Karen Chin, MSPH, is an epidemiologist with a background in international health and public health emergency preparedness. She graduated from Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine with her Masters degree in Tropical Medicine. She served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer for 2 years in Ghana, West Africa -on data management and HIV/AIDS education working closely with Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Public Health Nurses. Prior to working for RMTEC/ RMTWI, she was with the California Department of Public Health coordinating projects to improve emergency communications among public health stakeholders. She is originally a California girl, who loves warm weather, hiking, walking her dog, and horseback riding. She looks forward to exploring Montana’s natural beauty.

Helen Tesfai, MPH had been working in Public Health field for over five years in Eritrea (East Africa). She worked as a biologist and research assistant in the Mosquitoes Labs, processing specimens and working on data management. She planed, organized, conducted and published research manuscripts before coming to United States. Helen also has a diploma in Software applications and information Technology. In 2009 she earned her MPH degree in Epidemiology and International Health and Development at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. She tutored SAS, a statistical program while at Tulane and also worked as a data manager at the Louisiana Public Health Institute. Helen loves reading, jogging, and exploring. She is always at peace and loves to help others.

MITZI RACINE
PROJECT COORDINATOR, STRENGTHENING TRIBAL PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES PROJECT –STPHI-HOP

Mitzi Racine is the Project Coordinator for the Strengthening Tribal Public Health Infrastructure for Improved Health Outcomes Project –STPHI-HOP. She loves her job and everyone that she works with. Mitzi also works part-time with people who need assistance with homecare. In addition, she is currently going to college to fulfill a Bachelors Degree in Health and Human Performance. She plans to go on and obtain a Master degree in Public Health. She is a prime example of a workaholic! Mitzi was born and raised in the great state of Montana. She is a proud single mother raising two wonderful daughters who are 14 and 16 years old.

ALYSSA LLAMAS, BS
CDC PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATE

Alyssa Llamas, BS, is a CDC Public Health Associate assigned to RMTEC for two years. She graduated from the University of California San Diego in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and also minored in Health Care – Social Issues. Before RMTEC, Alyssa was an intern at a community health center and helped plan events for World AIDS Day and for teen pregnancy prevention. Alyssa has lived in California all of her life, but she is excited to live in Montana. Alyssa hopes to successfully complete her CDC Public Health Associate program and pursue a masters degree in Public Health in the near future. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, dancing, shopping, and eating out at new restaurants.

ALAINA BUFFALO SPIRIT, BS
CANCER SURVIVOR COACH OUTREACH CONTRACTOR
SUSAN KOMEN FOR THE CURE - MONTANA

Alaina, BA is a 1995 graduate from the Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington. Alaina graduated with a Bachelor of Art Degree and majored in Liberal Arts with Emphasis in Writing. Before joining RMTEC, Alaina has been a Conference Organizer, Grant Writer/Fundraiser, a TANAF case manager and a Youth Specialist in various Indian Organizations and the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council. A member of the So'taa'ee band of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, she grew up in southeastern Montana. Alaina is a survivor of breast-cancer diagnosed in the year 2000 and has been an advocate of healthy living. Although the diagnosis was devastating, Alaina chose to rely on her grandfather's teachings to "take the best of the two worlds." Alaina was honored with a Native ceremony and a western medical approach of surgery and chemotherapy. Aggressive treatments of chemotherapy took a toll on Alaina's body. Today, Alaina is cancer-free and has been for 11 years! Alaina continues to share with anyone willing to listen of the benefits of choosing a healthier lifestyle. Alaina is also a self-taught artist, a mother and a grandmother and uses her art as therapy for a peaceful outlook on life.

JULIE NOT AFRAID, B.S
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Julie Not Afraid, B.S is the RMTEC Coordinator. Julie is a 2007 graduate of Montana State University Billings. She has a Bachelors degree in Human Services. Julie has worked for the Montana HRDC Subsidized Employment Program and was a RMTEC Research Assistant Intern in 2010. Julie is from Rocky Boys Indian Reservation and is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe (Mother is from Rocky Boy Reservation and Father Crow Reservation). Julie loves being with her grandson, granddaughter, three daughters and mother -her family. Julie also loves walking, bowling and going to movies with her little family.

