Rene Begay

Rene is Diné (Navajo) from Salina Springs, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. She is a Professional Research Assistant with the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health. In this role, she conducts qualitative and quantitative research; she has analyzed community health survey data for Alaska Native communities, used statistical analysis to create new measures of healthcare utilization, and described health status and medication use with existing Indian Health Service data for Native Veterans. She is also helping to develop a suicide prevention program for rural Native Veterans in collaboration with Native communities and the Veterans Health Administration. She is interested in socioeconomic, biologic, and/or policy issues related to diabetes and a possible link to genetics in Native communities.

The Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health (CAIANH) is nationally recognized for its work with American Indian and Alaska Native communities for over 30 years. CAIANH promotes the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) peoples of all ages, by pursuing research and education within a biopsychosocial framework that recognizes the unique cultural contexts of AI/AN populations. CAIANH provides mentoring and educational opportunities for individuals who wish to work as health care professionals in their tribal communities; develops and disseminates programs promoting prevention and healthy lifestyles; and empowers Native Communities through data acquisition and analysis to inform decisions and policies. CAIANH collaborates with a large tribal community network, including 69 tribes, 38 tribal community-based health organizations, and 12 Alaska Native regional corporations, distributed across 26 states.