SMHS to focus on INMED for UND Gives on April 24

GRAND FORKS, N.D.—The UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS), in conjunction with the UND Alumni Association & Foundation (AAF), is taking part in an inaugural giving event on April 24 known as UND Gives.

UND Gives is a 24-hour online fundraising challenge that aims to rally philanthropic support for UND initiatives, including the SMHS Indians Into Medicine (INMED) Program. The School challenges donors to give a tax-deductible donation supporting INMED’s priority needs, which benefit middle and high school students, pre-med students, and medical and health sciences students.

“Among the greatest needs in the state of North Dakota is eliminating disparities in both American Indian health and in health care workforce shortages,” said INMED Director Donald Warne, MD, MPH, who is also the School’s associate dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and director of its Master of Public Health Program. “With new leadership and programs, INMED is poised to place UND at the international forefront of addressing Indigenous health by providing transformative learning, discovery, and community engagement opportunities for developing tomorrow’s leaders, consistent with the mission of the university. We’re hoping the community sees our vision and supports INMED during UND Gives on April 24.”

All eight colleges at UND are participating in the campaign, which is designed to provide scholarships, program support, and expanded experiential learning opportunities to UND students across campus.

“Our INMED Program is responsible for graduating a significant number of the American Indian physicians practicing in the United States,” added SMHS Dean and UND’s Vice President for Health Affairs, Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPH. “We want people to know that they can help grow this historic and tremendously successful program with their gift.”

Established in 1973, INMED is a comprehensive education program assisting American Indian students who are preparing for health careers. The program addresses three major problem areas: too few health professionals in American Indian communities; too few American Indian health professionals; and a substandard level of health and health care in American Indian communities.

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Brian James Schill
Assistant Director, Office of Alumni & Community Relations
University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
701.777.2733 direct | 701.777.4305 office
brian.schill@med.und.edu | med.und.edu