DEIDHRA HILL
MONTANA WYOMING NATIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: RESEARCH ASSISTANT INTERN

Deidhra Hill completed two years of college credit units of her Office Management Degree at Chief Dull Knief College, Lame Deer Montana/Montana State University, Billings Montana and hopes to continue her studies online. She enlisted in the U.S Army as a unit supply specialist from 2005-2008, attending training in Fort Lee, VA. Deidhra is Chippewa Cree and Crow, a Montana Native born and raised in this beautiful State also known as Big Sky Country; her parents are from Rocky Boy Indian Reservation and Lodge Grass on the Crow Indian Reservation. She enjoys being with her close knitted family and looks forward to learning a lot at RMTEC.

KATHY MASIS, MD
BEHAVIOR HEALTH SPECIALIST

Kathy Masis, MD (Capt US PHS ret.) was an Indian Health Service Family and Addiction Medicine Physician before coming to the MT WY TLC/RMTEC. She directs the Rocky Mountain Tribal Access to Recover (SAM HSA) grant project and is a project lead on RMTEC's Behavioral Health projects (Behavioral Health Data Improvement, Suicide Data Tracking, and Chemical Dependency Resource). She has lived in Billings since 1993, after starting in IHS at Tuba City on the Navajo Reservation. She hails from upstate New York originally, but is now a Montana/Wyoming girl.

NONIE WOOLF, MPH, RD, LN
NUTRITION SPECIALIST #1

Nonie Woolf, MPH, RD, LN, a Registered Dietitian and a native of Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana, worked for Indian Health Service –IHS as a USPHS Commissioned Officer providing nutrition and dietetics programming, training and counseling for American Indian people for 30 years. She provided instruction in workshops at the Nutrition & Dieteics Training Program in Santa Fe, NM in Maternal & Infant Nutrition; Food Production for Tribal Cooks; Modified Diets for Hospital Dietary Personnel; Nutrition: Getting Involved (Senior citizens program staff); Fitness & Nutrition in Our Workplace and Diet & Diabetes. Nonie also had the opportunity to teach “Healthy Nutrition for Teens” classes in Browning, Montana. Helped produce “Pathways to Wellness”, a local community television program that showed ways to prepare healthy alternatives to popular foods and shop in the grocery store. Nonie also published the first 5 of 13 lesson plans for “Cooking for Good Health” Cooking Classes to teach low fat, calorie, sodium and high fiber eating to local community members; and lead a group of nutrition professionals working in Indian Country to publish a booklet entitled “Northern Plains Indian Food Practices, Customs, and Holidays”, Ethnic and Regional Food Practices a Series for the American Dietetic Association (ADA), Diabetes Care and Education Practice Group (DCPEG). Nonie’s awards include the ADA Anita Owen Recognition Award for Innovative Nutrition Education for the Public; the American College of Nutrition Humanitarian Award; Nutritionist/Dietitian of the Year for Indian Health Service; Montana Dietetic Association Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year 1991; Recognized Dietitian of the Year 1999, MDA; and the ADA DCPEG Creative Nutrition Education Award. She is currently retired by not too tired for RMTEC!

TRACY KONOSKE, MS RD LD
NUTRITION SPECIALIST #2

Tracy Konoske, MS RD LD, a Registered Dietitian, teamed up with Indian country in 2001. She accepted a dietician consulting position with the Chippewa Cree in Northern Montana in 2001. She lobbied to expand her position and was allowed to intervene in the K-12 school and Head Start over a period of 8 years. She was able to revise both cycle menu’s, brought in salad bars, got rid of the deep fryer and the sale of soda in the vending machines, promoted Walk To School Day, Family Food and Fun nights, and Turn Off the TV events. Tracy has a passion to teach others how to use Food-As-Medicine and currently runs a private practice – “Healthy Lifestyles, Inc.” Tracy is a native Montanan who longs for long summer days -year round.

