Dr. Dena Wilson
She rose from a child of the reservation to a Cardiologist
By David Michaud
Native Sun News Correspondent Becoming a physician was always something that Dr. Dena Wilson envisioned herself doing. Once she was forced to face a family tragedy that pushed her resolve further and made the choice all the clearer. Growing up Dr. Wilson, the Acting Director for the Native American Cardiologist Program, always had an idea that she wanted to be a doctor. Except for in the first grade when, she says, “My mom said I wanted to be a bird.” Once that phase passed though, she knew what she wanted to do. As she got older she was, unfortunately, exposed to medicine more and more. Her cousin, Michelle Pourier, was diagnosed with Leukemia and Wilson attended many of the appointments with her. While on theses appointments she was able to pick the brains of the medical professionals and see, first hand, the difference a good doctor can make. “I was by her side the entire time and had lots of exposure to medicine, good and bad,” she said. “Lots of doctors and nurses saw me with her and mentored me when I was by her side. They didn’t see me as some 19-year-old kid, they wanted to help me. There was some who were like ‘oh whatever’ but most were very helpful.” So, while at college at Chadron State, she continued on in her Pre-Med program. She attended Chadron State from 1995-99, before moving on to the University of Washington in Seattle from 1999-2003. That would not be the end of her schooling though. She went on to six more years to perfect her trade. “I did internal medicine residency in Tucson, Ariz., from 2003-2006 and my cardiology fellowship from 2006-2009. During my residency I was recruited by Dr. Jim Galloway to become part of the Native American Cardiology Program,” she said. “He got me into cardiology, then in 2009 I joined with them. In 2010 it relocated to Flagstaff, Ariz.” Having been in Flagstaff for the past three years, Dr. Wilson routinely works on the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation. For five days out of the month she works on the Reservations where those who are unable to travel far distances can come in and see her. When she is not out on the job she is in her office in Flagstaff. In her office she is constantly working with tests that other IHS hospitals in her area run and have sent in to her. She reads those tests and sends her expert opinion back to the hospitals. “As a cardiologist I focus on outpatient medicine and preventative care. I don’t take care of patients in hospital I take care of them once they’re discharged,” said Dr. Wilson. “I see them for their routine outpatient appointments. Whether that’s heart attacks, chest pain, anything to do with heart. I also do a lot of diagnostic testing.” To go along with her regular duties as a Cardiologist Dr. Wilson is also a member of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She had been a member of the U.S. Commissioned Corps since 2006 and currently has the rank of a 05 Commander. With the Corps Dr. Wilson still acts under IHS and provides service to other service members. She can also be called into deployment if the need ever arises. These responsibilities go to show that a child of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, no matter what part they are from, can go on to do great things. After all, during her years before college, Dr. Wilson was enrolled in many different schools. She was never able to call one place home for very long, starting out at the Head Start before moving on to Pine Ridge Elementary for her Kindergarten, first and second grade years. After that she attended Red Cloud for third and fourth grade and then moved on to Wolf Creek for the next two years of fifth and sixth grade. This was when she made a big move and traveled with her mother to Rapid City. While in Rapid City she attended North Junior High for seventh grade before moving back to Wolf Creek for eighth grade. After that she finally had some stability in her schooling and attended Red Cloud throughout her high school years. Having moved all over the Reservation really makes Dr. Wilson a child of the Rez, and one who can give hope to kids from anywhere. It also shows that no matter the difficult beginning, a child can rise to whatever level they choose. (Contact David Michaud at bulldawg_252000@hotmail.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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