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Abramson to chair HHS Tribal Advisory Committee

On June 2, Sault Tribe Unit I Director Cathy Abramson was unanimously elected as chair of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC), in which she and other tribal leaders meet directly with Secretary Sylvia Burwell on Indian health issues.

“This committee is a very hard working committee that strongly speaks up and gives input to the top administration staff and Secretary Burwell,” Abramson said. “I’m very proud and honored to have the support of such great leaders from across Indian country.”

Abramson is also STAC’s first female chair.

In 2011, Abramson became one of 17 appointees to the inaugural federal advisory committee, established to reform and enhance how the HHS works with Indian Country. STAC consists of representatives from each of the

12 Indian Health Service administrative regions in the country and five national at-large representatives. Abramson is the primary representative for the Bemidji area, which covers Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

“We are honored that Cathy agreed to accept the nomination as the HHS STAC Tribal Chair position.  She has a strong background from her role with NIHB on presiding over an Advisory Committee representing the four corners of Indian Country. I’m confident she will provide strong, steady leadership as the tribal leaders on the committee advocates for many interests from HHS,” W. Ron Allen, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Chairman and CEO, said.

Sault Tribe Chairperson Aaron Payment also serves on STAC as an at-large representative. “I was proud to advocate and entertain a motion for Cathy’s appointment as chair of the STAC,” he said.

“When I returned to office, Cathy pulled me into national level advocacy for our people. I credit her leadership on Health and Human Services for advancing the lives of Indian people across the country.”

Abramson is a nationally known and respected leader with regard to Indian health issues. Some of her extensive work includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Tribal Advisory Board and Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee-Bemidji Area Representative. She was appointed to the National Indian Health Board in 2009 and is a former chairperson of that board. Last year, she was honored with the IHS Director’s Special Recognition Award in Tribal Leadership and Partnership.

Regionally, Abramson is actively involved with United Tribes of Michigan and the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST). Within the tribe, some of her past and present work includes Sault Tribe Head Start Policy Council – Board Liaison, Sault Tribe Healthy Traditions Advisory Council, Sault Tribe Community Transformation Grant/Strategic Alliance for Health Leadership Team and advisor for the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribal Youth Council.

Abramson has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Lake Superior State University and was honored with the LSSU Distinguished Business Alumna award in 2011. She has been on the Tribal Board of Directors since 1996. She and her husband Tony Abramson have three children, Lisa, Laura and Tony Jr., all with children of their own. She loves to hunt, fish, and gather the indigenous foods of her area, and enjoys camping, hiking, traveling and family gatherings.

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