LITA PEPION, BS
PHYSICAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST CONSULTANT

Lita Pepion studied pre-medicine and biology at the University of Portland and the University of Nevada - Reno where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and was chosen as one of the Top Ten Senior Women. Lita studied medicine at the University Of Minnesota School Of Medicine in Minneapolis, MN for two years and completed clinical internships at Washoe Medical Center in Reno, Nevada and Indian Health Service Clinics in Nevada, South Dakota and Montana before changing carriers and completing coursework toward a M.Ed. specializing in curriculum development. Lita has since sent over 10 years as a fitness professional/wellness coach and health educator. Lita has since been the President and owner of the CRL Health & Fitness, LLC; a Native American owned consulting firm providing health and fitness education, training and certifications, wellness coaching and program development services to Tribes and agencies serving Native Americans and Alaska Natives and has been featured in Yellowstone Valley Woman and Native Montana Magazines. She is a dynamic presenter and teaches a variety of health and fitness classes in Billings, MT. Lita has been a "Master Fitness Trainer" for FiTOUR, faculty member of the American Council on Exercise and an IDEA Health & Fitness Association member, Lita also serves as President of the Montana American Indian Women's Health Coalition and is a board member for Billings Public Schools Indian Parent Advisory Committee and Indian People's Action. In addition to spending time with her family and volunteering in her community, Lita can be found working toward social, racial and economic justice in Montana and throughout Indian Country. Lita is a member of the Blackfeet Nation, a mother, grandmother and wife.

NANCY WHITE, RN MS AOCN
CANCER OUTREACH CONSULTANT
SUSAN KOMEN FOR THE CURE - MONTANA

Nancy White, RN MS AOCN has a Masters in Nursing Administration from Andrews University, Berrien Springs Michigan and has been an Advanced Certified Oncology Nurse for many years. She began her career in the Detroit area servicing the patients in the city with end of life care and has remained in cancer care ever since. Nancy has been working with cancer patients and their families for over 30 years. Her past experience includes working in outpatient medical and radiation oncology/clinical research (Cancer Treatment), and program management. As a member of the American Cancer Society and a member of the leadership group for the Montana Cancer Control Coalition -MTCCC; Nancy helped lead the IHS Crow Service Unit Team in the first ever Big Horn County Relay for Life, summer 2011. Nancy's diverse background and experience helps bring the challenges and prevention opportunities in Native American communities tackling cancer to light. Nancy is happily married with "Grown" children. She enjoys improving quality of care for cancer patients, working with individuals and their communities, using the community participatory approach.

HEIDI JOHNSON
JEAN DONOVAN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM INTERN

Heidi Johnson is a Pre-Med Undergraduate Student at Santa Clara University majoring in Biology and Public Health. Heidi is in her third year of Undergraduate Studies. During the last three school years as an Undergraduate, she has worked as an “America Reads Tutor”, helping with first graders. For the last four summers she has worked for the Boy Scouts of America at Philmont Scout Ranch as a “Wilderness Guide. As a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Heidi is interested in learning more about Tribal Health Care and Public Health. Santa Clara University’s Jean Donovan Fellowship program in Applied Ethics has allowed her to come to MTWYTLC/RMTEC, Montana to learn more about epidemiology. She enjoys running, backpacking, reading, exploring new places and spending time with her family and friends.

NONA JO JONNA MAIN
MONTANA WYOMING NATIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: RESEARCH ASSISTANT INTERN

Nona J. Main is a graduate of Montana State University Billings. She received a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Native American Studies. She was born and raised in Fort Belknap, Montana where she is an enrolled member of the Whiteclay Nation (also known as the GrosVentre tribe). Nona worked as the Rocky Mountain Tribal Epidemiology Center (RMTEC) –Montana Wyoming Native Youth Development Project Intern and helped with the first Montana and Wyoming American Indian Community Health Profile booklet development. In the future, Nona plans to further her education by working towards a Master’s in Native American Studies and possibly teach at the college level one day. She is the proud mother to a son who is her all around motivation for everything she does. She enjoys spending time with him & family, going to powwows, and reading, learning, etc anything about her culture. Nona interviewed for the RMTEC part-time cancer Outreach position and worked was employed as the RMTEC part-time Cancer Outreach Coordinator in 2010. Nona has since moved on to a full time job with Planned Parenthood, Montana.

