For her dedication to improving Indigenous public health, Myra Parker, JD, MPH, PhD was named the 2026 Alumni of Impact Awardee, the highest honor given to alumni from the UW School of Public Health.
 
Parker’s passion for improving the health of Indigenous communities has fueled her career. As an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and adjunct faculty in the Schools of Public Health and Social Work, and the Department of American Indian Studies, she studies culturally tailored health interventions for American Indians and Alaska Natives on topics ranging from substance abuse, parenting, and mental health. She also serves as director of Seven Directions, the first national public health institute in the U.S. to focus solely on Indigenous health and wellness.