Mission-Driven Leadership with Jerilyn Church of Great Plains Tribal Health

Welcome to Impact Unfiltered, where we dive into honest conversations with leaders creating real change in healthcare. In this episode, recorded at the Tribal Self-Governance Conference, host Stewart sits down with Jerilyn Church, CEO of the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board, serving 18 tribes across North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa.Jerilyn shares how her organization grew from 88 to nearly 600 employees after assuming management of the former Sioux San Clinic — now Oyate Health Center — one of the largest tribal ambulatory healthcare centers in the Great Plains. Tune in for a conversation about sovereignty, scale, and the belief that anything is possible when you believe in yourself first.1. Background and Role Jerilyn has led the Health Board since 2012, transforming it into a regional backbone for public health, a direct healthcare provider, and a strong policy advocate.2. What the Organization DoesSupports tribal public health infrastructure.Runs an epidemiology center for infectious disease response.Provides data for evidence-based healthcare decisions.Advocates for tribes in federal consultation.3. Coordinating Across 18 Tribes Each tribe has unique needs. Standing Rock, for example, spans two states and two Medicaid systems. The Health Board’s submission system routes requests efficiently, but complexity remains.4. Oyate Health Center The Oyate Health Center, serving Sioux tribes, moved into a new facility in 2023 but is already at capacity. It delivers primary care, pharmacy, lab, radiology, optometry, and dental services, spending nearly $20 million annually on purchased care. Jerilyn’s vision is to expand specialty services in-house.5. Defining Success Success means fewer relatives needing renal care, lower suicide rates, and stronger trust in healthcare providers and tribal leadership.6. Self-Governance and Sovereignty The Great Plains region has been slow to adopt self-governance. Jerilyn argues treaty obligations can be fulfilled through tribal control: “There is probably no greater expression of sovereignty than taking those same resources and saying, we’re going to drive what our healthcare looks like.”7. Building a Blueprint Plans include internships, externships, and a residency program with partners like Monument Health and Johns Hopkins. The Oyate model could serve as a blueprint for other tribes, with technology bridging specialty care gaps.8. Honest Assessment Jerilyn estimates the region is only 10% of the way toward its goals. Her advice: start with listening. “No one loves our community like we do.”9. Leadership and Vision Jerilyn is proud of her team’s growth from 88 to nearly 600 employees. She credits her grandparents for instilling values of education and giving back. Vision, she says, is the “secret sauce” of organizational growth.10. Closing Seed Her final message is simple: believe in yourself. “If you have that core belief that you can make a difference, that your talent is needed, then anything’s possible.”11. Gratitude The episode closes with recognition of Jerilyn’s leadership, appreciation for her team, and encouragement for tribes considering self-governance to study the Great Plains blueprint.