The Divinity School is pleased to announce a public lecture by Dr. Olivia Beckman: "Weaving Healthy Communities: Collaboration and the Indian Health Service."

Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 10:00am, Swift Hall 106

As an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Indian Health Service (IHS) is tasked with providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Bemidji Area Office alone provides direct service to three tribes in northern Minnesota and supports 34 Federally-recognized Tribes across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. But what does it mean for a federal agency to provide culturally appropriate care? How does IHS deal with ethics and equity in the delivery of care to indigenous communities? Join us for a conversation with Dr. Olivia Beckman, Chief Medical Officer within the Bemidji Area of the Indian Health Service and acting Chief Risk Officer for the agency.

As the Chief Medical Officer within the Bemidji Area of the Indian Health Service (IHS), Olivia Beckman has led the agency-wide governance improvement initiative and the clinical initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Bemidji Area, including equity and access to testing and vaccinations. Currently, she is acting Chief Risk Officer for the agency, assisting senior leadership in aligning IHS with HHS priorities related to enterprise risk management. Prior to joining the IHS, Dr. Beckman has worked as a Medical Director in inpatient eating disorders programs. She is board certified in Family Medicine and has completed Master in Public Health and Master in Health Administration degrees through the University of Minnesota in 2019 and 2021.

This event is generously co-sponsored by the Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity.