Yvette Roubideaux
Encyclopedia
Yvette Roubideaux, M.D., M.P.H. (born 1963), a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, South Dakota, is a doctor and public health administrator; in May 2009 she was confirmed as the appointed Director of the Indian Health Service
(IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. She is the first woman to be appointed as Director of IHS, the principal federal health care advocate and provider for American Indians and Alaska Natives
. At the University of Arizona
and in previous IHS clinical positions, Roubideaux has specialized in research in diabetes and its prevention among American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
and then entered Harvard Medical School
, where she received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1989. She completed a residency program in primary care internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston in 1992.
After four years of clinical practice, she returned to graduate school and completed her Master of Public Health
degree at the Harvard School of Public Health
in 1997. Roubideaux also completed the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy before transitioning to a career in academic medicine and public health.
in Arizona. She worked for one year as a medical officer at the Hu Hu Kam Memorial Indian Hospital on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona.
Roubideaux shifted her focus to public health and returned to graduate school. To work in issues of research and policy, she entered academic medicine. She has recently served as assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine
and the College of Public Health. Dr. Roubideaux has conducted extensive research on American Indian health issues, with a focus on diabetes in American Indians/Alaska Natives and American Indian health policy. Dr. Roubideaux served as the co-director of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians Demonstration Projects, in which 66 American Indian and Alaska Native communities are implementing prevention initiatives for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. She also served as director of two University of Arizona programs designed to recruit American Indian and Alaska Native students into the health and research professions.
In 2009 Robideaux was appointed as Director of the Indian Health Service
in the administration of President Barack Obama
; she is the first woman to serve in this position. As the IHS Director within the Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Roubideaux administers a $4 billion nationwide health care delivery program composed of 12 administrative Area (regional) Offices. The IHS is responsible for providing preventive, curative, and community health care to approximately 2 million of the nation’s 3.4 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in hospitals, clinics, and other settings throughout the United States.
She identified four priorities to improve the quality of healthcare for a minority population in which "there are health and care disparities and the rates of chronic diseases on the rise":
’s book Promises to Keep: Public Health Policy for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the 21st Century (2001). She has authored several monographs and peer-reviewed publications on American Indian/Alaska Native health issues, research, and policy.
Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service is an Operating Division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . IHS is responsible for providing medical and public health services to members of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Natives...
(IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. She is the first woman to be appointed as Director of IHS, the principal federal health care advocate and provider for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Alaska Natives
Alaska Natives are the indigenous peoples of Alaska. They include: Aleut, Inuit, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Eyak, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures.-History:In 1912 the Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded...
. At the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
and in previous IHS clinical positions, Roubideaux has specialized in research in diabetes and its prevention among American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
Early life and education
Roubideaux earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and then entered Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, where she received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1989. She completed a residency program in primary care internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston in 1992.
After four years of clinical practice, she returned to graduate school and completed her Master of Public Health
Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....
degree at the Harvard School of Public Health
Harvard School of Public Health
The Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
in 1997. Roubideaux also completed the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy before transitioning to a career in academic medicine and public health.
Career
Roubideaux worked in clinical practice for IHS for three years as a clinical director and medical officer at the San Carlos Service Unit on the San Carlos Apache Indian ReservationSan Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
The San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, in southeastern Arizona, United States, was established in 1871 as a reservation for the Chiricahua Apache tribe. It was referred to by some as "Hell's Forty Acres," due to a myriad of dismal health and environmental conditions.-Formation:President U.S....
in Arizona. She worked for one year as a medical officer at the Hu Hu Kam Memorial Indian Hospital on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona.
Roubideaux shifted her focus to public health and returned to graduate school. To work in issues of research and policy, she entered academic medicine. She has recently served as assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine
The University of Arizona College of Medicine is the only MD granting medical school in the state of Arizona. It has two campuses: the Tucson campus is located at the Arizona Health Sciences Center and University Medical Center, and the Phoenix campus is located at the historic Phoenix Union High...
and the College of Public Health. Dr. Roubideaux has conducted extensive research on American Indian health issues, with a focus on diabetes in American Indians/Alaska Natives and American Indian health policy. Dr. Roubideaux served as the co-director of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians Demonstration Projects, in which 66 American Indian and Alaska Native communities are implementing prevention initiatives for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. She also served as director of two University of Arizona programs designed to recruit American Indian and Alaska Native students into the health and research professions.
In 2009 Robideaux was appointed as Director of the Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service is an Operating Division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . IHS is responsible for providing medical and public health services to members of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Natives...
in the administration of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
; she is the first woman to serve in this position. As the IHS Director within the Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Roubideaux administers a $4 billion nationwide health care delivery program composed of 12 administrative Area (regional) Offices. The IHS is responsible for providing preventive, curative, and community health care to approximately 2 million of the nation’s 3.4 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in hospitals, clinics, and other settings throughout the United States.
She identified four priorities to improve the quality of healthcare for a minority population in which "there are health and care disparities and the rates of chronic diseases on the rise":
- "To renew and strengthen IHS's partnership with tribes;
- To bring reform to IHS; she will work with the tribes to identify problems in the agency and then develop solutions to improve those areas;
- To improve the quality and access to care for patients; and
- To ensure the work of IHS is transparent and accountable, and fair and inclusive."
Associations and writing
Robideaux is a past president of the Association of American Indian Physicians and co-editor of the American Public Health AssociationAmerican Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association is Washington, D.C.-based professional organization for public health professionals in the United States. Founded in 1872 by Dr. Stephen Smith, APHA has more than 30,000 members worldwide...
’s book Promises to Keep: Public Health Policy for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the 21st Century (2001). She has authored several monographs and peer-reviewed publications on American Indian/Alaska Native health issues, research, and policy.
Honors
- 2004, Indian Physician of the Year Award from the Association of American Indian Physicians.
- 2008, Addison B. Scoville Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, American Diabetes AssociationAmerican Diabetes AssociationThe American Diabetes Association is a United States-based association working to fight the consequences of diabetes, and to help those affected by diabetes...
.