Experience with the Indian Health Service?

[gohogwild]

Nice government jobs! We all love them.

Although, I do not seem to see the Indian Health Service getting any love. Has anyone had experience working for it? I see it's mostly supervisory positions.

Not pressing, just curious. As always, thank you!

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[PsyDr]

I have some friends that have worked for IHS. They had extremely negative things to say about the experience.

Completely unrelated article about someone I don’t know.

Psychologist Who Wrote of Abuse Is Punished (Published 2012)

A federal health services psychologist says he wants whistle-blower protections after having been transferred and denied a promotion.

www.nytimes.com

 

[erg923]

Chris Rock did not see this as our country's priority 25 year ago....thus I would doubt it it is one now.

Would imagine high turnover? Most with Ph.D. do not want to live in rural South Dakota or Oklahoma on gov cheese. GS 14 (or 15) probably not really a "leadership" position there....if I were to imagine? Maybe be able to buy big, big house on that salary?

Polar Bears ridin mother****ing tricycles! Son....

 

[WisNeuro]

Similar to @PsyDr, the couple people I have known who have worked for IHS did not have pleasant experiences. Both were in PSLF and took the jobs because of that, and jumped ship when they found something they liked better.

 

[gohogwild]

Thank you all, good to know. I've visited a reservation before and my Aunt worked in the developmental disability section of a reservation once. I've heard it's hard work and people want to be taken care of by their own, understandably. I appreciate the input!

 

[cara susanna]

My program had a strong emphasis on training Indian/Native psychologists and many of them ended up training in and/or working for IHS. I did hear that it was difficult to go back to your own tribe because they wouldn't really take you seriously as a provider.

 

[theendisnigh]

Thank you all, good to know. I've visited a reservation before and my Aunt worked in the developmental disability section of a reservation once. I've heard it's hard work and people want to be taken care of by their own, understandably. I appreciate the input!

It's hard work and there is a regional + cultural preference, as is I think with most cultural groups, but indigenous people face real healthcare disparities and have serious issues with generational trauma, violence, addiction, and depression that need to be addressed. If you do follow through with it, you would be doing a good thing for people who need it.