University Letter

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Don Warne to present lead talk in UND Faculty Lecture Series Sept. 25

Don Warne
Don Warne

Donald Warne, director of the SMHS Indians Into Medicine and Master of Public Health programs, and associate dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, will be the lead speaker in UND’s 2019-20 Faculty Lecture Series. He will present “American Indian Health Equity: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery,” and will be introduced by First Lady Kathryn Burgum.

The talk will be held at 4:30 p.m. in Room 7 of the Education building on the UND campus on Sept. 25, and will be preceded by a 4 p.m. reception.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

The American Indian (AI) population suffers from significant health disparities, and the outcomes in the Northern Plains, including North Dakota, are among the worst in the nation. Numerous factors contribute to health inequities, including poverty, inadequate educational systems, food deserts, marginalization, and other social determinants of health.

An additional consideration that contributes to poor health outcomes for the AI population is unresolved trauma in the forms of historical trauma, boarding school participation, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and discrimination.

Dr. Warne will focus on his research into historical trauma and ACEs in North Dakota and South Dakota. He will discuss the concepts of resilience and recovery to prevent future trauma and to mitigate the impact and outcomes of trauma, including poor mental health, suicide, addiction, and chronic disease.

The Recovery Reinvented program in North Dakota, led by First Lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum, will be highlighted. Recovery Reinvented focuses on proven approaches to address addiction and recovery without shame or stigma. He will also put forth a research and educational agenda for UND and partner institutions to focus on recovery and to eliminate health inequities for future generations.

Don Warne

An enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe in Pine Ridge, S.D., Warne received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine in 1995 and his Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University in 2002. A prolific scholar and grant writer, Warne is also senior policy advisor for the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board and former senior fellow of American Indian health policy for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico.

In addition to being a member of the American Public Health Association, American Medical Association, and Association of American Indian Physicians, Warne served in a leadership capacity for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the American Cancer Society.

The Faculty Lecture Series

The Faculty Lecture Series seeks to cultivate a stronger academic atmosphere on the University of North Dakota campus by showcasing the scholarly research of faculty selected across the disciplines. The Lectures aim to present with some depth and rigor the scholarly questions and goals of the individual faculty members. In presenting their scholarship, the lecturers will share the enthusiasm and dedication that sustains their creative efforts.

The Lectures are occasions for members of the University community and public to engage and strengthen their sense of unity. It is also an opportunity to share the important work of the University with our broader community.

The Faculty Lecture Series continues through the funding of the Offices of the President, and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and is presented through the planning of the Faculty Lecture Series Committee.