TY - JOUR T1 - Improving health of American Indians and Alaska Natives: Q&A with IHS Director Michael Weahkee – Deaths of despair, coronavirus remain issues in some regions JF - The Nation's Health JO - Nations Health SP - 9 LP - 9 VL - 50 IS - 5 AU - Mark Barna Y1 - 2020/07/01 UR - http://www.thenationshealth.org/content/50/5/9.abstract N2 - Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee was confirmed April 21 by the U.S. Senate as director of the Indian Health Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He has served in various roles at IHS since 1998, and was appointed principal deputy director in 2017. IHS provides health care services to 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in hospitals, clinics and other settings. The coronavirus pandemic has created new challenges within American Indian and Alaska Native populations, but health successes point to a hopeful future. ER -