We are thrilled to announce that Myra Parker, JD, MPH, PhD is the School of Medicine’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award Recipient! This award honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by recognizing employees and students who exemplify his call to serve others. For over 30 years, Myra has served as a leader, organizer, and do-er who has a genuine love for Native people. She embodies Dr. King’s legacy of service and truth telling through her mentoring, research, teaching, and traditional practices.
 
Myra is an associate professor with PBSCI and leads the 7 Directions Center for Indigenous Public Health housed within the Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors (CSHRB). 7 Directions connects research, practice, policy, and organizers in urban and tribal communities that have the health and wellness of indigenous people at the heart of their work.
 
An adjunct faculty in the UW School of Public Health, Myra leads the school’s first indigenous health class and will be collaborating on new curriculum development in the future. When a public health student pointed out the need to have a course on this topic, Myra was one of the first to step up and help make it happen. She is a mentor to other faculty, especially Native colleagues, and she always gives a hand to support those in need of guidance and support.
 
A colleague who nominated her shared that they “have learned so much from Myra and would love nothing less than for her – as well as all our indigenous colleagues in 7 Directions – be recognized for the work they do.” Congratulations, Myra!