On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Our guest on this episode is Dr. Victoria Warren-Mears, who has been the director of the Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center for 16 years. She develops programs and initiatives to enhance the health system and promote better health outcomes for tribes in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. During the conversation, Victoria shares how she realized her desire to help people, how this led her to pursue a career in public health, and what her role entails at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. She provides insights into the population that the center serves and the common health issues they face. Additionally, Dr. Warren-Mears sheds light on the political status of American Indian Alaska Native people in the USA, the trust relationships between the federal government and these tribes, and what tribal sovereignty means in practice. Lastly, she provides guidance on how to engage in this kind of work. Join us to explore these topics and more!
Meet Dr. Warren-Mears
For over 16 years Victoria Warren-Mears has served as Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center Director; she has responsibility for managing the staff of NWTEC and developing programs and projects at the direction of tribal leaders to strengthen the health system and better health outcomes for tribes in Idaho, Oregon and Washington States. Victoria also worked for 10 years at a local health jurisdiction, as a WIC Supervisor and Nutritionist. She holds a PhD in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Washington and a Bachelors and Master’s Degree in Dietetics, with an emphasis on adult education, from Washington State University. Victoria has been deeply involved in developing tribally driven best practices for data sharing, use and stewardship. Victoria is energized by the possibility of moving data access, use and sharing forward across Indian Country, including principles of excellent data stewardship by all partners. She is deeply committed to being a servant leader for the tribes in the Pacific Northwest.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
An introduction to Dr. Victoria Warren-Mears and her career so far
How Victoria first became interested in public health as a career and her academic journey
Early experiences in her life where she felt called to help others
Her role as director at Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and how she has grown the program
The population that Victoria serves
Key issues of substance abuse and mental health in the communities she serves
Center surveys to understand the health needs of the communities they serve
Insight into the trust relationships between the federal government and the American Indian or Alaska Native people
The political status of American Indian or Alaska Native people in the USA
What tribal sovereignty means and entails
Where you can find more resources if you’d like to learn more
How epidemiology is important in the work Victoria does
Victoria’s advice to anyone interested in working with tribal communities
“The practicality of it is that you have data and you have diseases that happen, but you can put those two together and form a good picture for advocacy.” — Dr. Warren-Mears
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