NE North Dakota News

Each spring, the Indians into Medicine (INMED) program at the University of North Dakota (UND) holds a ceremony to honor its graduates at the Time Out Wacipi Powwow. Elders, advisory board members, and honored guests participate in draping each graduate with a Star Quilt. This gesture is a sign of respect for the students' accomplishments and contributions to their communities.

Sixteen graduates from various science and health disciplines attended this year's event. The fields represented included Biology, Public Health, Nursing, Psychology, Physics, Medical Lab Science, and Social Work. There were also recipients of doctoral degrees in Physical Therapy and Medicine.

Among the participants were two INMED alumni. Dr. Monica Mayer, a Tribal Advisory Board member from Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, and Dr. Delbert Lamb, a pediatric anesthesiologist for Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Lamb was the keynote speaker at INMED's graduate recognition brunch earlier in the day. During the ceremony, he draped Kendra Roland, a UND medical school's Class of 2025 member, with a Star Quilt. Roland, who will start her Anesthesia residency at the University of Iowa, considers Dr. Lamb her research mentor.

In his address, Dr. Lamb told the students, "You are not here by accident. You are not a statistic, but instead a story of survival and resilience, of brilliance. You are the answer to your ancestors’ prayers. … As you walk across that stage soon — walk proud, walk grateful, walk ready. But above all, walk with purpose."

INMED, ranked first in graduating American Indian/Alaska Native physicians in the nation, has been serving students and Tribal Nations since 1973. The program focuses on the recruitment, retention, and graduation of American Indian and Alaska Native professionals in healthcare fields.

Danielle Thompson, the author of the article, is the program manager for INMED at UND.