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Medicine Wheel Society
About
the Logo
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"Mouse
Woman", a respected
character in Tsimshiam legends, can appear either as a mouse or the
teeniest
of grandmothers. She is a wise figure who often aids people in peril,
taking
small compensation for the help she gives.
~John
Sixbey
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About
the Group
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The
Medicine Wheel Society (MWS) is
an organization that brings together the people, the tradition and
customs,
and the spirit that enables our American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN)
medical
students to maintain their sense of community. MWS is a social network
among AI/AN medical students, other health professions
students,
alumni, faculty and friends. It's primary purpose is to provide the
means
by which AI/AN health professionals
associated
with the University of Washington can interact to provide a support
network for AI/AN med-
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ical students. The student
organization has expanded to
include
native students in other health fields and faculty interested in
lending
support and information.
The group
consists of Native
American, Alaskan Native, and non-Native students at the
University of
Washington
School of
Medicine who work to promote Native culture, education and
advances in
health
care. The
Medicine Wheel Society's main
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Wheel Society's main concern is
to ensure that each entering
health
professions student graduates from his/her respective program so that
he/she can go
on to practice their skills for the benefit of the
various
indigenous communities. The group is open to Native and non-Native
students
and offers pre-medical and medical students, alumni, faculty, and
health
professionals at the UW opportunities to interact socially and in
community
service projects.
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Our Activities
| With an
emphasis on maintaining
culture while in school, the Medicine Wheel Society host a number of
social
events throughout the year where members and guests can share
traditional
customs and beliefs among their peers. In addition, the Medicine Wheel
Society is involved in several outreach programs throughout the Seattle
area and the United States. Members attend local and regional Pow-Wows
to pass information to the Indian population about opportunities
available
in the health professions. Members attend conferences and workshops
throughout
the year as part of their education and to provide information to
college
undergraduates. Members also visit local schools as role models to
younger
Indian students. |
Elder's Dinner
The
Medicine Wheel Society organizes an annual traditional feast for the
Elders
in the Seattle and Greater Washington areas. The feast is designed to
honor
the Elders all that they have shared with us, and the important roles
they
play within our community. None of our events exemplifies the word
“community”
quite as much as the Elders’ Dinner.
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Planning
for Elders’ Dinner occurs for much of Fall Quarter up until the
event on
Martin
Luther King Day
weekend. Students, Alumni, and Health Professionals come out and
participate in
the event,
full of good
times and good food!
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Kim Jordan,
Sophia Hurd,
Margarita Ramos, and Benjamin
Vazquez
discuss table
arrangements at Elders’ Dinner
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Community
Outreach:
Health Fairs
The
Medicine Wheel Society
organizes mini-Health Fairs around the State of Washington to hopefully
inspire young American Indian/Alaska Natives to pursue careers in the
health
professions. In 2005, we conducted mini-Health Fairs at Squaxin Island
in Shelton, WA,
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Ronald MacDonald
House
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The
Medicine Wheel Society
prepared dinner for families at Ronald McDonald House. The dinner
featured
food for upwards of one hundred patients and their families, and
allowed Medicine Wheel
Society
members to interact with Ronald McDonald guests and staff.
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The crew
and visiting
students from Kenya, Caroline and Anne,
pose for a
picture after preparing and serving
dinner at Ronald
McDonald House
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Blanket Ceremony
The Indian
Health Pathway
Graduates in 2005: From left to right
Shana
Sniffen , Michelle
Show (Assinibone),
Allison
Kelliher (Koyokan
Athabaskan),
Elina
Durchman, and Molly
Armijo.
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For
students completing
the Indian
Health Pathway, a program for Native and non-Native students that
want
to work directly and competently with Native populations , the Native
American
Center of Excellence and Medicine Wheel Society honor the graduates
with
a Blanket Ceremony and a traditional feast. Many participants in the
Indian
Health Pathway are also members of the Medicine Wheel Society, and we
honor
them for their commitment to serve the community and for being mentors
for those that follow in their footsteps.
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Additional
Activities
Potlucks
Head Start Health Screenings
Collaboration with First
Nations
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For
more information
on the Medicine Wheel Society, contact:
Officers:
Andy
Benefield, MS-4, Vice-Chair
Kara Covell, MS-3, Secretary
Meghan O'Connell, MS-3, Social Chair
Advisors:
Polly
Olsen
Lise Alexander, M.D.
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Copyright ©
2007
University of Washington. All rights reserved. Last update 10/10/2008
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