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STAFF MEMBERS

Jackie Allison, AS - Office Manager

Jackie Allison (Mi'kmaq / Cherokee) is in the process of completing her Associate's Degree of Applied Science in the field of IT Applications Specialist from Macomb Community College with high honors on the Dean's List. Jackie's work experience includes many years as an Administrative Assistant through various companies, and has been a full time at AIHFS since March 2009.
A life time resident of the Metro Detroit Area, Jackie's family is Mi'kmaq / Cherokee from the Missouri / Kentucky area. In her spare time she enjoys bead work, ceramics, and camping. Jackie is also a traditional dancer and attends every powwow she can, keeping busy with her involvement in many activities throughout the community.

Jamie Alvord - Facilities Assistant

Hired originally as Facilities & Youth Program worker. She currently lives in St. Clair, Michigan and is a member of the Chippewa of the Thames.

 

 

 

 

Rosebud Bear - Healthy Start Outreach Specialist
Rosebud Bear (Ojibwe/Shawnee/Mexican), born and raised in Southwest Detroit.  Rosebud has been part of the Native community her entire life. She has traveled throughout the U.S and Canada to pow wows as a dancer when she was younger.  She is one of the first members of the Dreamseekers youth group here at AIHFS. Now she is a proud mother of two beautiful children, Kateri and Sonny. Her lifelong goal is to teach her children the beauty of connecting the present world with the past, and to live a well rounded healthy life with the knowledge of our ancestral ways. Although her career began in the accounting field, Rosebud feels that her true calling is to work among families, helping any way she can. She is very excited to be working at AIHFS! Rosebud enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling and watching her children grow.

Karen Bellmore - Registration Coordinator
The start of my journey at AIHFS was completing my internship as a Billing Intern in 2006 and after my internship I was offered a position. Although throughout the years, I have had many roles/responsibilities, my main focus is to assist the Native American Community as an advocate and a voice and to assist in any way that I can. I continue my journey as taking on the role as the Biller/Coder.

 

 

 

Christy Bieber - Sacred Bundle Program Coordinator

Christy Bieber (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) is the Sacred Bundle Program Coordinator at AIHFS. She received her B.S. in Brain Behavior and Cognitive Science at the University of Michigan. She is passionate about her work, the youth in our community, and developing/strengthening the use of the Ojibwe language. She also enjoys fancy shawl dancing, playing tennis, and spending time with her family.

 

 

Scott Bowden - Facilities, Safety & Transportation Manager
Scott began working at AIHFS in July 2009 maintaining the facilities. He really enjoys building things and organizing to make AIHFS a beautiful place to work. He is self motivated and energized. Scott is the father of three wonderful, rambunctious boys. Scott is happily engaged to Erica (MaChis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama). Scott loves spending time with his family camping, hunting and fishing. He also enjoys working on cars part-time and as a hobby.

 

 

Stephanie Boyd - CAC/Site Manager
Stephanie Boyd has been part of the AIHFS team since June 2007 and has an Associate's Degree in Science. She is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames tribe, and a descendant of the Chippewa Nation of the Thames. Stephanie enjoys beading, reading books, hanging out with family, going to the movies and to concerts. She enjoys working with the community!

 

 

 

Linda Brady - Senior Medical Assistant
Linda has been in the medical field a little over 11 years as a Medical Assistant, working in different specialties such as pediatrics, internal medicine, occupational health, family planning, ob/gyn, ENT (otorhinolaryngology) Head & Neck Cancer and plasmapheresis. Her passion is to educate clients on family planning and HIV/AIDS-STD prevention. Linda is currently the Lead MA/HIV/AIDS Prevention Specialist and Test Counselor for AIHFS Medical Team. She provides a variety of care to clinic patient, including vitals, EKGs, phlebotomy and immunizations. Linda is also a proud mother of six beautiful children whom she holds close to heart. "Family is so important to me, and I hold onto my family values very strongly," she says. She is also an active member of the Word of Faith International Christian Center, serving as a volunteer with her children in the puppet ministry and the 24-hour prayer line. Linda says she likes to smile a lot because smiling can make difference in someone's day.

Sherry Cantrell - Grants Manager
Her family roots are (Cherokee/Tennessee area, Irish and English). She has over 35 years of Executive Level Management experience from both Non-profit and For-profit industries. Some areas include: Corporate Finance, Contract and Grants Management, Operations, Human Resources, Legal Compliance, Accreditations along with Events and Fundraising. Throughout her career she has worked with a wide variety of people from all walks of life, backgrounds and ages worldwide. She enjoys working with and seeing communities grow. For the past 14 years, in her spare time, she has volunteered as Co-Founder of The Therapy Choirs of Michigan (www.therapychoirs.org).

