LAPWAI, Idaho – The Nez Perce Tribe announced that Dr. R. Kim Hartwig joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Indian Health Services (IHS) on Monday, September 8.
The Indian Health Services agency provides federal health care and advocacy for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Dr. Hartwig, the first Nimiipuu physician to graduate from the University of Washington Medical School, has extensive experience in “Indian Country.”
She previously served as Medical Director for Benewah Medical Center and worked as a physician for Providence Family Medicine in Spokane.
Dr. Hartwig expressed her dedication to improving health care for Tribes nationwide.
“Our people have experienced many harms over the centuries, and we have extensive research to show the direct impacts to our health,” said Dr. Hartwig. “My first goal with any patient has been to look at the underlying issues and see how we heal internally; getting to the root of the issues and working on true healing measures. This is the same method I’d like to see for all Indian Country.”
Dr. Hartwig will work in collaboration with HHS and IHS on various initiatives, officials from the Nez Perce Tribe stated.
“I look forward to continuing my service to Indian Country in this capacity and working with the team at IHS to better address the health needs of our Tribal people. I will continue to advocate for the pieces of our culture that bring benefit to our overall health – first foods, traditional practices, and indigenous diets. I believe by continuing to reconnect our people back to our cultures and traditional ways of life, we will truly heal our people and provide a healthy framework and protection for future generations to thrive,” Dr. Hartwig stated.
