To kick off the week of amazing sessions, the HEAL Southwest Team invited Jennifer Nanez, MSW, LMSW (Pueblo of Acoma) to lead a session. Her session, titled "Returning to the Sacred Path: Transcending Trauma through Cultural Safety, Nursing, and Healthcare,” challenged fellows to reframe cultural safety as a deeply relational, ongoing practice rather than a static objective. By examining the intersection of history, power, and accountability, fellows were encouraged to anchor their clinical work in a profound understanding of their communities, using accountability as a path toward genuine healing and systemic change. This gathering reinforced our enduring pledge to reform healthcare systems from the inside out.

Fellows of Southwest Cohort 2 also shared their profound insights through peer-led presentations. Rocedeelyn Roan and Dacia Cunejo guided us through “Walking in K'e: Relational Leadership for Nursing and Organizational Wellness,” while Vanessa Tahe offered a compelling exploration of “From Tradition to Trauma, to Tenacity: The Navajo Experience & Health Outcomes.”

One of the week's highlights was an excursion to Grand Canyon National Park, where we had the privilege of learning from Nick Brokeshoulder (Hopi/Absentee Shawnee/Choctaw). His teachings illuminated the deep historical connection of the Hopi people to this land, emphasizing how vital it is for healthcare workers to honor cultural beliefs and spiritual practices when walking alongside Indigenous patients in their healing journeys.

Global Health Training: Welcoming New Cohorts

The focus shifted to California in early July for the Global Health Training at the Ben Lomond Quaker Center. There, we warmly welcomed incoming members from the California HEAL Program and Southwest Leadership Program Cohort 3.

Nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains, this immersive experience extended far beyond traditional instruction. While sessions grounded fellows in our core pillars—structural competency, advocacy, leadership, power and privilege, and well-being—the most lasting bonds formed during informal moments. Fellows shared scenic morning hikes through the redwoods, engaged in lively games of Hot Dice, and enjoyed a memorable evening bonfire along the beach.

By the end of the week, new fellows from across the Southwest, US, and California had built strong relationships that will support them throughout their fellowship journey.

Looking Ahead: A Sustained Commitment to Equity

As we look toward the future, the shared purpose of these incoming cohorts remains a powerful source of inspiration. Now equipped with sharpened clinical advocacy tools and fortified professional bonds, our fellows have returned to their sites deeply rooted in a collective movement. This effort transcends individual practice, standing in solidarity with Indigenous and resource-denied communities to foster lasting systemic healing.

HEAL Fellow Spotlight:

Wilberta Jackson, BSN, RN

Stepping away from the role of a quiet "informal leader," Wilberta Jackson, BSN, RN (SW Cohort 2 Fellow), has transformed into an assertive advocate. Reflecting on her journey, she shares, "The most significant change isn't a particular skill I picked up. It's that I stopped waiting for permission to lead."

Impact in Action: Wilberta has applied HEAL concepts such as stakeholder mapping, power and privilege, and structural competence to her practice, sharing this knowledge broadly to avoid "gatekeeping" information. She has used her training to influence the care approach of clinical staff, changing the very language used when speaking or charting about patients.

The Ripple Effect: Her impact has reached a national scale through her work training over 75 IHS Public Health Nurses across the country. Within her own facility, she has helped build a supportive nursing community that provides the guidance and resilience needed to serve the Navajo Nation. Wilberta credits the fellowship with saving her career, stating, "Being part of the cohort feels like being part of a movement with a team, not alone".