It takes a team.

The following material is included to give a brief narrative window into the personal experience of a non-Native health care provider as he entered the world of health care delivery at a health center in rural Indian country. It creates a personal context for the formal papers that are a part of this supplement. It is excerpted from introductory Conference remarks of Dr Douglas Peter, a Rear Admiral and Assistant Surgeon General, and then Acting Chief Medical Officer of the Indian Health Service (IHS). The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people in the US, and currently provides health services to approximately 1.5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to more than 560 federally recognized tribes in 35 states. Dr Peter spent his early career as a family physician and medical administrator among the Navajo Nation. He has been the recipient of many awards and honors, including The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association 1997 Salsbury Award for Significant Contributions to Healthcare in the State of Arizona, US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary's Award for Distinguished Public Health Service, the PHS Commendation Medal, PHS Meritorious Service Medal, PHS Physician Executive of the Year, Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator's Award for Excellence, and numerous awards from the Navajo Nation.