Name: Gwenlynn Werner (Gwen)

Age: 27

Tribe: Navajo

Hometown: Tuba City, AZ

Hello, I prefer to be addressed as “Gwen.” I am an American Indian of the Navajo tribe. I was born and raised in Tuba City, Arizona which is located in the western part of the Navajo Reservation.

I received my Bachelors of Science from Arizona State University (“ASU”) in Biology. ASU is also where I met my wonderful husband of 7 years. We have one six year-old daughter. We live in Tempe, Arizona with my sixteen year-old younger sister and my daughter’s pet hamster.

I am currently a dental student at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. I decided to pursue dentistry after I attended my first private practice dentist appointment when I was 22 years old! I had always attended the Indian Health Service clinic for my dental care. I was shocked by the extreme variance in the clinic’s quality of care as compared to private dental practices located off the Navajo Indian reservation. I changed my major from Architecture to Biology after my first private practice experience. I decided that serving my people as a health professional was more appealing and urgently needed. I plan on returning to the Indian Health Services clinic that I attended as a child so I can improve the quality of care.

I am also concurrently enrolled in the Certificate in Public Health program at University of North Carolina. I believe it will provide me with the foundation to be an adept public health professional. I hope to pursue my Masters in Public Health after completing this program to enhance my capabilities for increasing the standard of care to the underprivileged.

I play the flute and I have a penchant for being organized. (I love calendars/organizers!) I have recently completely converted to a palm pilot. I enjoy reading, watching movies, roller-blading, roller-skating, swimming, hiking, biking, camping, gardening, doing arts and crafts with my daughter.

I would advise anyone wanting to pursue a career in the medical field to take as many sciences course as possible and as soon as possible. Science course will be repetitive through out your educational years. Join clubs and volunteer for activities, these will help tremendously in becoming future leaders that will be called upon. If I could do it over again, I would start looking into careers fields my freshman year of high school and plan my course accordingly. I would then try to get as close to the job as possible. For example, to become a dentist I would become a dental assistant to gain as much real life experience and make you appreciate your education. I would then concentrate on school as much as possible without letting the freedom of no parents get to me. Discipline, discipline, discipline!!! This will truly pay off when you begin working as a professional and you are truly independent and self supporting.