April 15, 2008 Second year Native American medical student, Charles (Chuck) 
Branch honored others today at a special event that originally was planned to honor him. Branch was the recipient of the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation’s prestigious Minority Scholars Award and Candy Adams representing the American Medical Association visited this campus to publicly award his scholarship plaque. So Branch hosted a traditional Native American feast and “give-away” to recognize those people who helped him during his first 2 years of school. “In my culture, when we reach milestones or receive an honor, we have a give-away to honor those who have been influential in helping us reach that goal. In doing so, we focus attention on the community in order to recognize the importance of community in our personal lives,” Branch explained.
The event included a feast of wild-rice and chicken soup, venison and wild-rice,
fry-bread and cake; scholarship plaque presentation by Candy Adams, president of the Minnesota Medical Association Alliance, who represented the American Medical Association; Chuck Branch’s personal give-away, a presentation of hispersonal gifts; and a special performance by the Onigamising Singers from the Grant Elementary Magnet School and Lincoln Park Elementary School where Branch has been mentoring the students in Native singing. Chuck is shown with his son, Marcus, singing with the group.
Deborah Powell, M.D., pictured, dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School, also attended the event. “Our Medical School seeks to attract and to support American Indian men and women as future physicians who will integrate traditional ways with Western medicine. We prepare them to serve the critical health needs of our communities in Minnesota and the region. Chuck Branch is a wonderful example; he carries a fire for American Indian culture and health in everything he does,” she said.
When the AMA award was announced in 2007, Branch was the only Native American to receive it and only one other Native American student had received the award since it was established in 2004. According to the AMA Foundation, the selection committee chose Branch because of his commitment to improving minority health status, community involvement, scholastic achievement and financial need. Branch is Western Band Cherokee and Catawba Shawnee.
Read more about Chuck Branch on Page 3 of our Medical School newsletter.
More News about the University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth Campus
Return to: Medical School Duluth : Academic Health Center : myU : U of M Home
