
13th Annual Native American Healthcare Conference
June 6-7, 2023
Pechanga Resort Casino – Temecula, CA
Event Details
The 13th Annual Native American Healthcare Conference will be held on June 6-7, 2023 at Pechanga Resort Casino – Temecula, CA.
Healthcare directors, decision-makers, and Tribal Leaders will hear from the industry’s top experts on preventative disease, wellness, and other health-related topics facing Indian Country. Tribal communities generally experience numerous health disparities and are now among the most vulnerable and least resourced to address the current COVID-19 outbreak. Attendees will learn about cutting-edge updates, the newest treatments, equipment, and opportunities, as well as discuss the current state of the industry and trends for the future.
We ensure our attendees get to know their peers and interact with one another throughout the event by providing a variety of engaging sessions, numerous networking opportunities, and impressive business solutions.
Four Conferences for the Price of One!
This event is being held in conjunction with our:
- 16th Annual Native American Economic Development Conference
- 11th Annual Native American Housing Conference
- Eighth Annual Native American Cannabis & Hemp Conference
When you register for one, you will have access to all four conferences!
Who Should Attend:
- Tribal Leaders
- Indian Health Program Chief Executive Officers
- Clinical Directors
- Chief Medical Officers
- CDE’s
- Endocrinologists
- Business Process Outsourcing Providers
- Healthcare Software Providers
- Nurse Consultants
- Pharmaceutical and healthcare providers
- Lawyers
- Insurance Providers
- Community Outreach Professionals
- Purchasing Directors
- IT Directors
- Construction Companies & Architects specializing in Healthcare Facilities
TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT ATTENDING, SPEAKING, EXHIBITING OR SPONSORING, PLEASE CALL US AT 201-857-5333 OR EMAIL SALES@NATIVENATIONEVENTS.ORG.
At Native Nation Events, we pride ourselves on offering best-in-class networking events in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. No need for suits and ties; business casual is the preferred dress code for our conferences.
Thank you to our Co-Chairs and Platinum sponsors for their continued support, dedication to knowledge, and drive to enhance the Native American community.






Register Now To Attend
For Tribal Representatives
Tribal Super Early Bird
$745
Tribal Early Bird
$845
Tribal Standard
$945
Group Rate (Four or more paid from same Tribe or entity)
Tribal Group Super Early Bird
$645
Tribal Group Early Bird
$745
Tribal Group Standard
$845
For Other Industry Professionals
Pro Super Early Bird
$845
Pro Early Bird
$945
Pro Standard
$1045

HOTEL INFORMATION
Pechanga Resort Casino45000 Pechanga Parkway
Temecula, CA 92592
1-888-PECHANGA
Room Rate: $204 per night
Booking Code: 7374159
Room Cut-Off Date: May 4, 2023
YOU MUST MENTION NATIVE NATION EVENTS OR THE NATIVE AMERICAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE TO RECEIVE THE DISCOUNTED RATE!
Reserve Room Now13th Annual Native American Healthcare Conference
June 6-7, 2023
Pechanga Resort Casino – Temecula, CA
Tuesday, June 6th, 2023
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Registration and Networking Breakfast
Registration A&B | Summit Ballroom C
8:30-8:45 AM
Opening Remarks
Summit Ballroom AB

Justin O'Connor
President | Native Nation Events

Ken Perez
President | Pechanga Development Corporation
8:45 - 9:30 AM
Keynote- Unlocking the Best Version of Yourself and Embracing Change and Uncertainty
Summit Ballroom AB

Jim Stroker
Coach | Native Nation Events
- The 3 questions you must answer to create alignment and tranquility in your life.
- Becoming aware of the space between stimulus and response, and making this your power tool.
- Regaining a sense of control by discipline of focus on what is in your control and what is out.
- Deciding to bring your attention to “The Process”, and leading teams to focus here rather than outcome.
- The mindful leader and self care strategies that allow for sustainability and building teams of trust.
- The locked in intention that you have for exiting the game of life, and will you create a game plan that uses AMOR FATI as your theme?
9:30-10:15 AM
Legislative Update: New and Pending Legislation and What It Means for Indian Country
Summit Ballroom AB

