About NNACoE

The Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (NNACoE) works to sustainably address the health care needs of all people by increasing AIAN representation in the health professions workforce via culturally informed, evidence-based health education programming and research interventions designed for Indigenous healthcare learners and professionals. NNACoE sits within the Department of Family Medicine and is an institution-wide resource for AI/AN students and faculty. NNACoE’s 12 study initiatives span five critical points along the education continuum, beginning in high school and continuing through early faculty development.

NNACoE includes 24 research team members comprised of clinicians, faculty, and staff who work across OHSU. Since NNACoE’s founding in 2017, the number of AIAN medical students at OHSU has more than tripled, making OHSU home to one of the highest concentrations of AIAN medical students in the country. NNACoE has developed robust partnerships with Tribes, Native-serving organizations, regional universities, and with tribes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, and Alaska. Once focused only on OHSU Medicine, NNACoE now builds pathway programs in OHSU Schools of Dentistry and Nursing, and provides consultation on recruitment, training, and retention of AI/ANs in Pharmacy and Public Health. In addition to being an OHSU-wide resource for AI/ANs, NNACoE serves AI/AN students and academic clinical faculty nationally.

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