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Career Opportunities in the Indian Health Service

Career Opportunities in the Indian Health Service. CAPT Edith Clark, MBA, RD, CDE Chief Dietitian Officer Director, Nutrition Services Phoenix Indian Medical Center. Educational Objectives. Describe personal career progression

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Career Opportunities in the Indian Health Service

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  1. Career Opportunities in the Indian Health Service CAPT Edith Clark, MBA, RD, CDE Chief Dietitian Officer Director, Nutrition Services Phoenix Indian Medical Center

  2. 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

  3. My Public Health Service Journey

  4. 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.

  5. Yukon Kuskokwim Delta

  6. 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

  7. 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!!

  8. From Alaska to Arizona

  9. 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

  10. 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.

  11. From the Navajo Reservation to the Hopi Reservation

  12. 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

  13. 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.

  14. 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

  15. Major Duties Duties included supervision of the inpatient, ambulatory/community and food service section Chief Dietitian Officer 2009-2013

  16. 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.

  17. Additional Opportunities Expanded Employee Meal Program to include breakfast Expandedclinical 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.

  18. Education, Training and Professional Development Master’s Degree in Business Administration Certified Diabetes Educator Certified in Adult Weight Management ServSafe Certified Project Officer Training

  19. 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)

  20. Additional Benefits Unforgettable cultural opportunities. Professional satisfaction Great outdoor activities

  21. Challenges/Cultural Opportunities Cultural differences Language barriers Learning to work through interpreters Learning about the various traditional foods

  22. Increased Visibility ThroughIncreased 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.

  23. Public Health Service is who we are and it is what we do!

  24. QUESTIONS? CAPT Edith Clark Chief Dietitian Officer, USPHS Edith.Clark@ihs.gov

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