{"id":19122,"date":"2022-09-22T11:43:06","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T15:43:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/covid19\/?p=19122"},"modified":"2022-09-22T12:02:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T16:02:58","slug":"national-council-of-urban-indian-health-ncuih-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/2022\/09\/22\/national-council-of-urban-indian-health-ncuih-16\/","title":{"rendered":"National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"NCUIH

NCUIH – Senate Confirms Roselyn Tso as Director of the Indian Health Service<\/p><\/div>\n

Senate Confirms Roselyn Tso<\/span> as Director of the Indian Health Service<\/h2>\n

Ms. Tso<\/span>\u2019s confirmation comes after almost two years without a permanent IHS Director<\/em><\/h4>\n

Today, September 21, 2022, Roselyn Tso<\/span> (Navajo) was confirmed as the Director of the Indian Health Service<\/a> (IHS) by voice vote in the Senate. Her confirmation comes after 21 months without a permanent IHS Director. Elizabeth Fowler (Comanche) has been serving as the Acting Director of IHS since the resignation of the previous Director, Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee (Zuni), in January 2021. The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) welcomes Ms. Tso<\/span>\u2019s confirmation and continues to urge for the elevation of the role to Assistant Secretary<\/a> within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to bring better representation for the health needs of American Indians\/Alaska Natives (AI\/ANs).
\n 
\n“We are thrilled to have a confirmed leader for the Indian Health Service, and we graciously thank Liz Fowler for her tireless service during a pandemic that has been devastating our people. We look forward to working with Roselyn Tso<\/span> to carry out the mission of IHS in fulfilling the trust responsibility to provide health care equity for all American Indians and Alaska Natives. We continue to work with Congress and this Administration to elevate this position within HHS where it belongs to lift Native voices and improve health outcomes,\u201d \u2013 Francys Crevier (Algonquin), CEO, NCUIH.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Background<\/h2>\n

Roselyn Tso<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Ms. Tso<\/span> is a citizen of the Navajo Nation. She began<\/a> working for IHS in 1984 and most recently served as the Director of the Navajo Area and Director of the Office of Direct Services and Contracting Tribes until her confirmation. Prior to her work in IHS, much of her professional career was spent in Portland, where she served in several capacities, including working with the three urban programs in the Portland Area that provide services ranging from community health to comprehensive primary health care services. Ms. Tso <\/span>holds a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies and a master\u2019s degree in organizational management from Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon. As the IHS Director, Ms. Tso<\/span> is responsible for administering a nationwide health care delivery program that is responsible for providing comprehensive health care services to AI\/ANs through IHS, Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations (UIOs). 
\n 
\nOn March 9, 2022, President Biden announced the nomination<\/a> of Ms. Tso<\/span> as Director of IHS. On July 13, 2022, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) voted to advance her nomination in a business meeting after she appeared before the Committee for her nomination hearing<\/a> on May 25, 2022.<\/p>\n