About us

The Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board, Inc. (FDIHB) was sanctioned and approved by the Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the Navajo Nation Council on August 3, 2009. As a Tribal organization, empowered by the Self-Determination Act (P.L. 93-638) and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

With the enactment of the Indian Self-Determination Act, tribes and tribal entities are authorized to provide services and programs to their own native communities by contracting with the federal government using the Public Law 93-638 process (termed ‘638). FDIHB submitted a proposal to the Navajo Area Indian Health Services Director (NAIHS) to enter into a ‘638 contract with the Indian Health Service. On January 28, 2010, they successfully concluded negotiations and signed the ‘638 contract, turning ownership and day-to-day management of the hospital’s operations over to FDIHB Inc. Two months later, on March 28, 2010, FDIHB began administering all hospital programs, functions, services and activities in accordance with the Scope of Work defined in the FY2010 Annual Funding Agreement.

Ft. Defiance, AZ
Tséhootsooí Medical Center
Description
Ft. Defiance, AZ
Nihi Dine'é Bá Wellness Center
Description
Sanders, AZ
Nahata’Dziil Health Center
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Mobile Health Program
Description

Communities We Serve

The primary service area of FDIHB includes sixteen communities within Apache County. According to the U.S. Census (2022), the total population of this delivery service area is 27,087.

Health, Wellness, Tradition

Our Approach

At Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board, we believe that health encompasses the whole person and is built on the powerful principles of health, wellness, and tradition.

FDIHB envisions health as a holistic journey where we play three significant roles: Treat, Prevent and Heal

  • ‍Treating sickness, injury and disease by offering an array of clinical & medical modalities that address acute medical needs and disease management, ensuring our community thrives with access to comprehensive care.‍
  • Preventing disease through community health and championing public health initiatives, health education, and community wellness programs.‍
  • Healing through traditional practices and cultural connections that honor our rich Navajo heritage while seamlessly integrating modern medical and therapeutic practices.

By integrating traditional values with contemporary healthcare, the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board aims to elevate the overall health outcomes of those we serve.

Community Health Needs Assessment

The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) aimed to identify and prioritize the health needs of our community. The report identifies and prioritizes key health needs to guide FDIHB’s health improvement programs and collaborations with organizations focused on enhancing community health, healthcare delivery and disease prevention.

Download CHNA Report

Mission

To provide superior and compassionate healthcare to our community by raising the level of health, Hózhó and quality of life.

Vision

Harmoniously uniting communities by engaging our customers in healthy lifestyles.

Executives

Dr. Naomi Young
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Roger Begay
Chief Medical Officer
Cristina Rivera Carpenter, PhD, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Interim Chief of Nursing
Janice Peters-Begay
Interim Chief Human Resource Officer
John Willeto, MBA
Chief Administration Officer
Christine Becenti
Chief Financial Officer
CDR Leah Begay, MBA, MSN, RN
Chief of Healthy Living & Outreach
Netrisha Delgai
Chief of Quality
Brandon Benallie
Chief Information Security Officer

Leadership

Dr. Jaun Luna
Interim Director of Medical Services
Dr. Benjamin Dodge
Chief of Family Practice
Dr. Aaron Price
Chief of Internal Medicine
Dr. Fernando Cordona
Chief of Pediatric Services
Dr. Jason Price
Chief of Dental Services
Dr. Marek Marcinkiewicz
Chief of Family Medicine
Dr. Jordan Cohen
Chief of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Cherno Bah
Chief of Behavioral Health
Dr. Aaron Clark
Acting Chief of Pharmacy
Christian Gomez Castro
Chief of Radiology Services
Dr. Kathleen Cohen
Chief of OB/GYN
Dr. Vanessa Jensen
Chief of Surgical Services
John Tsosie
Director of Tradition and Cultural Engagement

Board of Directors

Lillie Roanhorse
Board President
Tony Davis Everett
Board Vice-President
Juanita Martinez
Board Treasurer
Roxanne Gorman
Board Secretary
Dr. Laura M. Mike
Board Member
Benjamin H. Dodge
Board Member
"Our Journey to Hozho"

History of FDIHB Inc.

1800s

Fort Defiance, established in September 1851 by Major Electus Backus under Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Vose Sumner, was pivotal in U.S. Army-Navajo relations in northeastern Arizona. Located at Canyon Bonito, it aimed to uphold a military presence after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 integrated Navajo land into the U.S. Initially met with skepticism due to its location, Fort Defiance became a site of tension as the Army limited grazing lands, leading to conflicts, including a significant attack by around 1,000 Navajo warriors in early 1860. The fort withstood the assault with minor casualties. The Civil War's outbreak in 1861 shifted military focus, leading to the fort's abandonment. It was later reoccupied and renamed Fort Canby by Colonel Christopher “Kit” Carson, who used it to launch campaigns that devastated the Navajo population, culminating in the "Long Walk," a forced relocation to Bosque Redondo. Post-Civil War, Fort Defiance transitioned into an agency for the Navajo Reservation and played a crucial role in the 1868 Navajo Treaty that allowed many to return home.

