Eric Link VPAA / Provost | University of North Dakota
Eric Link VPAA / Provost | University of North Dakota
On April 14, the University of North Dakota's Hilyard Center hosted the "Empowered by Our Past" event, meant to celebrate present-day innovators while honoring voices rooted in heritage, service, and community. The festivities included a keynote conversation between Stacey Borboa-Peterson, the director of the Hilyard Center, and Dr. Tom Wyatt, a graduate of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences and its Indians into Medicine (INMED) program.
Tom Wyatt, who chairs the Department of Emergency Medicine at Hennepin Healthcare, discussed his path toward a career in medicine. He shared his personal experiences, detailing his life growing up in a suburb near Oklahoma City. Wyatt expressed learning to navigate "two different worlds," a theme he linked back to his cultural heritage, being a part of the Shawnee and Quapaw tribes, and the pressures of societal expectations.
Reflecting on his early educational pursuits, Wyatt admitted, "I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do" before finding mentorship in psychology professor Jack Cannon, a critical influence in his decision to apply to medical school.
In Minnesota, Wyatt has developed policies to integrate Native American cultural practices into medical settings, including a Traditional Medicine Policy at Hennepin Healthcare. This policy allows the use of traditional Native American medicine practices, such as smudging, in hospital settings, including the emergency department.
Dr. Wyatt also addressed the ongoing health disparities affecting Native communities, emphasizing the importance of increasing Native representation in healthcare professions. He cited his involvement in the American Indian Youth with Stethoscopes program as pivotal in supporting young Native students' exposure to medical careers.
He encouraged cultural authenticity and hard work, advising students to “be authentic. Don’t ever forget where you come from. Work harder than everyone else around you.”
The event also saw the introduction of the Paul Pitts Community Impact Award, named after UND’s first Black student body president.
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