Jackie Yazzie

Jackie Yazzie is Bit’ahnii (Within His Cover Clan), born for Áshįįhí (Salt People Clan). Her maternal grandfather is Deeshchii’nii (Red Streak People Clan), and her paternal grandfather is Tábąąhí (Near the Water’s Edge Clan). She is from Chinle, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, and is currently serving her second term as an AmeriCorps member with the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health in Chinle.

For Jackie, her AmeriCorps internship has been an opportunity to serve her community while gaining meaningful experience in public health and infectious disease research.  She supports community-based research, including the Adult Pneumonia Study and vaccine studies such as Vax31.

Through this work, Jackie has gained a new perspective on public health and a greater understanding of how community-based research can help identify health concerns and improve prevention, treatment, and care. She has gained hands-on experience working with participants, supporting research activities, maintaining accurate information, and collaborating with a team committed to improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities.

One of the most meaningful parts of Jackie’s internship has been the relationships she has built with the people she serves. Many patients and community members have made her feel like family. Those connections have reinforced the importance of trust, patience, respect, consistency, and culturally responsive care. Being able to serve people within her own community makes the experience especially meaningful.

Her internship has also helped her see the connection between research, public health, and patient care—and how information gathered through research can contribute to better healthcare and stronger communities. The experience has strengthened her commitment to continuing her education and pursuing a career in healthcare.

Most importantly, Jackie’s AmeriCorps service has reinforced her goal of becoming a Registered Nurse and providing compassionate, community-centered care. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve her people, learn from her community, and contribute to work that can make a lasting difference in the health and well-being of Indigenous communities.