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Healthcare Comes to Navajo

In 1871, a physician was stationed at Fort Defiance, Arizona, to care for U.S. Army troops. By 1882, a request for a Medical Inspector position was made, and in 1891, field matrons began improving health conditions among the Navajo, later succeeded by Public Health Nurses. Infectious diseases like trachoma, tuberculosis, and the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic severely affected the Navajo. In response, Congress established the first federal hospital on the Navajo Reservation in 1908 in Shiprock, New Mexico, followed by others in Tuba City (1910-1911), Fort Defiance (1912), and Crownpoint (1914). In the 1920s, Dr. J.A. Murphy led the creation of a Health Division within the Indian Service. In 1926, officers from the Public Health Service helped this division. By 1927, the Fort Defiance boarding school became a trachoma treatment facility for 450 students. The following year, Lewis Meriam's report highlighted the need for a hospital in Fort Defiance.

Indian Health Services (IHS)

In 1955, Congress transferred the Indian Health Program from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the U.S. Public Health Service. Fort Defiance Indian Hospital (FDIH) was transferred to the Indian Health Services (IHS) within the U.S. Public Health Service.

In 1965, FDIH IHS became an accredited hospital.

1980, as the hospital grew beyond capacity, plans to request a new IHS facility began.

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New Hospital Built

2001, congressional action enabled the construction of a new state-of-the-art 240,000-square-foot healthcare facility.

2002: The community celebrated the new hospital's dedication on July 25, 2002. Operations began the first week of August 2002, offering 24-hour ER Services, Outpatient and inpatient Services, Medical Imaging, Laboratory Services, expanded inpatient OB/GYN services, a 3-surgical suite, and Pharmacy Services. Indian Health Services maintained oversight of the hospital structure and adjacent medical staff housing until 2010.

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The Transition from IHS to 638

Establishment of FDIHB & Tséhootsooí Medical Center

2009, FDIH garnered approval from the Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the Navajo Nation Council to become a PL93-638 facility. In 2010, FDIH received approval and officially became the fourth PL93-638 self-determined hospital in the Navajo Nation and no longer governed under IHS. Thereon, FDIH was then established as FDIHB, Inc.

In 2011, the FDIHB Board of Directors voted unanimously on April 15, 2011, to rename the hospital to Tséhootsooí Medical Center. This incorporated the original Diné name of the area, “Tséhootsooí,” which means “yellow flower” or “place between rocks.”

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Expanding Care

Nahata'Dziil Health Center, Nihi Dine'é Bá Wellness Center and Mobile Clinic

Following its Public Law 93-638 status, FDIHB, Inc. transformed its satellite clinic, Nahata'Dziil Health Center (NDHC) in Sanders, AZ, from a 3-modular medical clinic into a new 33,000-square-foot outpatient facility.

In 2018 Nihi Dine'é Ba Wellness Center (NDBWC) opened to provide an integrated and coordinated health care system where health promotion/disease prevention and medicine will come together to assist people on their Journey to Hozho. NDBWC is a facility with seven TMC departments, classroom space, physical therapy, an education kitchen, and a full-size fitness center that includes an indoor, elevated track, volleyball/ basketball court, and fitness classrooms.

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board (FDIHB) played a vital role in responding to the health crisis within the Navajo Nation. The organization implemented a multi-faceted approach to address the urgent needs of the community.

FDIHB launched testing and vaccination clinics to empower the community and emphasize vaccination importance. They expanded telehealth services for safe healthcare access, secured PPE and medical supplies for frontline workers, and offered mental health support, food assistance, and educational resources. By partnering with various entities, they strengthened support for the Navajo Nation during the pandemic.

Overall, the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting and promoting the health of its community throughout the pandemic, adapting its services to meet evolving needs.

Video: Year in Review 2020

Video: FDIHB PPE Sewing Task Force

Video: COVID Vaccine Arrives to TMC

Our Journey Continues...

Building healthier communities and eliminating chronic disease

Following its Public Law 93-638 status, FDIHB, Inc. transformed its satellite clinic, Nahata Dziil Health Center (NDHC) in Sanders, AZ, from a 3-modular medical clinic into a new 33,000-square-foot outpatient facility. NDHC opened its doors to the community in 20

FDIHB

Core Values

Thinking

Being mindful and innovative

Respect

For mother earth, our colleagues, and those we serve

Reciprocity

To give and take with humbleness, grace, and thankfulness

Discipline

We will be role models, do what we say, and respect ourselves and others

Diligence

The things we do are not easy, we will not give in or give up

Relationships

Build and sustain K'é and strong connections with the community, patients, and colleagues

Thinking

We will constantly think about what we believe in and acknowledge that guidance is received from reverence

Thinking

Put forth the best of efforts to impress upon others the strengths of character and professionalism of skills

FDIHB

Our Logo

The logo was designed to complement the mission statement of the hospital which is based on Dine philosophy and the teachings of achieving Hózhó.

Medical Cross

A symbol which often signifies a hospital or medical service facility. Rather than making the cross red, it incorporates the colors associated with each direction.

Navajo Sacred Cardinal Directions

East is white, south is turquoise, west is yellow, and north is black.

The Sunrise

The sunrise represents life, a new beginning for the hospital and the hope that each patient will achieve renewed health.

7 Sunrays

The rays of sun represent the seven divisions within Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board, Inc. - Administration, Finance, Human Resources, Healthy Living & Outreach, Medical, Nursing, and Quality Services.

Find Your New Career at FDIHB

“Human Resources supports Fort Defiance Indian Hospital in achieving its mission through its most valuable resource - PEOPLE.”

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