Welcome back to Impact Unfiltered, the podcast where we dive into candid conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare, business, and community. In this episode, Philippe sit down with Mason Emert, the tribal epidemiologist for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a medical student at Oklahoma State University. Mason shares his journey from pandemic emergency response into tribal public health, highlighting the immense progress the Choctaw Nation has made in building and expanding its healthcare system. He offers an insider look at disease surveillance, community health initiatives, and the vital role of tribal sovereignty in shaping healthcare access and equity for Native and non-Native residents alike. Mason’s story is not just one of professional passion—it’s about faithful leadership, innovation, and the collective power of working together to create lasting impact.
1. Introduction and Guest Background
- Introduction of guest Mason Emert: tribal epidemiologist at Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, National Advisory Council appointee, and second-year medical student.
2. Day-to-Day Role in Tribal Public Health
- Explanation of duties as tribal epidemiologist.
- The Choctaw Nation’s public health department: recent development and system-building.
- Disease surveillance portfolio expansion.
- Evaluating and improving public health systems and using data to inform new programs.
3. Journey Into Public Health
- Mason’s initial lack of interest in public health.
- Impactful experience during COVID-19 as a disease investigator in Oklahoma and California.
- How real-world events shifted career focus to public health.
4. Defining and Demonstrating Impact
- Mason’s definition of “impact”: legacy, contributions to community and individuals.
- Ways Choctaw Nation has achieved meaningful impact:
- Public health advisories (disease awareness: tick-borne, mosquito-borne, measles).
- Community engagement and recognition.
- Encouraging protective community health actions.
5. Community Needs Assessment and Responsive Health Initiatives
- Tribal health assessments: purpose and process.
- Using data to identify healthcare gaps for tribal and non-tribal residents.
- Disease surveillance informing public awareness and resource allocation.
6. Access: Services for Tribal and Non-Tribal Members
- Choctaw Nation clinic access rules: primarily for Native Americans with a CDIB card.
- Certain services/programs (e.g., employee health) extended to non-tribal spouses and dependents.
7. Health System Structure and Innovations
- Historic context: Choctaw Nation’s pioneering hospital, funded and operated independently.
- Hospital and 10 clinics across the Nation.
- Two community clinics in partnership with Oklahoma State University open to all.
- Focus on rural healthcare access and service expansion.
- Range of health, public health, and social services.
- Mention of extensive partnerships and continuous resource expansion.
8. Opportunities and Strategic Vision for the Future
- The importance of tribal data sovereignty and public health authority.
- Role as a sovereign entity in disease surveillance and system development.
- Collaborative efforts with state and federal agencies for cohesive health responses.
- Ensuring resources benefit both Native and non-Native community members.
9. Influences on Leadership and Motivation
- Influence of current tribal leadership in expanding health services.
- Emphasis on servant leadership and working alongside community members.
- Commitment to service expansion and recognizing areas for improvement.
10. Core Values and Pillars of Tribal Healthcare
- Choctaw Nation’s foundational values: faith, family, and culture.
- Vision and motto: “Together we're more.”
- Collective approach to achieving health equity and reducing chronic diseases.
- Importance of community unity (“together is unity in healthcare”).
11. Insights on Tribal Healthcare Leadership
- Role and reach of tribal nations in healthcare access, particularly for rural and uninsured communities.
- Examples: Vaccination programs and partnerships for community-wide immunization.
- Explaining tribal sovereignty in public health practice and data governance.
- The unique nation-to-nation relationship with other government entities.
12. How Listeners Can Engage or Learn More
- Resources and contact options: Choctaw Nation website, National Indian Health Board (NIHB).
- Encouragement to connect with local tribal officers for more information.
13. Future Developments and Exciting Initiatives
- Ongoing collaboration with NIHB to enhance disease surveillance.
- Efforts to connect to the electronic case reporting network, improving data quality and actionable insights for the Choctaw Nation.
