Donald Warne, MD, MPH 02, went into medicine as a primary care physician to make a difference in American Indian health. In short time, he said that he realized the root of many of his patients' problems could be traced to policies made by governments, business leaders, and others who knew or cared little about life on tribal lands. That's what pushed him into public health.
"Policy, at all levels, dictates levels of funding for health care, which determines what we can and cannot do in public health and medicine. To really make an impact on the health of native people, you need to work toward a broader perspective focusing on health policy and public health," he said in a recent interview.
"It's very complicated in native communities," he explained, because American Indian policies are made within the context of multiple treaties, sometimes ancient tribal law, customs, and cultural factors, as well as medical and public health issues.
Warne graduated from HSPH in 2002, garnering the Dr. Fang-Ching Sun Memorial Award. This year marks the 10th time the award will be given. For information on how to apply, see box below.
A member of the Oglala Lakota of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Warne is a descendant of a long line of medicine men. He not only is a medical doctor, but also a respected traditional healer who wants to integrate modern medicine with traditional practices to help many of the 4,000,000 American Indians living in the U.S.
As a group, American Indians are extremely susceptible to diabetes, hypertension, and a host of other diseases, he said. Using his knowledge of both forms of healing practice, Warne conducted diabetes research and developed diabetes education and prevention programs for Native American tribes in 2002 and 2003.
Today, Warne shares his insights into the complex web of American Indian health care with graduate students in law, business, and public administration, health management, and nursing at the Indian Legal Program at Arizona State University's College of Law.
When he's not teaching, Warne works as a clinician at the Gila River Health Care Corporation, the Phoenix Indian Medical Center, or any of four other hospitals he serves in the Phoenix region. He also assists tribal leaders across the U.S. with decisions they face related to health care and policy issues through his consulting firm, American Indian Health Management & Policy Inc.
He attributes his understanding that "the health of the community determines the health of the individual" to his studies at HSPH. Today, the writer, public speaker, and member of at least a dozen advisory boards and organizations concerned with health and American Indian issues, works diligently to strengthen native communities, one at a time, in hopes of improving the overall health of tribal members.
"We cannot be apolitical and be effective in public health," he said. "We have to understand that policymakers at all levels-federal, state, and tribal -are the ones who really control public health in the community, so political leaders must be partners in a community process of promoting health."
—PHC
How to Apply for the Fang-Ching Sun Memorial Award
This year marks the 10th awarding of the Dr. Fang-Ching Sun Memorial Award, named after a former student who had devoted himself to improving the health of people living in rural areas of his native Taiwan before passing away unexpectedly.
"Fang-Ching was a bright, caring public health professional with a twinkle in his eyes and a very big heart," said Jane Gardner, a retired HSPH faculty member who worked with Sun when he was an HSPH student. "He chose to serve those most in need."
To nominate a student for this year's award, send the student's name, a statement on why he or she is being nominated, and any other helpful information to Trish Lavoie, Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Kresge 610, or e-mail tlavoie@hsph.harvard.edu. The deadline is April 14. Questions may be directed to the nominating committee: Jane Gardner, Marc Mitchell, Rima Rudd, and Nancy Turnbull.
Previous Winners
- 2005 Ernest Guevarra, MD, MPH
- 2004 Annemarie Sparrow, MD, MPH
- 2003 Ernest Castro Lee, MD, MPH
- 2002 Donald Warne, MD, CDE, MPH
- 2001 Patrik Johannson, MD, MPH
- 2000 Kezevino Aram, MD, MPH
- 1999 Karen Lee Anderson, MS, and Tayla Casmin Colton, MS
- 1998 Leslie Hsu, MS
- 1997 Yvette Roubideaux, MD
Copyright, 2009, President and Fellows of Harvard College
