National Council of Indian Health Podiatrists

Background: The National Council of Indian Health Podiatrists (NCIHP) is the organization of all podiatrists employed in full-time clinical positions at Tribal, Urban, Indian Health Service and Consortium facilities. Members are hired as Commissioned Officers in the US Public Health Service, as Civil Service, Tribal Program, Urban Program or Consortium employees, or under Personal Services Contracts. The NCIHP does not include podiatry students, podiatry residents, or part-time contract podiatrists.

The NCIHP was founded in 1998. The NCIHP meets annually. The NCIHP has a Chairperson and Executive Council elected by the membership of the NCIHP in accordance with the NCIHP Charter. The Chairperson and Executive Council respond to national level podiatry program needs between the annual meetings. The NCIHP works very closely with the Chief Clinical Consultant for Podiatry for Indian Health.

Mission: The mission of the National Council of Indian Health Podiatrists is to improve the quality of life for American Indian and Alaska Native People through promoting awareness of and advocating for increased accessibility to quality podiatric care.

Vision: The National Council of Indian Health Podiatrists will strive to make quality podiatric care available to all American Indian and Alaska Native People.

Goals: The National Council of Indian Health Podiatrists will educate individuals and organizations regarding the need for and benefit of quality podiatric care for the American Indian and Alaska Native People and will develop and recommend guidelines for high quality podiatry programs appropriate for Indian Country.

Student Loan Repayment Program for Podiatry

All podiatrists who are members of the NCIHP are eligible for the Indian Health Service (IHS) Student Loan Repayment Program. Podiatrists who are not employed full-time by a federally recognized Tribal, Urban, Consortium, or IHS healthcare program are not eligible for this program. Podiatry students and podiatry residents are not eligible for this program. Applications for the IHS Student Loan Repayment Program should only be submitted when you have been selected for a full-time podiatry position by an approved site. Applications can be obtained by contacting the IHS Loan Repayment Office in Rockville, Maryland.

Podiatry Job Applications for Indian Health

Podiatrists interested in working with American Indian and Alaska Native People can contact members of the Executive Council of the NCIHP regarding jobs. We do not accept applications but will review application material and make recommendations to sites that have vacancies.

Vacant Podiatry Positions in Indian Health

The Chief Clinical Consultant for Podiatry for Indian Health and the Executive Council of the NCIHP are generally aware of positions which are being created or which are becoming vacant. Some of these positions will appear on the federal or IHS job vacancy announcement register. Others will be advertised locally by Tribal or Urban Programs. We will post job vacancies on this page as they become available.