The Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health has inaugurated the Great Plains Native Health Hub in Rapid City, South Dakota, aiming to tackle significant health disparities among Native American populations. This initiative, supported by Johns Hopkins University, seeks to provide Native-specific healthcare options and foster a safe, trusting environment for Indigenous patients.
Dr. Donald Warne, co-director of the Center for Indigenous Health, highlighted the severe health disparities faced by Native Americans in the Dakotas, where the average age of death is in the late 40s, compared to the late 70s for the general population. Warne emphasized the importance of addressing preventable health issues through public health and medicine. “We have a 30-year difference in average age of death – and much of that is preventable,” Warne stated.
The Great Plains Hub’s leadership team, composed entirely of Lakota people, underscores the importance of culturally relevant healthcare. Warne noted, “The messengers really matter,” emphasizing the value of having research and healthcare led by Indigenous professionals. The hub will also focus on training community members for healthcare careers, thereby addressing the brain drain by bringing PhDs back to western South Dakota.
Dr. Courtney Claussen, a research associate at the hub, expressed excitement about the collaborative efforts to tackle local health challenges. “Being located here within Rapid City is beautiful,” Claussen said, highlighting the hub’s role in connecting regional healthcare professionals.
See: “Johns Hopkins indigenous health hub comes to Rapid City” (September 22, 2024)