 

Turome Chandler - Medical Assistant
Tea has been working in the Medical Field since 2009, and is very diligent and passionate about providing health care to those in need. Tea is not only a Certified Medical Assistant; he is also certified in Phlebotomy, Cardio Phlebotomy, EKGs, and Intravenous procedures. Turome is currently attending Eastern Michigan University to receive his bachelor's degree in Nursing. Blessed with the responsibility of caring after his two younger siblings, he also feels responsible to provide the best patient care possible as part of AIHFS's team of professionals. In his spare time he loves to shop. "My brother, sister and I are sneaker fanatics," says Turome, "We're always in the mall buying new sneakers. Currently my favorite sneaker is the Nike N7, sneaker made by Nike that's custom for the Native Community."

Elizabeth Chapleski, PhD, MSW - Projects Coordinator Consultant
Her Long-Term Care Study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, took her to all of the American Indian reservations and agencies in Michigan over a 6 year period, conducting focus groups and training American Indian interviewers and local staff; and the data resulted in numerous journal publications. She has designed numerous needs assessments and survey instruments for this population. Her family includes 3 children, Mark, Scott and Jennifer, who each have 2 children (6 grandchildren in all -- ages 7 to 17). Dr. C's hobbies include reading, writing memoirs, sewing, knitting, needlework, music (piano and singing), and she still loves to play golf.

 

Chasity Dial, MPA - Director of Operations
Chasity Dial is a registered and active member of the Lumbee Tribe of Robeson County, North Carolina. She has earned a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University with an undergraduate concentration in both Health Science and Political Science. She travels back and forth to NC regularly to spend time with family and friends. Chasity enjoys good food, good company and a good book.

 

 

Abigail Eiler, LLMSW, MSW, BA - Behavorial Health Coordinator/Provider
Abigail (Shawnee/African-American/German) is the Behavioral Health Clinical Supervisor and a Behavioral Health Provider at AIHFS. She acts as the liaison and the licensed M.S.W. supervisor for AIHFS and our internship programs. Abigail has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from the University of Michigan. Her clinical work includes providing culturally-informed services to youth, children, adults, elders and their families in both tribal and non-tribal communities. Abigail enjoys spending time with her family. She also likes to travel, garden, and attend athletic sporting events.

 

Dr. Zainab Elsarawy, MD - Physician
My name is Zainab Elsarawy. I grew up in the city of the great pyramids in Egypt. I went to the medical school at Cairo university ,Egypt. I moved to the states in February 2002. I went to university of Minnesota for graduate medical education to become a family physician. I am a mother of 2 children. I like to travel. My favorite hobby is photography. I also like beading and all kinds of crafts. I like to spend time with family and to make new friends.

 

Nina Eusani, RN, BSN - Healthy Start Coordinator
Nina Eusani, RN, received her BSN from Wayne State University College of Nursing. Nina is a labor and postpartum doula (someone who supports families though the process of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period), a certified massage therapist, a registered yoga teacher, and a certified infant massage instructor. She is guided by a passion for health care that is holistic, integrative, and accessible, and believes that when individuals, families, and communities have control over their health, they transform themselves and the world. She lives in Southwest Detroit, and loves to run, bike, dance, and play outside. Nina is delighted to be part of the AIHFS community, and honored to have the opportunity to work with families with young children in the community.

 

Nickole Fox, MA - Health Education and Prevention Director
Nickole (Cherokee/Blackfoot) is a Director of Health Education and Prevention and a Certified Prevention Consultant at AIHFS. She has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan (Sociology and Native American Studies) and a Master's Degree from Marygrove College in Social Justice. She is a lifelong resident of Southeast Michigan has worked with community/health/cultural education at AIHFS since 2004. Nickole enjoys spending time with the love of her life, Mike and her baby girl, Chloe. She also loves to garden, bike ride, relax and spend time with her family!

 

 

Josette French, MD - Physician
Josette French, MD is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan. She is a board-certified family physician and the Quality Assurance and Diabetes Program Coordinator at AIHFS. Dr. French received her Bachelor of Science degree from Yale University in New Haven, CT in 1991 and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Florida, College of Medicine in Gainesville, FL in 1995. Dr. French completed her family medicine residency at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, MI in 1998. She has worked at AIHFS since 1998.

