Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley (IHC) Podcast

🎙 IHC Podcast | Culture Is Medicine: Indigenous Voices in Medicine Host  Marissa Hemstreet  talks with  Buddy Seto Myers (Kanaka Maoli, Med Student, UW) ,  George Nakahara (Native Hawaiian, Med Student, UCSF) , and  Nikki Apana (Native Hawaiian, Med Student, UCSF PRIME-US & MPP, Harvard)  about their journeys in medicine and how their  Native Hawaiian culture informs their approach to wellness...

In this special Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month episode, IHC Podcast host Marissa Hemstreet speaks with Dr. Lukejohn Day—UCSF Health System Chief Medical Officer, gastroenterologist, and member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. Dr. Day shares insights on colorectal cancer disparities impacting Native communities, the importance of early screening, and increasing Native representation in medicine. As...

IHC Podcast | Culture is Medicine with Claire Alford In this inspiring episode of the IHC Podcast’s Culture Is Medicine series, we sit down with Claire Alford (she/her), a proud descendant of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. Claire is a public health and biology major at Santa Clara University, a passionate advocate for Native health, and a 2024 Udall Scholar. Claire shares how her heritage influences...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Brian Laban, founder of the Native American Fitness Council (NAFC), as he shares his journey in cultural education, movement, and community wellness. Brian discusses the importance of reclaiming traditional movement practices in Native communities and how fitness connects to mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Discover the story behind NAFC, the...

In this episode of the IHC Podcast | Culture is Medicine, we speak with Elena Dutra, M.A., Academic Counselor for EOPS & the AIAN Student Success Program at San Jose City College. A Sicangu Lakota and enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Elena has over 20 years of experience supporting American Indian/Alaskan Native and first-generation college students. She shares insights on the Nativ...

Start the year off right with our latest episode, "New Year, New Mindset," featuring an empowering conversation with Brooke, a personal trainer at 24 Hour Fitness and a remarkable trans woman. 🌟 Brooke shares her incredible journey to becoming a fitness coach, including how she transformed her life and why she’s passionate about helping others on their wellness journeys. In this episode, Brooke t...

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions about suicide and mentions of abuse in Indian boarding schools. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Calvin Hedrick, Interim Director of the California Native Vote Project and a proud member of the Mountain Maidu community. Calvin discusses what drives his advocacy, the importance of civic engagement in Indigenous communities, and the work b...

In this episode, we chat with Paloma Mendoza, Medical Administrative Assistant at IHC Medical, about her journey adjusting to IHC and what sets it apart from other health centers. Paloma dives into how her role supports both the team and our patients, sharing unique insights into community-focused care. We also explore: 🌟 How IHC integrates AI/AN cultural perspectives with Western medicine. 💉 Cu...

IHC Podcast | Culture Is Medicine with Michael Andrews In this episode, we sit down with Michael Andrews, Prevention Services Supervisor (Counseling Department - Prevention Services), enrolled with the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, also Kickapoo, Sac & Fox, and Ojibwe, to hear his story as an Urban Native and how he stays connected to his cultural roots through music and his work at the Indian He...

In this special episode of the IHC Podcast, we celebrate California Native American Day with Julie Dominguez, Tribal Ambassador and member of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Julie shares her journey of cultural advocacy, the historical significance of the Muwekma Ohlone people in the Bay Area, and the ongoing efforts to preserve their heritage and traditions. Tune in to hear her powerful reflections on...

Welcome to the August 2024 episode of the IHC Podcast, celebrating Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ Pride Month! This month, we are thrilled to be joined by Nicole Altamirano, the CEO of Silicon Valley Pride. A San Jose native with deep ties to the LGBTQ+ community in the South Bay, Nicole is passionate about advocating for the rights of the most marginalized. In addition to her role as CEO, she serves as Co...

