Resources

Past Presentation

HCV and HIV: CHRs Save Lives | January 13, 2025

Date of Presentation: January 13, 2025

Type: Past Presentation  

Program: Community Health Representative  

Keywords: #chr  #chw  #hcv  #hiv  

In this presentation Brigg Reilley, Epidemiologist, and Andrew Yu, MS, RN, ACRN, National HIV/HCV/STI Clinical Coordinator at Indian Health Service Headquarters provide a broad overview of HIV and Hepatitis C, the ways they are transmitted, prevented and treated. Brigg and Andrew also discuss CHRs role in addressing the HIV and Hepatitis C epidemics in Indian Country. Then, Camisha Emarthla, CHR and Laura Shepherd, BSN, RN, Community Health Director, share the valuable story of how the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s CHR program is reaching their community to promote HIV/STI safety and awareness.

Recording:

Indian Country CHR ECHO Didactic 1-13-25

Presented by:

Camisha Emarthla
CHW

Camisha Emarthla is a Community Health worker for the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Division of Health, Perkins Family Clinic. She grew up in Perkins, Oklahoma and has also lived in rural parts of Northeastern Oklahoma. Ms. Emarthla has worked in healthcare for 9 years, with previous experience in Pediatrics, Children with Disabilities, and Clinical Management. Ms. Emarthla received her Associates in Arts in Social Science from Northern Oklahoma College, is a certified Nurse Aide, Community Health Worker, certified JVN imager, and certified DPP Lifestyle Coach. Camisha is an enrolled member of the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and a descendant of the Muscogee Creek, Navajo, Wyandotte, and Cherokee
Tribes. Ms. Emarthla has experience working on the current SPF-Rx project, educating American Indians on the twelve dimensions of wellness, assisting American Indian patients with coordination of care, and incorporating culture into health outreach events. She works frequently with the Perkins-Tryon Native American Student Association and the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Title VI Elders and utilizes those opportunities for health promotion.

Laura Shepherd
BSN, RN

Laura Shepherd, BSN, RN is the Community Health Director for the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Division of Health, Perkins Family Clinic. She has worked in healthcare for more than a decade has spent the entirety of her career serving medically underserved communities and populations in rural areas of Oklahoma. Laura is an enrolled Citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

Laura grew up in rural Northeastern Oklahoma Ottawa County. Serving underserved and rural communities has always been a passion for Laura. Her passion started as a high school student where she served as Native youth volunteer on the Tar Creek Superfund Site cleanup plan. Mrs. Shepherd obtained her Associate in Applied Science in Nursing from Northern Oklahoma College and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oklahoma City University.

While working for the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Laura has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of capacities. Laura has developed and fostered partnerships throughout the community to improve the overall health of patients, tribal members, and the community in which she serves. Laura has participated in grant writing and grant management and has overseen the coordination of grants and subaward funding opportunities. She has led, participated in, and has experience in conducting community assessments, strategic planning activities, program development and oversight, budgets and purchasing, implementation, evaluation efforts, sustainability planning, and ensuring fidelity to grants and program requirements. Laura has experience in the development and oversight of health-related policies and procedures.

Laura is passionate when it comes to her family, advocacy, Tribal healthcare, community health & prevention efforts, health literacy, relational leadership, and service to others.

Andrew Yu
BSN, RN, ACRN

Andrew Yu, BSN, RN, ACRN, is the National HIV/HCV/STI Clinical Coordinator for the Indian Health Service Division of Clinical and Community Services. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University and his Master of Science in Community and Public Health Nursing from Hunter College – CUNY. He is also certified as an AIDS care registered nurse and an active member of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.

Michelle Archuleta
Michelle Archuleta
Program Director

Michelle Archuleta, MS, MA, is an enrolled member of the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe with ancestry to the Ohkay Owingeh. She is currently the Indian Health Service National Community Health Representative (CHR) Consultant and Community Health Team Lead. Michelle has an extensive background in health promotion, and community-based programming at the local, state, regional and national levels. Her professional interests include health coaching, Indigenous storywork, and advocacy for the advancement of the field of community health and CHRs critical to the front-line of health and healthcare.

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Brigg Reilley
Brigg Reilley
Faculty

Brigg Reilley has worked with IHS and NPAIHB for a combined 12 years, starting with the HIV program. Brigg now supports the National Program’s management and evaluation for HIV and HCV. Prior to IHS, he worked for Doctors without Borders in several international projects and for the Office of Public Health in Louisiana. Brigg has an MPH from Tulane University.

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Resources Provided:

Date added: December 17, 2024