Chantel Henry, BAA - Parenting Coordinator Assistant
Boozhoo. Giniwkwe nindizhinikaaz. Myeegun nindoodem. Deshkan Ziibiing ndoojiba. Hello, my name is Golden Eagle Woman, aka, Chantel Henry. I am Wolf Clan from Antler River (Chippewa of the Thames First Nation). I was raised in Southwest Detroit and on the Chippewa of The Thames First Nation reservation in Ontario, Canada. I have a Bachelor's of Applied Arts in Public Health Education with a Substance Abuse Prevention Minor from Central Michigan University. I started attending and volunteering for various programs within AIHFS. I am very happy to be working in the industry I originally planned on, and I am especially happy to be working with the Metro Detroit Urban Native community. I am a mom to 3 beautiful children – a 13-year-old daughter, 9-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. Family and friends are most important to me, and I love spending my free time with them, especially visiting my reservation and grandparents who, along with my mom, raised me to be the person I am today. Chi Miigwetch. Baamaapii.

Martha Hinojosa - Youth Program Coordinator
"I believe that if I can keep a youth on the red road, sober, it can open up more doors for opportunities-educational and other-that I wasn't able to take advantage of growing up."
Martha (Walpole Island Ojibwe, Crane Clan) is a mother of two and a grandmother of five. She has been a youth prevention educator at American Indian Health and Family Services since 1999. She is also a Certified Prevention Consultant. Her work has included parenting programs, traditional activities, youth prevention programs, fundraising, community gardening, cooking classes, nutrition education and community giving, among other things. Martha's vision is to see an alcohol and drug free future for American Indian families.

Julie Hong Kim, LLMSW - Behavioral Health Specialist
Julie has her bachelor degrees in Communications and Human Development from the University of California, Davis and her Masters in Social Work at the University of Michigan. She started as an MSW intern in the role of Improving Patient Care Assistant Coordinator and has since been hired on as the Behavioral Health Specialist. Julie is looking forward to meeting and working more with the community, and feels very blessed to be part of the AIHFS family. Julie loves spending time with her family and friends, snowboarding, DIY projects, and eating good food!

 

 

Harriet Little - Clinic Manager
"It has always given me great pleasure to work with people and if I can make a difference in one life than I am complete." Harriet has been with the American Indian Health family for five years. She feels blessed to be able to work with the Native American community. "This gives me a chance to learn about Native cultures and ways of life." She provides patient care in the clinic including immunizations, making sure all children are up to date on vaccines and get tested for lead. She has worked in the medical field for 25 years, twenty-three of those years at Medical Center Health Care Providers. She worked with specialties (orthopedics, ob/gyn, ped, internal medicine, cardiovascular study and Doppler's). She also worked with another physician on the weekends doing home visits. Harriet attends Rock of Ages Christian Ministry and serves as an honorary trustee. She is very active in her church and visits those who are sick at their homes and in hospitals to encourage them. "Family is very important to me, as well as my friends. My hobbies are bowling and planting flowers. I enjoy life."

Tina Louise, LLMSW - Director of Behavioral Healthcare and Recovery
Tina is an enrolled member of the Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri. She currently resides in the city of Detroit. She holds a Masters of Social Work from the University of Michigan's School of Social Work, a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a Bachelors of Science in Women's and Gender Studies from Grand Valley State University. Tina has a passion for turning community voiced needs into sustainable behavioral health programming. She now serves as the Director of Behavioral Healthcare and Recovery and Project Manager for the Systems of Care Expansion Planning Grant.

 

Shiloh Maples, MSW - Youth Program Assistant
Shiloh is Chippewa and Ottawa, and a member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee, MI. Shiloh received her Master's degree in Social Work from The University of Michigan in 2011. She is thankful for the opportunity to work in Michigan's native community and gets great joy from working with Detroit's native youth. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and gardening.

 

 

John Marcus - Sacred Bundle Program Assistant
John Marcus has family roots in Six Nations, Ontario; Taos Pueblo, N.M. and the Sault Ste Marie Band of Chippewa Indians.
He enjoys the various roles he has here which include: implementation of culturally appropriate suicide prevention strategies, coordinating our community advisory council meetings and developing our web presence.
"I am grateful for this opportunity to work with our Native Community, especially in a capacity where communication, education, and how this information is exchanged, are crucial elements. These elements can be the seeds of a healthy community."

 

Vanessa Pezzo - Administrative Assistant
Vanessa Pezzo is a part of the Missanabie Cree First Nation located in Northern Ontario. Raised in Toronto, Ontario, she ventured on to live in the Detroit area in 2006. She completed her Associate's as a Computer Business Application Specialist at Toronto School of Business in 2002. Another academic achievement Vanessa is working on is the Early Childhood Development program at Oakland Community College.