One Who Rides His Horse East (Tom Rodgers)
Founder and CEO | Carlyle Consulting
- Cannabis Federal and State political and policy developments
- Psychedelic Federal and State political and policy developments
- Native American sovereignty- DEA licensure and intellectual property
10:15-10:45 AM
Morning Networking Break
Summit Ballroom C
10:45-11:00 AM
Healthcare Conference Co-Chair Remarks
Summit Ballroom D

Tammy Anderson, MA, FACHE
Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing | Longview Technology Solutions, Inc. (LTS) Health

Christopher Goldsmith
Vice President & Senior Consultant | Segal
11:00-12:00 PM
Moving Forward From the COVID-19 Global Pandemic
Summit Ballroom D

James Klas - Moderator
Founder & Principal | KlasRobinson Q.E.D

OJ Fiander
CEO | Native Fitness

Dr. Diane Foley
Chief Medical Officer for Public Health | Longview Technology Solutions, Inc. (LTS) Health

Coletta Dorado
Founder & CEO | AZZLY, Inc.

Michael Blaivas, MD, MBA
Chief Medical Officer | Anavasi Diagnostics
- How will communities move forward in the coming years with COVID still a potential threat?
- How a stable funding stream for the IHS would allow funds to be dispersed quicker while enabling other health programs to efficiently manage budgets, coordinate care, and improve health outcomes for tribal communities.
- The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 will include almost $7 billion for IHS in the fiscal year 2023. – What does this mean for you?
- What lasting achievements and healthcare advances came about during this crisis?
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
Summit Ballroom C
1:00-2:00 PM
Optimizing Employee Benefits to Attract and Retain a Diverse Workforce in Tribal-Owned Enterprises
Summit Ballroom D

Christopher Goldsmith- Moderator
Vice President & Senior Consultant | Segal

Alicia Finley
Human Resources Services Director | Blue Stone Strategy Partners

Isaiah Belknap
Deputy Chief Executive Officer | San Carlos Apache healthcare

Jerrod Murr
Founder & CEO | Paradigm Shift
- What is the link between an optimized benefit program and organizational success?
- What does a diverse workforce look like? How should diversity be measured?
- What types of sub-optimal decisions do employees make about health benefits, wellbeing, paid leave, and retirement benefits?
- What resources and decision support tools are available and work best for different segments of the workforce?
- Which communication approaches help nudge employees toward making better benefit decisions?
2:00-3:00 PM
Designing, Opening, and Running a Health Clinic From Start to Finish
Summit Ballroom D

Kate Grismala - Moderator
Director of Health Services | Blue Stone Strategy Partners

Mike Greentree
Field Vice President for Federal and Tribal Government Solutions | McKesson Medical-Surgical Government Solutions

Red Fox Sanchez, MA, CRCS
Chief Executive Officer | By 301U Winyan

Mike Laverdure
Managing Principal | DSGW Architecture
- What are the necessary steps in planning or updating a healthcare facility?
- What is the importance of facility design in healthcare? How can culture be incorporated into your design?
- Securing funding sources- internal, partnership with IHS, other grants or federal programs, etc.
- How to effectively manage administrative duties and tasks while also focusing on patient care.
3:00-3:30 PM
Afternoon Networking Break
Summit Ballroom C
3:30-4:15 PM
Delivering Culturally Responsive Care in Tribal Nations: Addressing Native Health Disparities
Summit Ballroom D

Morgan Haynes - Moderator
President | Tribal Health

Whittney LaCroix
Chief Nursing Officer | Tribal Health
- The importance of training providers in culturally sensitive care.
- Why incorporating traditional Tribal practices and ceremonies will be vital for building trust and long-term care solutions.
- Instructing facility staff in critical care protocols and practices.
- How to provide quality improvements for Joint Commission accreditation and CMS certification.
- The benefits and importance of increasing the pipeline of Native American clinical professionals.
4:15-5:15 PM
Diabetes Prevention, Detection, and New Ways of Treatment To Continue the Fight on What Many Refer to as a Plague in Indian Country
Summit Ballroom D

Veronica Crawford, BSN, RN - Moderator
Director of Clinical Strategy, Government | McKesson Medical-Surgical Government Solutions

