Melanie Nadeau, PhD, MPH, BS

Tribal Affiliation/Ethnic/Racial Background:
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians

Current Position:
Operational Director-American Indian Public Health Resource Center
Assistant Professor of Practice-University of North Dakota

Degree(s):
Bachelor of Science (Psychology)-University of North Dakota
Masters of Public Health (Community Health Education)-University of Minnesota
PhD (Social/Behavioral Epidemiology)-University of Minnesota

Area of Focus:
Social Behavioral Epidemiology
Community Health Education
Health Disparities

What motivated you to obtain your educational/career goals?
The poor health in both my family and community

What steps did you take to achieve those goals?
Found mentors, applied for scholarships, attended conferences/workshops etc. to network and learn. Also attended trainings. Worked interdisciplinary and stayed connected to the community by becoming a community-engaged scholar.

Describe any obstacles or barriers that you encountered along your path.
Financial, personal issue hardships, family issue hardships.

What advice do you have for college students?
Be persistent, consistent, organized, accountable and determined.

Biography:
Melanie is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in Belcourt, North Dakota. She graduated from both the Turtle Mountain Community High School and the Turtle Mountain Community College. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of North Dakota and a Masters in Public Health in community health education with a concentration in health disparities from the University of Minnesota. She recently completed her PhD in Epidemiology social behavioral track program at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Melanie is a community engaged scholar and has worked 13 years on various research projects within the American Indian community. Melanie is the Operational Director at the American Indian Public Health Resource Center housed at North Dakota State University and leads a team that has successfully engaged a multitude of tribal health stakeholders from across the region. She also serves on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Research Review board, the American Public Health Association American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian board and as chair of the North Dakota Public Health Association American Indian section. Melanie has a wealth of experience working in community health education and research and is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Native communities. She has been married for 24 years and has 1 daughter. In her free time she enjoys attending cultural events and hosting cook-outs with her family.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LT Charisse L. Holiday, MPH, MS, RD

Image
Tribal Affiliation/Ethnic/Racial Background: Navajo Current Position:  Registered Dietitian, Chief of Nutrition Services, Phoenix Indian Medical Center Degree(s): Bachelor of Science, Arizona State University Master of Science, Arizona State University Master of Public Health, University of Arizona Area of Focus: Diabetes Heart Disease Chronic Kidney Disease Adult Weight Management  What motivated you to obtain your educational/career goals?  I have always been interested in health, nutrition and working with patients. I spent my undergraduate summers interning at a diabetes clinic with Indian Health Services, and it opened my eyes to the health field. Interning allowed me to identify professional mentors who impacted my path. My family, my mentors, and helping others motivated me to do well in school and to continuing learning.    What steps did you take to achieve those goals?  Keeping my priorities near,...
Read more

Kelly Upshaw

Tribal Affiliation/Ethnic/Racial Backgrounds: Navajo Current Position: Tribal Veterinarian Degree(s): B.S. Biology D.V.M. Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine Schools Attended: New Mexico Highlands University Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Area of Focus: General Practitioner- Large and Small Animal Medicine & Surgery Public Health & Zoonotic Diseases Regulatory Medicine What motivated you to obtain your educational/career goals? My motivation has stemmed from my environment growing up where the key values were hard work and education. I was taught by family that education is one of the keys needed to be successful in a Western Dominated Society. In order to compete in that world education was the great equalizer. No matter where you originate from or how a person has grown up education helps us to be self-reliant. What steps did you take to achieve those goals? My studies always came first in high school, u...
Read more

Georgia L. Tsingine

Tribal Affiliation/Ethnic/Racial Background: ¾ Hopi, ¼ Navajo Current Position: Occupational Health Physician Degree(s): B.S. Zoology M.P.H. Public Health M.B.A. Business Administration M.D. Doctor of Medicine Schools Attended: Arizona State UniversityColorado State University University of Arizona Area of Focus: Native American Health Occupational Health What motivated you to obtain your educational/career goals? I always wanted to succeed in academics. Going into medicine was not a plan, but was almost an accident. I knew nothing about medicine, but decided to pursue medicine because of the challenge intellectually, knowing I could help people better their lives. What steps did you take to achieve those goals? I did well in high school, planned on going to college and finishing no matter what. I asked a lot of questions, looked for scholarships and any opportunity that would lead to my goal of going in to medicine - including volunteering, working in the medical field ...
Read more