 

Jennifer Pipes - Benefits Coordinator
Jennifer (Cherokee/Italian) is the CHIPRA Coordinator and handles Patient Registration at AIHFS. She is a Certified Health Unit Coordinator. She is currently attending Wayne County Community College with aspirations to be a Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (CADC). Jennifer enjoys reading and spending time with her two children.

 

Joe Reilly - Youth Facilitator
Joe Reilly is Cherokee, Irish, and Italian American. He has been part of the Native American community at AIHFS for over a decade. During that time he has enjoyed working with the youth prevention and environmental health programs. Joe is a singer, songwriter, and educator and shares his music with audiences throughout Turtle Island. For the past four years Joe has facilitated talking circles for boys in the after school Dreamseekers Youth Group at AIHFS. Joe's website is www.joereilly.org

Chip Reisdorf, RN BSN - Clinic Registered Nurse
Charles "Chip" Reisdorf is a member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians in Southwestern Michigan. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Nursing from The University of Michigan in 2010. Working as a Registered Nurse in the medical clinic, he enjoys providing patients with quality care. In his spare time he enjoys sailing, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

 

Katie Sample, AS - Finance Assistant
Katie lives in Westland with her husband and two children. She has her Associates from Schoolcraft College and attends part-time at Walsh College. Katie volunteers time by leading a Girl Scout Troop, preparing taxes for low-income families through the Accounting Aid Society, and walking annually in the Autism Speaks Walk. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, reading, watch movies, scrapbooking, beading, genealogy, and playing video games.

 

Charla Sanders, MSW - REACH Project Manager
Charla is a proud Detroiter and holds two degrees from the University of Michigan (a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Social Work). Charla has always had an interest in and deep respect for Native American history and culture, and is therefore honored to be a part of the AIHFS family. She worked with the AIHFS team in November 2011 working on SAMHSA's System of Care planning grant, and is now thrilled to transition to her new role as REACH Project Manager. In her spare time, Charla enjoys traveling, going to the movies, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Pinky.

 

Josh Schuyler, BA - Parenting Support Coordinator
My name is Josh Schuyler (Oneida) and I was raised in the Metro Detroit area. I graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in Psychology. I have spent the last year and a half assisting the community in finding employment, low-income housing and various other resources. It has always been my goal to work with the Native American families, especially in the Metro Detroit area. My hobbies are watching basketball and listening to various types of music.

 

Ashley Tuomi, MHPA - Executive Director
Ashley Tuomi is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in Oregon. She grew up in a military family traveling around the United States. When she returned to Oregon, she became very active with her tribe and participated in tribal royalty for seven years. This experience became the stepping stone to her career serving the health needs of the American Indian/Alaska Native population. She graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology while working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at a nursing home. She then went on to get her Master of Health Policy and Administration from Washington State University. During the summer she interned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention working with American Indian/Alaska Native grantees. She used this experience and completed her thesis on Secondary Prevention of Diabetes Complications in AI/AN members from the Eastern Band of Cherokee and tribes in Oklahoma.
After school she began working at United American Indian Involvement in Los Angeles as the Associate Director of Health Services. Her experience included a national RPMS training for Urban Indian Clinics, quality improvement, policy revisions, grant writing, and program development. Ashley also served as the Executive Director for a tribal consortium clinic.
Ashley is dedicated to improving the health of American Indians/ Alaska Natives and has a passion for serving the Urban Indian population. She welcomes the opportunity to meet other Natives around the country and to learn the culture and customs of other tribes.

Krystyna Yepez - Health Information Coordinator
Aanii, I was born and raised in Detroit. I was a member of the dream seekers from the early 90's until the early 00's. I have been a member of the AIHFS community all my life. I enjoy working with the many programs at this agency including youth group, healthy start, women's circle, Circles of Care. Most recently I've been working with medical reception, and helping out Behavioral Health. All of the programs that I've been working with have given me a great learning experience, not only with work, but with life as well. I am eternally grateful, and have much gratitude for this agency, as well as the community. Chi Miigwetch!!!

 

BOARD MEMBERS

John Lemire, JD - Chairperson of the Board
John J. Lemire is an enrolled member of the Grand Portage Band, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. He is currently Chairperson of the American Indian Health and Family Services of Southeastern Michigan (AIHFS). John is an attorney and served as a Family Court Referee in Wayne County Michigan for 29 years before retiring. He has served as past Chair of the American Indian Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, and is Vice Chair of Michigan Indian Legal Services, associated with Legal Services Corporation, Washington D.C. In this capacity, Michigan Indian Legal Services was instrumental in obtaining Federal recognition for several Tribes in Michigan. As a member of the Board of AIHFS, he is eager to assist Urban Indian individuals and families receive quality health care through modern as well as traditional means. John is has been married to Marlene for over 40 years and they have two children, Genevieve and John Skye.