Tracy Nelson
Area Diabetes Consultant | Indian Health Service

OJ Fiander
Chief Executive Officer | Native Fitness

Dr. Dennis Pena
DPM | EO2

Matthew Kirk Tafoya
CEO | Indigenous Intervention
- American Indian Alaska Native communities have historically had disproportionately higher rates of diabetes than other populations.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Indian Health Service, is investing $139 million in funding for the Fiscal Year 2023 Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) to provide diabetes prevention and treatment services for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
- Education and outreach programs like the SDPI are helping to implement evidence-based and community-driven strategies to prevent and treat diabetes in tribal communities.
- With Diabetes often resulting in wound care, what is the most affective way to help treat it?
5:15 PM
Day One Sessions Conclude
Wednesday June 7th, 2023
7:30-8:30 AM
Registration and Networking Breakfast
Registration A&B | Summit Ballroom C
8:30-9:15 AM
Modernizing Health IT Systems to Enhance Tribal Healthcare
Summit Ballroom D

Dr. Donald Kosiak
Chief Medical Officer | Ledios
- Explore How Modernizing Patient Records Will Assist Practicing Physicians in Tribal Communities to Provide the Quality, Safety, and Cost Outcomes
9:15-10:00 AM
Understanding Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and How It Benefits Your Tribal Members’ Fight in Wound Care
Summit Ballroom D

Fabrizio Verdini
Healthcare Management Specialist | Biobarica
- Understanding the fundamentals of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- What is hyperoxia? How does this therapy help?
- Does it make sense to introduce hyperbaric systems in your care centers? How does it impact your bottom line?
10:00-10:30 AM
Morning Networking Break
Summit Ballroom C
10:30-11:15 AM
A Fresh Look at Board-Led Strategic Planning
Summit Ballroom D

Karma Bass, MPH, FACHE
Managing Principal | Via Healthcare Consultants

Kimberley Strong
Board Chair | SouthEast Alaska Regional Heath Consortium
- The vision, mission, and values set the foundation for strategic planning.
- Creating a process that engages key tribal stakeholders and honors their contributions
- Ways to ensure the plan is dynamic, actionable, and progress measurable
11:15 - 12:00 pm
The Opioid Epidemic in Indian Country: Next Steps to Educating the Community on the Dangers of Opioid Use
Summit Ballroom D

Dr. Diane Foley- Moderator
Chief Medical Officer for Public Health | Longview Technology Solutions, Inc. (LTS) Health

Jax Stewart
Senior Community Outreach Specialist | Akua Behavioral Health

Dr. Daryl Wever
Director of Health Services and Physician | Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

Paul Monteith, PWS
Co- Director | Tayas Yawks
- What effect does the opioid epidemic have on tribes?
- In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic affected substance abuse and addiction in Indian countries?
- What are the leading causes of substance abuse and addiction?
- Are prevention, support, and treatment programs in place to battle this disease?
- How to create successful programs to combat the problem.
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Access to Mental Health Resources and Crisis Services
Summit Ballroom D

Dr. Todd Burnett, PsD
Senior Consultant for Operations- Suicide Prevention | Office of Mental Health & Suicide Prevention (VACO) Veterans Health Administration- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Pamela End of Horn, DSW, LICSW
National Suicide Prevention Consultant | IHS

Dr. Russell Morfitt, Ph.D
Co-Founder & Chief Clinical Officer | Learn to Live

Shelby Rowe, MBA
Program Director for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center | OU Health Science Center

Dr. Shawn Sidhu
Co-Director | Vista Hill Foundation Native American SmartCare Program

Rochelle Williams
Tribal Operations Manager | Volunteers of America Western Washington
- Discuss solutions to increase access to quality mental and behavioral healthcare in Indian Country, such as increased broadband to reach telehealth services and resources.
- How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the mental and behavioral health of tribal communities?
- What is possible when Crisis Services within Indian Country focus on their communities’ needs and incorporate local customs and perspectives?
- How to improve the capacity of states, tribes and other organizations to implement effective, comprehensive suicide prevention strategies and programs.
- Discuss how to empower family, friends, and employees to utilize behavioral health resources.
1:00 PM
Healthcare Conference Concludes

Tammy Anderson, MA FACHE

Todd Burnett, PsD

Veronica Crawford, BSN, RN

Shelby Rowe

Dr. Daryl Wever
If you’re interested in sponsoring this event, please reach out to Dan O’Connor at dan@nativenationevents.org or call him at 201-857-5333 for additional details.