‘Health’ Archives
A Culturally Grounded Approach
By GREGG HARRISON, Vice President of Clinic Administration at NACC South Minneapolis is facing a persistent crisis: opioid addiction and homelessness often go hand in hand. Many in our community live without housing because of addiction, and this is not new. These challenges stretch back generations, rooted in broken treaties, land theft, boarding schools, and other traumas that stripped Native people of family, culture, and place. The 1950s “relocation” policy, aimed at uprooting Native Americans from reservations and assimilating them into cities, further isolated families, disrupted traditions, and laid the foundation for today’s struggles. You can see the roots of our current crisis in these failed policies. Since opening our doors in 2003, we at the Native American Community Clinic (NACC) have worked to address these harms, guided by an understanding of history and a belief in culture as medicine. This perspective shapes how we respond to today’s crisis. We began [...]
Treating Opioid Use
By CUHCC People who use substances like opioids deserve dignity and respect, just like anyone else. A compassionate approach to care that centers on the patient’s individual goals is embraced at Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC), 2001 Bloomington Ave. If someone has wounds from their substance use, help will be given to heal. If employment or housing are deterrents to health goals, connections will be made to services that can help. HIV and hepatitis C testing and treatment are also common requests from Clinic patients in this situation. CUHCC personnel understand that not everyone wants to stop using substances, so there is no pressure for people to fully quit. Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) is offered to reduce cravings and help with withdrawal symptoms, so someone who wants to use less has the same options as someone who wants to quit. An alternative unique at CUHCC is Sublocade - it’s a medication that is given to patients through an [...]
Measles Vaccines are More Important than Ever Amid New Outbreaks
By IRIS BOROWSKY, MD, PHD and MARY O’DONNELL, DNP, APRN, CNP Iris Borowsky, MD, PHD (left) and Mary O’Donnell, DNP, APRN, CNP (right) are long-time pediatric health care professionals at CUHCC. Measles is a highly contagious illness that spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. This year, over 200 cases have been reported in the U.S., primarily among young children. Of those infected, about 17% have been hospitalized, and two unvaccinated people–a school-aged child and an adult–have died. While Minnesota has not reported any cases so far in 2025, measles could still appear in our community. With outbreaks making headlines, many people have questions about the disease and how to protect themselves. About measlesSymptoms typically appear 7-14 days after exposure and begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A few days later, a red rash develops, starting on the face and spreading downward. Measles can [...]
