May 25, 2016 – Fargo, North Dakota — Donald Warne, M.D., the chair of the Master of Public Health Program in the College of Health Professions at NDSU was keynote speaker at the National Council of Urban Indian Health Leadership Conference held May 12-13 in San Diego, California. Warne’s presentation was titled “Integrated health care practices from a cultural perspective.”

Dr. Warne also was recognized during the conference as a national honoree at the 2016 Pendleton Blanket Recognition Dinner. The National Council of Urban Indian Health “recognizes American Indian and Alaska Native health leaders and medical practitioners who exemplify effective use of culturally-grounded, strengths-based approaches and interventions, in collaboration with modern practices of health, education, and medicine, to improve the health and well-being of urban Indians,” according to the group’s announcement of the event.

The award acknowledges the importance of integrating traditional and culturally competent practices with overall health strategies to treat the whole person. Dr. Warne is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation from Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

In a release about the award, NCUIH said:  “He has a proven commitment to advancing American Indian and Alaska Native wellness through his advocacy for using science and ethics to improve Native public health; incorporating traditional holistic practices that treat the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual condition; and focusing more investment on preventive care to keep people healthy rather than waiting to treat them when they are sick.” 

Warne also serves as the senior policy advisor to the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board. He received his M.D. from Stanford University and his Master of Public Health from Harvard University as a Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellow in Minority Health Policy. Dr. Warne is a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), and a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Medical Acupuncture.

He previously served as a primary care and integrative medicine physician with the Gila River Health Care Corporation in Sacaton, Arizona, and as a staff clinician with the National Institutes of Health in Phoenix where he conducted diabetes research and developed diabetes education and prevention programs in partnership with tribes. 

The National Council of Urban Indian Health is a national organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally competent health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban settings. 

Previous recognition of Dr. Warne’s contributions includes the Public Health Innovation Award from the National Indian Health Board, nomination for consideration for U.S. Surgeon General, Plain Language Awards in Community Health Education from the National Institutes of Health, Fang-Ching Sun Memorial Award for Commitment to Underserved Communities from the Harvard School of Public Health, Walter Brazie MD Award as Arizona’s Outstanding Family Practice Resident from the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians, Phoenix Area Impact Award from the National Indian Health Board, and at NDSU, the Mary J. Berg Distinguished Professorship in Women’s Health, Tapestry of Diverse Talents, Dean’s Service Award in the College of Health Professions, and Green and Globe Diversity Award.