Looking back on the 2007 NNAYI Program

2007 NNAYI Agenda

10th Annual National Native American Youth Initiative

The 10th Annual NNAYI Program was held during the week of June 23rd – July 1st, 2007 in Washington D.C. A total of fifty-one high school students and twelve counselors attended this years program. NNAYI students represented 32 federally or state recognized tribes from 15 states.

The NNAYI partiicpants were housed at George Washington University located in the heart of Washington, D.C. The NNAYI curriculum was presented in a series of lectures, interactive workshops, and field trips. Students learned about various health professions, health care issues affecting Native American communities, college and medical school admission process, and financial aid resources from national organizations; such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Minority Health, Indian Health Service, Georgetown University, and many others. In addition, AAIP physician members shared their experiences on becoming a health career professional and served as role models.

2007 NNAYI highlights

(1) A guided tour of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) laboratories by NIH primary investigators / researchers.

(2) Eleven AAIP member physicians were among the guest speakers and served as mentors to the NNAYI students. Member physicians discussed their experiences on the road to becoming an American Indian health care professional.

(3) A guided tour of George Washington Medical School and Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies School.

(4) Thirteen U.S. Senators met with students from their respective state. Senators were from Alaska, Colorado, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

(5) NNAYI participants viewed the “Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body” exhibit at the NIH - National Library of Medicine and the “Bodies Exhibition” in Arlington, VA. Both exhibits educated participants about the complexities of the human body.

(6) Presentations from two former NNAYI scholars. One is a medical student at Georgetown University and the other is involved in the summer research program at the National Institutes of Health.

(7) NNAYI Student Award Ceremony and Banquet at the Washington Marriott.