R. Dale Walker Heads National Group

August 19, 2010 – Dr. R. Dale Walker, a professor at Oregon Health & Science University, has been elected president of the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP).

 

The AAIP is the largest Native American healthcare association in the United States. Its mission includes motivating American Indian and Alaska Native students to pursue careers in healthcare and biomedical research.

 

The association honored Walker, who is Cherokee, as the Indian Physician of the year in both 2009 and 1989. He is a one of two American Indian psychiatrists in the nation certified in addictions treatment.

 

Walker is director of the One Sky Center and the Center for American Indian Health Education & Research at OHSU. He also is a professor of psychiatry, and public health and preventive medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine.

 

His distinguished career includes advocating for elimination of the stigmas associated with mental illness and substance abuse disorders. His research focuses on American Indian addiction and mental health. Walker also is working to address the low number of Indian students in the healthcare fields and to draw attention to best practices for the prevention and treatment of addiction and mental health disorders among American Indians.