Chickasaws earn medical degrees from OSU Center for Health Sciences

This article appeared in the July 2022 edition of the Chickasaw Times

TULSA - Chickasaw citizens Brandon Postoak, Brandon Hart and Erica Herman were recently honored by the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Center for Health Sciences and Governor Bill Anoatubby for completing their medical training.

The American Indian Honoring Ceremony, conducted May 10 on the OSU-Tulsa campus, recognized Native medical students for earning their doctorates in osteopathic medicine from OSU Center for Health Sciences.

Governor Anoatubby commended Mr. Postoak, Mr. Hart and Ms. Herman for their achievement in becoming doctors.

“We thank you for your hard work and effort,” Gov. Anoatubby said. “You’ve made the Chickasaw Nation proud. We’re proud of the work you’ve done. We’re proud ahead of time for the work you’re going to do.

“You’ve not only done something for yourself and for the tribe, you’ve done something for our young people who will look at you as a role model. They know they can do this, because you have done it. Thank you from the Chickasaw Nation, and thank you from all the people you will influence in the future.”

Mr. Postoak, of Allen, Okla., earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from East Central University in Ada, Okla. He later earned a master’s degree in applied medical sciences from OSU Center for Health Sciences.

“I’m starting residency as an emergency medicine resident at Southwest Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City,” Mr. Postoak said. “I’ve been involved in a lot of Native STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) recruitment and awareness, and I hope I can still do that.”

Mr. Hart is from Moore, Okla.

“I attended Southern Nazarene University and got a biochemistry degree there,” Mr. Hart said.

He said his experiences assisting in emergency room work confirmed his desire to pursue medicine as a career.

“I fell in love with medicine even more and was fortunate enough to get accepted by OSU. The last four years have been amazing,” Mr. Hart said.

He said his plans were to become a general practitioner.

“I want to be doing family medicine,” he said. “That’s what I will be doing during my residency with the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah over the next three years. My dream is to continue my practice with the Cherokee Nation.”

Ms. Herman, of Midwest City, Okla., earned her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology with a minor in chemistry and ethics from Oklahoma City University.

She knew she wanted to pursue medicine even before she became a teenager.

“I have a special needs brother and we got to watch his journey,” Ms. Herman said. “He has Rett syndrome, which is really uncommon in males. When I was about 12, my grandpa had a stroke and I got to see how, if there was just a little bit more public information, some people could potentially recover better or maybe even completely prevent a lot of the common health issues we see.

“That’s when I realized that medicine is really intriguing and it has so much potential to impact people’s lives, and I realized that’s what I wanted to do,” she said.

Ms. Herman’s plans include serving with the Cherokee Nation in family medicine in Tahlequah, Okla.

“After that I’m really hoping to give back my time to Native American populations at a clinic or facility kind of close to home,” she said.

Rear Admiral Travis Watts, U.S. Public Health Service assistant surgeon general, area director and keynote speaker, said tribal graduates now had what they needed to make a difference.

“You have the knowledge base and a cultural base that is going to make you change the world, and we’re excited to see what is going to happen,” Rear Adm. Watts said.

“Today is about celebrating and recognizing your American Indian heritage and the opportunity you have as physicians to raise the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of fellow First Americans,” he said.

Johnny Stephens, Pharm.D., president of OSU Center for Health Sciences, said what graduates had achieved was a great accomplishment.

“We could not be more proud of you,” he said. “We share your commitment to serve others in your new career as physicians, and we appreciate the sacrifice and hard work both you and your families have demonstrated for you to be here today.”