CHR Profiles

Christine Wind Roberts Creek CHR

Christine Wind Roberts has been a CHR with the Creek Nation for 31 years. Roberts was recently awarded the CHR First Responder of the Year at Oklahoma’s state EMS Conference.

In April of this year, Christine was transporting a patient to chemotherapy treatment when she came upon a motorcycle accident. Christine covered the injured driver, assessed his injuries and remained with him
until the ambulance arrived. Her client and his mother applaud her quick thinking and compassion. Christine also received Oklahoma’s EMS/CHR of the Year in 2007.

 

Ann Branham Catawba CHR/FHT

Ann Branham, a mild-mannered southern belle from South Carolina, has been a CHR/FHT serving her people for over 10 years in Rock Hill, SC. Clients know Ms. Ann as the “nurse” that escorts patients to exam rooms, gathers health-related information for use by the attending physician/nurse practitioner. They often call her to discuss their health issues. Outside the clinic, the Catawba community recognizes her as the health provider they can count on in their hour of need, any time, any day of the year.

Ms. Ann is a graduate from the IHS’s Community Injury Prevention Program’s Fellowship training. Fellows-in-Training travel and train for 4-5 weeks (over the course of a year) in various locations across the country while developing expertise and a special community injury prevention project designed for local implementation. The training culminates when Fellows present their projects to representatives of various federal agencies, mentors, peers, families, and friends at a formal ceremony at IHS Headquarters in Rockville, MD.

Ms. Ann’s project was the development of a Fall Risk Reduction Program intended to reduce fall injuries among Catawba’s Senior Citizens. As part of her Project, Ms. Ann successfully solicited funding and arranged for the installation of bathroom commode and shower handrails in approximately half of all Catawba Senior Citizen homes. More recently, the Catawba Tribe solicited and received funding to make sure that the same improvements could be made in all of the community’s Senior Citizen’s homes! For the Catawba Senior Citizens she cares so much about, she has made a REAL difference.

 

Betty Wauahdooah Catawba CHR/FHT

Betty Wauahdooah started her career as a CHR at Desert Willow Training Center, Tucson, Arizona in 1971. She unselfishly devoted her life to helping others as a CHR Director, Senior Generalist, CHR Receptionist/Office Assistant. After she retired she continued to be an advocate for better health for her and her family.

A few of her accomplishments include; first Responder for the State of Oklahoma, CHR of the Year (she held this honor for the tribe for several years), Outstanding Elder of the Year from the American Indian Elders Conference, President of the Oklahoma Area Association of Community Health Representatives (where she had also held the office of Vice President and Treasurer), among others.

Betty benefited the CHR program in many ways, most notably by her constant involvement with FAS children. Betty encouraged all CHRs to do good work, but most importantly, “take care of yourselves!”

Betty passed away on October 25 at her home in Anadarko, Oklahoma. She truly served her people with great care and compassion. In addition to serving her community as a CHR for over 25 years, she and her husband Dennis were counselors to recovering alcoholics. Betty was a Sunday School Teacher; a Deacon of the church; and a loving, compassionate Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, former co-workers and community.

 

Nellie Delgarito Navajo LPN/CHR

Nellie Delgarito retired earlier this year after 35 years of service. Bringing her LPN experience to the CHR Program, Nellie joined the Crownpoint (NM) Service Unit in 1983. Nellie participated in numerous training sessions in order to provide the highest service to her people. She received certification for Geriatric Training as well as Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection. Nellie received training for glucose monitoring to assist in early detection of diabetes. She became a home health aid as well as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Nellie received a certificate of Appreciation from IHS for her work in promoting Hantavirus prevention. Nellie also received training in patient assessments, cold weather emergency preparedness, and other emergencies. Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan honored her for her many years of service in a guest speech at her retirement dinner.

We welcome your questions, comments, photographs or article ideas. If you’d like to give special recognition to a CHR in your area, please send an email to feedback@nachr.net, or contact your NACHR board representative.