I always knew as a nurse I would work for Cherokee Nation to give back
Brandy Goodwin, a dedicated nurse with deep roots in the Native American and Veteran communities, is bridging health care gaps for tribal Veterans in Eastern Oklahoma.
Goodwin’s first experiences with health care began with government-run Indian Health Services. For her childhood appointments, she and her mother and siblings went to the Claremore Indian Hospital and other tribal facilities. Her father, a Vietnam Navy Veteran, received care at VA in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“I always knew as a nurse I would work for Cherokee Nation to give back,” she says.
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After 20 years working at a tribal clinic that served the Cherokee Nation, starting as a licensed practical nurse and advancing into management, Goodwin transitioned to VA to honor her father’s and great-grandfather’s military service.
Following familiar footsteps
One of Goodwin’s earliest memories was going with her great-grandfather to Muskogee, Oklahoma, for a VA appointment when she was just four years, old. She saw VA’s care and Veteran camaraderie for the first time.
“I wanted to give back to VA for caring for my father and great-grandfather,” she says.
Goodwin has a current connection to the military as well; her husband, a Navy Veteran and Choctaw tribal member, serves in the Army Reserve.
A nurse’s calling
Goodwin’s nursing career was inspired by a documentary on AIDS patients she saw in the early 1990s. She pursued nursing to serve those others were afraid to touch.
“I became a nurse to take care of people and to give back,” she says.
Outside of VA, Goodwin volunteers monthly at a free clinic in Tulsa, providing care for people who are uninsured.
“I can use my nursing skills to help people who don’t have insurance,” she says.
Bridging VA and tribal care
As the chief nurse for primary care at Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System, Goodwin is excited about a nearly year-old partnership between Cherokee Nation and Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System. The partnership brings VA and tribal care together in Cherokee Nation’s Vinita Clinic. The clinic serves both Native Veterans and non-Native Veterans in the region.
The clinic opened in May 2024 and provides essential services to Veterans and tribal citizens, making it a valuable resource for the area.
Meeting tribal Veteran needs
Vinita Clinic offers culturally sensitive care led by Cherokee members who understand the unique needs of tribal Veterans.
Goodwin notes, as an example, that Cherokee Nation tribal citizens in general, have a higher prevalence of diabetes, and the clinic emphasizes diabetic care, nutrition and cholesterol management.
For female tribal Veterans, the clinic provides care with a focus on addressing the higher rates of domestic and interpersonal violence in Native communities.
Earning Veteran trust
Goodwin acknowledges the historical distrust many Native Americans feel toward the federal government and hopes the clinic can begin to change that narrative.
“VA has so many resources,” she says. “Many Veterans and tribal citizens may have never spoken to anybody about their experiences. If they’re not enrolled, we don’t know and cannot provide care.”
Her message to Veterans is clear: “We’re here to help, and we’re happy to help in any way we can. I ask that you please give us a chance.”