Indigenous health training programs build capacity for community-informed public health practice

Abstract Indigenous health training programs across the United States are addressing representation disparities, where American Indians constitute 3% of the U.S. population but only 0.4% of practicing physicians. By discussing these initiatives, we set the stage for our workshop's exploration of culturally-informed data collection and public health approaches for racially/ethnically marginalized communities. Indigenous health education programs, such as Indigenous-focused PhD and MPH programs and the Indians Into Medicine program at the University of North Dakota, alongside the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health's DrPH and postdoctoral programs specifically build workforce capacity for Indigenous communities. These programs implement culturally-concordant approaches to public health - where practitioners share the same background as communities they serve - demonstrating better data, community engagement, and health outcomes compared to conventional approaches. Governance structures with Indigenous representation (i.e. Tribal advisory boards and majority Indigenous faculty) ensure ethical practices such as tribal consultation, Indigenous perspectives on he