Yutrzenka 

Executive Board 

Chairperson-Michael Allison
Vice Chair-Carl Fox
Secretary-Fred Kopacz
Treasurer-Sean Clendaniel 

Program Coordinator

David Juen