Native American Heritage Month alumna profile | Dr. Autumn Ambroday
Posted: November 29, 2016
For Autumn Ambroday, DO ‘10, KCOM, being able to return to provide healthcare services for Native Americans once she completed her medical degree at A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) was always the goal.
“Medicine was not the only field I could see myself in, but was the career path that drew me in the most. I’ve always known I wanted to serve the Native American community and I certainly saw a need for improved access to medical care in this population,” says Dr. Ambroday.
Dr. Ambroday is a member of the Minnesota Chippewa tribe, an enrolled tribal member of Leech Lake Indian Reservation and a member of the Martin Clan. Her Native name is Giiwiitaabinesikwe, meaning Thunder Bird Circling the Sky Woman. Growing up, her healthcare aspirations were supported by various members of her community.
“One of my most influential mentors was a Native American physician who made me believe I could do anything. Through her, I learned setbacks were not to be seen as failures, but rather indications that a change needed to be made. She taught me perseverance and the need to keep moving forward. She let me know it was okay not to be perfect and that self-care and balance mattered. Knowing her story, her struggles and seeing her strength when faced with adversity is what carried me during some of the bumps on the road.”
Dr. Ambroday chose to attend ATSU-KCOM after seeing the University’s mission of whole person healthcare brought to life on her visit to the Kirksville campus. “I found an appreciation for the school’s philosophy of focusing on whole-person healthcare and general well-being. I liked that attention was given to the spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental facets of health. In addition to the high-quality medical academics, Kirksville felt like a good place to develop and grow as an individual,” she says.
Now working as a psychiatrist for White Earth Nation, a tribal community in northern Minnesota, as well as being the primary physician for Urban Maternal Mitigation and Outreach Services, providing outpatient buprenorphine treatment for pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorder, Dr. Ambroday has the following advice for young Native American students:
“My biggest advice for those contemplating career choices is to follow your passion. Figure out what you truly love to do and find a way to make a living doing it or at least to have it integrated into your life. Entering the health professions is not an easy road and most people will encounter challenges on the path. However, if health and wellness are part of your passion, a career in the health professions can be incredibly rewarding. Find people in your chosen field who you admire and ask them to mentor you. A good mentor is invaluable. Regardless of how busy you become, remember to make time for your friends and family and for yourself. Relationships will help keep you centered and self-care is crucial to maintaining balance.”