Health problems amongst American Indians are disproportionately higher than the rest of the general population. This disparity contributes to inhibiting economic, educational, and social development. The statistics are shocking. Many American Indians suffer and ultimately die from preventable diseases at alarmingly higher rates. Mental health is no different, with many American Indians disproportionately burdened by substance abuse and mental health issues.

American Indians are also the single most underrepresented minority in the field of medicine, comprising 1.7% of the total United States population but only 0.05% of our nation’s physicians. Other health care professions, such as nursing, dentistry, and pharmacology, demonstrate a comparable disparity. There are many factors that contribute to this imbalance, deeply rooted in decades of racial inequities and marginalization.

Education is a key factor in improving American Indians’ health outcomes and increasing student motivation to pursue careers in the health sciences. Yet the data reveal that the science education received by most American Indian children is not yielding academic achievement or sparking an interest in health science career options. In order to help change that, Asniya is poised to launch Health Through Knowledge, which will be piloted at Red Cloud Indian School.