11.17
Reimagining Indigenous Pediatric Care Through Community Partnership
11:00 am to 12:00 pm PT • Hosted By Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
Culturally responsive care improves health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations. Yet American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander (“Indigenous”) children and adolescents continue to face barriers to accessing culturally responsive care. The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Native American Child Health recommends that pediatric healthcare professionals advocate for initiatives and develop partnerships with Indigenous communities to advance equitable care. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia established an Indigenous Health Unit (IHU) dedicated to identifying healthcare needs for Indigenous children and adolescents traveling locally and nationally for care. Guided by community-informed, bidirectional learning model, the IHU bridges local Indigenous community expertise and institutional allyship to shape program development. Early implementation demonstrates the feasibility of a community-informed pediatric care model with potential for expansion and adaptation.