JULIE NOT AFRAID
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (HRDC DISTRICT 7)
RMTEC ADMINISTRATIVE INTERN

Julie Not Afraid, B.S is from Rocky Boys Indian Reservation (mother is from Rocky Boy) and is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe (father is from Crow), a very proud “mix”worked. Julie was with the HRDC Subsidized Employment Program in Billings, MT; interned with the Rocky Mountain Tribal Epidemiology Center (RMTEC) for over nine months in 2010, working on various projects including RMTEC internal evaluation, developing and implementing a cancer needs assessment tool and planning and implementing the 2010 Tribal Cancer Summit. After Julie’s internship with RMTEC as a Research Assistant, she interviewed for the RMTEC Coordinator position and is currently employed as a RMTEC Project Coordinator.

JOSHUA EMMANUEL SHONHE BROWN
AMERICORPS VISTA VOLUNTEER

 Hi, my name is Joshua Brown. I am from the state of Connecticut. I am an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer with the Prevention Resource Center out of Helena, MT. My service site is the Montana Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council (MTWYTLC)/Rocky Mountain Tribal Epidemiology Center (RMTEC). I have been serving with the MTWYTLC since August 2009. I will be wrapping up my year of service on August 13, 2010.

Under the leadership of Folo Akintan, RMTEC Director, and my supervisor Dyani Bingham, CYP Coordinator;, I have been working on an Indian Health Service grant (I.H.S) titled “The Montana Wyoming Native Child and Youth Health Project” (CYP).

CYP is a grant that will address and work towards improving the obesity and diabetes epidemic across Indian County in the states of Montana and Wyoming. With tireless efforts from the Tribal communities and RMTEC, CYP has begun implementation on two reservations this summer. It has been a long and arduous journey for me, as well as for others involved in CYP. I say this because I understand the positive impact CYP will have on the reservations for years to come.

Through all of my travels, meetings, and assignments under MTWYTLC/ RMTEC , I have grown professionally, personally, emotionally and spiritually. I attribute all of this growth to learning about the ways of life, culture, history and struggle of American            Indian peoples in the states of Montana and Wyoming. Listening to their stories has touched me deeply. The help and support I received from my fellow RMTEC staff and my supervisors enriched my experiences as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. I highly recommend the MTWYTLC to any future AmeriCorps Volunteers  interested in serving American Indians in the states of Montana and Wyoming.

I will never forget MTWYTLC/RMTEC and all of my experiences with the Tribes under the AmeriCorps program. 
Thank you!

ALYSSA FRANCIS

I am a graduate of Montana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Native American Studies. I was an intern at RMTEC in summer, 2009. During my time as an intern I worked with the Montana Breast and Cervical Health Program and the Summer Youth Camp assisting with public relations and data entry. I also had the opportunity to work on researching various health care related grants, learned to write a grant, construct a budget as well as examine various health care topics. I really enjoyed my time as an intern with RMTEC finding the group easy to work with as well as a great educational opportunity overall. I plan on completing a Masters of Public Health in the near future and attribute that goal to my internship at RMTEC. After my internship, I was given the opportunity to continue with the establishment as a Montana and Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council employee and worked as a RMTEC Research Assistant. I am currently working in a full time position as a Project Coordinator at the Montana and Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council’s Strategic Prevention Framework State/Tribal Incentive Grant (SPF SIG).

YUKI JOY BRIEN
RESEARCH ASSISTANT INTERN
MSU-BILLINGS, GRADUATE PROGRAM; MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY

Period: Fall semester, 2008

The first day of my internship, the Supervisor provided reading materials for me to better understand how RMTEC has been funded, the programs RMTEC has, and the cultural uniqueness and the areas of needs. Research for Best Practiced and Evidence Based Treatments for Native American youth helped me to understand different ways of approaching this issue. Research for Misclassifications made me realize the sensitivity and existence of misclassifications. I am grateful for the internship I had at RMTEC, not only for the beneficial academic experiences the organization provided for me, but also for the warm welcome and acceptance by the staff as a part of the organization. I appreciate RMTEC for having me and allowed me to have valuable experiences.

…………I only wish the internship had a longer time period!