Join host Marissa Hemstreet in this episode of the IHC Podcast, Culture is Medicine edition, as she interviews John Paul K. Amaral (He/Him), a descendant of Taos Pueblo and Jicarilla Nde (Apache). A San Jose local pursuing a BA in History with a Minor in Native American History at San Jose State University, John Paul is dedicated to teaching the Living Histories of American Indigenous peoples and...

Welcome to our July 2024 episode of the IHC Podcast in honor of Disability Awareness Month! This month, we're joined by Dr. Judith Fitzpatrick, a passionate advocate for preventive health and empowerment for individuals living with disabilities. Dr. Fitzpatrick, a graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, and recent resident of the Stanford-O'Connor Family Medicine Residency Program...

Welcome to our June 2024 IHC Podcast | Men’s Health Awareness edition of Culture is Medicine with Rayne Liska Immerse yourself in this unique episode as we engage in a conversation with Rayne Liska, an Indigenous Student Success Advocate from San Jose State University (SJSU) and a proud member of the Hopi Tribe. Rayne's narrative takes us from Cortez, Colorado, to the Bay Area, underscoring his pr...

Tune in as we introduce Daniel Borrego(he/him), the Fitness Coordinator at the Community Wellness and Outreach department at IHC. In this episode, Daniel provides valuable insights about “Men’s Health Awareness Month.” Danny Borrego, a Bay Area native, is the newly appointed Fitness Coordinator for the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley. With a background deeply rooted in sports, fitness,...

Before we begin this program today, we do want to provide a trigger warning that some of the details discussed may be emotionally difficult or disturbing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. If you are seeking help, please refer to the following resources for aid in the description of this program. Thank you so much for listening. Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVEThe Ment...

Before we begin this program today, we do want to provide a trigger warning that some of the details discussed may be emotionally difficult or disturbing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. If you are seeking help, please refer to the following resources for aid in the description of this program. Thank you so much for listening.  Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVE Nation...

Before we begin this program today, we do want to provide a trigger warning that some of the details discussed may be emotionally difficult or disturbing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. If you are seeking help, please refer to the following resources for aid in the description of this program. Thank you so much for listening.  Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVE Nation...

Before we begin this program today, we do want to provide a trigger warning that some of the details discussed may be emotionally difficult or disturbing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. If you are seeking help, please refer to the following resources for aid in the description of this program. Thank you so much for listening.  Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVE Nation...

Before we begin this program today, we do want to provide a trigger warning that some of the details discussed may be emotionally difficult or disturbing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. If you are seeking help, please refer to the following resources for aid in the description of this program. Thank you so much for listening.  Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVE Nation...

March is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month! This month @IHCPodcast had the privilege of sitting down with two incredible doctors, Dr. Mercer, MD MPH and Dr. Sikina, MD (@ERsportsdoc), who shared their insights from navigating the IHC Residency Program. From discussing the journey to becoming a doctor to unraveling the complexities of brain injuries and strategies for prevention and treatment,...

This month, we were honored to connect with Michael Andrews (he/him), a proud tribal member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute, Kickapoo, Sac & Fox, and Ojibwe tribes. Michael works at IHC as our Prevention Services Supervisor. During our insightful discussion, Michael shared details about the Youth Workforce Development program offered through our Prevention Services program at the Indian Health Cent...

Welcome to our latest “Culture Is Medicine” segment on the IHC Podcast! For our Culture is Medicine segment we were introduced to Littlebear Sanchez, IHC Support Specialist. He is a Two-Spirited Lipan Apache/Mexican filmmaker and the founder of Wild Butterfly Productions. During our conversation, he shared his journey to IHC and how finding a place where indigenous culture is not only celebrated b...

Listen to our latest IHC Podcast episode: BAAITS Powwow 2024! Meet Angel C. Fabian (he/she/they) in ceremonial spaces known as Tlahuizpapalotl (Butterfly of Light) is the current Executive Director of BAAITS). They shared their journey at BAAITS and the impact they have made as a non-profit organization. We had an enlightening conversation about the term "Two Spirit" and the upcoming BAA...