In September 2024, members of IHEART convened in Salt Lake City, UT, to share resources, build community, and further explore how to integrate Indigenous voices and perspectives in the delivery of healthcare education and workforce development programming. This event was held in conjunction with the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) 52nd Annual Meeting and Health Conference. The objectives of the 2024 in-person summit were to:
- Introduce the new Regional Hub Champions for each of the five regions;
- Roll out funding available to regions for projects that catalyze innovations resulting in transformative, systems-scalable solutions; and
- Explore ways we can “grow our own” leaders within the IHEART network by providing resources and professional development opportunities to our members.
The summit began with a keynote address by Theda New Breast (MPH), Founding Board Member and Master Trainer/Facilitator of the Native Wellness Institute. Following Theda’s keynote, IHEART staff shared internal updates and introduced the new leadership of the five regional hubs for 2024-25. Other sessions included a panel with K-12 students who participated in the YES Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; Regional breakout discussions; and a session on integrating Indigenous philosophies and practices with Western models.