Jacqueline Livernois, B.S.
Jacqueline Livernois is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation (Diné) and a lifelong resident of the great State of Michigan. Jacqueline earned her B.S. degree in Legal Assisting from Eastern Michigan University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She currently works as a paralegal for malpractice firm in Livonia, Michigan. As a young mother, Jacqueline utilized AIHFS for her newborn son and has first-hand knowledge of the importance of these services. She is excited to serve on the Board of AIHFS and improve the quality and scope of healthcare available to Native American families and other underserved populations in Southeast Michigan.

 

Katherine McCloskey, M.S.
Katherine (Saponi/Cherokee) was born and grew up in Southeast Michigan. She is the proud mom of two teenage boys. Katherine obtained a bachelors degree in Counseling/Psychology from Rochester College, a Master's degree in General Psychology, and is in the process of completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Walden University. Her dissertation will focus on Native American humor styles and level of acculturation, which reflects her interest in traditional values and the positive role of cultural identity in the well-being of Native Americans. Katherine is honored to serve as a Board member of AIHFS and be part of such a great organization. Katherine loves spending time with family and friends and doing anything with her two boys. She enjoys traveling, reading, archery, horseback riding, and attending and participating in powwows and other Native American events. Some of her interests include genealogy, family history, Native American healing practices and sharing her love, appreciation, and respect for animals and our natural surroundings.

Marilyn A. Roubidoux, M.D.
Dr. Roubidoux is a Professor of Radiology at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. She completed a Bachelor's Degree at Brigham Young University in 1969, graduated from the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1984, completing a Radiology Residency and fellowship at Duke University Hospital in 1990, and Board Certification in Radiology. She is an enrolled member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and an AAIP (American Association of Indian Physicians) member for 25 years. She is an author of 83 peer reviewed scientific publications, 180 scientific presentations and she is a funded investigator on NIH grants in Radiology. She serves in the Spirit of Eagles Network for Cancer Control, on the Board of Directors of the American Indian Health and Family Services Clinic in urban Detroit, and is collaborating with the Aberdeen Area Indian Health Service in providing Telemammography to the reservations. She works to improve cancer education, access and research among American Indians and Alaska Natives and to increase the number of Native students into medical school.

Conner Sandefur
As a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation (Oklahoma), I feel obligated and privileged to work toward improving the welfare of all American Indian people. I graduated with a degree in Computer Science from The George Washington University in Washington DC. Currently, I am finishing my fourth year in the Bioinformatics Graduate Program at the University of Michigan (UM). Diabetes is a prevalent disease in American Indian communities; and my hope is that my PhD thesis research in mathematical modeling of insulin maturation will further our understanding of the disease.

During my time at UM, I have become very involved with the local American Indian community, which has given me the strength to be successful in my program. I have been involved in organizing pre-college fairs, powwows, heritage month activities, a mentorship program, and a Pink Shawl workshop to empower American Indian people to learn and share our cultures, celebrate our traditions, and educate others.

Traditional methods of education, such as those that include prayer and sacred teachings, though often underused, can be more effective avenues toward education. I am committed to Indian education and think my experience as a board member at AIHFS will provide me with invaluable experience to apply towards my future teaching career. Gaining more experience in the traditional models of education employed at AIHFS, such as those used during the pink shawl workshop, will help me create more effective teaching styles for American Indian students in my future teaching career. I want to encourage health education and risk reduction among American Indian people of all ages to make our communities strong for many generations to come. I look forward to the opportunity to apply myself, my education, and my experience as a member of the Board of Directors at AIHFS.

Joanne Sobeck, Ph.D.
Joanne Sobeck is the Director of Research and the Center for Social Work Practice and Policy Research at Wayne State University School of Social Work. Prior to joining the faculty, she was on staff at the Addiction Research Institute involved in applied areas of alcohol and drug abuse prevention and program evaluation. Dr. Sobeck has 20 years experience working closely with health, mental health and substance abuse agencies and other nonprofit organizations. She has published her research on risk and protective factors in drug use and abuse, co-occurring disorders, capacity building for community-based organizations, and processes related to policy and program development. She is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and enjoys reading, gardening, fishing and hunting with her family.

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