Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic’s Dr. Shaquita Bell Receives 2023 Award for Native American Child Health Advocacy

Senior Medical Director of Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC), Dr. Shaquita Bell, has been awarded the 2023 Native American Child Health Advocacy Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Native American Child Health (CONACH).

The esteemed award is presented each year to an individual who has made significant contributions toward promoting the health and well-being of Native American children and exemplifies a lifelong commitment to Native American children and their communities.

“It is an absolute honor to be given this award,” Dr. Bell shared. “I was nominated by my mentor Dr. Joey Bell, the first Native doctor I ever met. I remember first hearing him speak about his oral health work in the tribal community of Lumbee and hoping that one day, I too could make an impact as big and important as he did. Fast forward almost 20 years, it feels unreal to be receiving this award because of his nomination.”

CONACH presented the award to Dr. Bell at the 10th Annual International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health (IMICH) in Tulsa, Okla., a conference co-hosted by the AAP and the Canadian Paediatric Society, that brings together health professionals and others working in and with Indigenous communities from North America around the world to discuss emerging health issues, community innovations, and more.

At OBCC, Dr. Bell and her team provide patients and their families with care that is accessible, compassionate, and integrated through services that are foundational in whole-child health. Throughout her many years of practice, Dr. Bell’s commitment to the individual and collective health of all children, including Indigenous and multiracial children, has been steadfast.

Dr. Bell is the proud daughter of a Cherokee mother and Black father and earned her medical degree at the University of Minnesota in 2006. She was the first American Indian to become chief resident for the training program at Seattle Children’s, and for over a decade has used her voice to shine a light on profound issues that range from the importance of firearm safety measures, to the health impacts of federal school lunch programs for children, to missing Indigenous girls and women awareness, to health equity in medicine, among other topics.

The Seattle Children’s and OBCC community is delighted to join CONACH in congratulating Dr. Bell for her 2023 Native American Child Health Advocacy Award and this well-earned recognition.

 

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