Kuczek, Yaqui, MPH, PA-C, has provided leadership in the PA
world for many years. In 1995 she was one of the founders of the
First Nations Council of Physician Assistants. As the first
national organization representing American Indian physician
assistants, the group had caucus status under the American
Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). Members of the
organization recruited and supported American Indian PA
students. Their projects included providing health screening and
education at gatherings, such as powwows. Kuczek was also
involved in lobbying with the American Association of Physician
Assistants. When the following article was published, she was
caring for patients in the department of emergency medicine at
Kaiser Permanente in West Los Angeles. Preventing Illness and
Honoring Traditional Knowledge Wabanang, what do you regard as
some of the key health care issues facing Indian people? I’m a
Yaqui Indian from Arizona. As part of the minority populations
in this country, we, like other American Indi