U-M College of Pharmacy Announces Collaborative for Equitable Indigenous Care and Medication Use

Media Contact: Lindsay Groth, Director of Marketing and Communications, [email protected]

The College of Pharmacy is excited to announce the launch of the Collaborative for Equitable Indigenous Care and Medication Use, a partnership aimed at bridging healthcare gaps in Michigan’s tribal communities. This initiative is the result of three years of dedicated work by College of Pharmacy Adjunct Professors Drs. Nicholas Cushman and Emily Mackler, who have worked closely with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities to understand and address their healthcare priorities. 

Dr. Cushman, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, brings a personal connection to the project, further strengthening the partnership’s focus on culturally relevant care. “I’ve seen the strength and resilience of our communities in the face of healthcare challenges. By partnering with tribal nations, including my own, and my alma mater, we’re building on our cultural values and traditions to implement healthcare solutions that empower our people and support the prosperity of future generations.” shares Dr. Cushman.

One aspect of this program seeks to leverage the success of several established pharmacy practice models that have been implemented across Michigan over the past decade as part of a longstanding partnership between the University of Michigan and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, through Blue Cross’ nationally recognized practice transformation program, Value Partnerships. This exciting new initiative applies the learnings and strengths of Blue Cross-sponsored healthcare quality improvement initiatives like Michigan Pharmacists Transforming Care and Quality (MPTCQ), Pharmacists Optimizing Oncology Excellence in MI (POEM), Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium (MOQC), and the Michigan Institute for Care Management and Transformation (MICMT). 

The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy is well positioned to support this work given the nationally recognized Pharmacy Practice Model developed by Associate Dean Hae Mi Choe. Together, these efforts integrate pharmacists within physician practices across the state, enhancing the quality of care and improving patient outcomes through a more collaborative, pharmacist-integrated approach to healthcare delivery.

Blue Cross Value Partnerships Director, Thomas Leyden, expressed support for this program saying “We are thrilled that these longstanding Value Partnerships programs that have transformed care delivery, often through the expanded engagement of pharmacists working more closely with physicians and patients, are being leveraged in order to positively impact care delivery for at-risk tribal communities.”

As part of its ongoing partnership with Michigan’s tribal communities, the College of Pharmacy, under the leadership of Drs. Amy Thompson (Director of Community Health and Engagement) and Antoinette (Toni) Coe (Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy), has approved a comprehensive three-year plan to embed clinical pharmacists within tribal health clinics. Additionally, the College is committed to advancing its multi-disciplinary approach to healthcare by working with other University schools and programs, with an emphasis on meeting the distinct healthcare needs of each tribal community. The initiative plans to facilitate regular meetings among tribal pharmacists and tailored clinical education programs, participate in community events, and enhance student engagement, all with the aim of empowering AI/AN communities and advancing culturally relevant healthcare solutions.

“We are honored to partner with Indigenous communities in this collaborative, working together to address unique healthcare needs and priorities. By listening and learning, we aim to support culturally informed care that truly reflects the values and strengths of these communities,as well as our values” shared Dean Vicki Ellingrod.

You can read the announcement from the University Record here.