Gayle Dinechacon

WORK HISTORY

ABOUT GAYLE DINECHACON

Gayle Dine’Chacon, MD is originally from the Navajo Nation. She is a family medicine physician who has worked in providing direct medical services to mostly underserved populations in eastern Navajo Nation (checkerboard area), Albuquerque Indian Health Service, First Nations Health Source, Bernaillo County Juvenile Detention Center and the Pueblo of Sandia. She has worked as an educator, mentor and advisor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine for countless pre-health students, medical students and residents for 20 years. She founded and developed the Center for Native American Health (CNAH) at UNM Health Sciences, which fostered partnerships with New Mexico’s 22 tribes, pueblos and nations in addressing their most pressing health and public health concerns. Dr. Dine’Chacon served as Navajo Nation Surgeon General from 20••••13. Major activities included drafting policies for the Navajo Nation HIV/AIDS program, assisting with drafting enabling legislation for Navajo Nation Division of Health to become a Department of Health, assisting the development of the Navajo Epidemiology Center, facilitating the development of the Navajo Nation Ten Year Wellness Plan, and founder of the Navajo Nation CEO/Providers Network.She continues to be involved with American Indian health professions student development and providing her knowledge and expertise to various tribes on health policy, research, health disparity/equity, and gaps in elder care.