A Tribal Health System in Practice: Nursing Leadership and Rural Care in the Chickasaw Nation

Nov. 12, 2026 at 12 PM CT

A Tribal Health System in Practice: Nursing Leadership and Rural Care in the Chickasaw Nation

Tribal health systems are an important part of the rural healthcare landscape, yet their governance, access models and care delivery structures may be unfamiliar to many healthcare leaders. During this Rural Health Month webinar, leaders from the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health will provide an inside look at one Tribally operated health system and the nursing teams who serve its patients and communities. Presenters will explore what Tribal sovereignty means in healthcare, how a Tribally operated system differs from the Indian Health Service and how eligibility, access, rural geography, workforce, care coordination and broader Tribal resources influence the way care is delivered. The discussion will also highlight what Tribal and rural health systems share, what makes this environment distinct and what those differences mean for nursing leadership.

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe how Tribal sovereignty, rural geography, access structures and community resources influence nursing leadership and care delivery within the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health.

About the Presenters

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Kevin Meeks, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health

Rear Admiral Kevin Meeks, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, is a distinguished healthcare leader with 32 years of service in the U.S. Public Health Service and Indian Health Service (IHS). He served as Area Director of the Oklahoma City Area IHS and later as IHS Deputy Director for Field Operations, overseeing 12 Area Offices and helping lead care delivery for 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. Since 2020, he has served as Deputy Secretary of Health for the Chickasaw Nation, helping lead the delivery of high-quality healthcare to First Americans across the Chickasaw service area. Rear Admiral Meeks holds a bachelor’s degree from East Central University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma. His honors include the Surgeon General’s Medallion, the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal and induction into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame.

Tomi Tice, MSN, RN, CENP, Under Secretary, Hospital and Nursing Services, Chief Nursing Officer, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health

Haley Coppedge, MBA-HC, BSN, RN, Executive Officer of Ambulatory Nursing, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health

Amanda Cole, MBA-HC, BSN, RN, Executive Officer, Hospital and Nursing Services, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health