Bringing Better Health to the Navajo Nation

Here’s an unsettling fact – according to the Indian Health Service, Native American tribal populations have a life expectancy that’s 5.5 years lower than the national average. These populations disproportionately face numerous social determinants of health, including poor health education, increased poverty and lack of adequate healthcare services in the rural communities in which they live. Studies show, they suffer from heart disease, cancer and diabetes at higher rates than the overall U.S. population.  

At McKesson, we believe that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to live healthy lives. As an impact-driven organization whose purpose is advancing health outcomes for all, we’re committed to actively addressing the needs of a broad range of stakeholders and enhancing the health of communities across the country.

As part of this commitment, we’re working with our customers and industry partners to help improve healthcare education and access within the Native American community. In October 2024, our Impact Innovation & Activation function, alongside McKesson Medical-Surgical, U.S. Pharmaceutical, CoverMyMeds and our UNITY employee resource group, sponsored and attended the Western Navajo Fair in Tuba City, Arizona. 

In our second year supporting this event, we collaborated with McKesson customers and community partners to provide cancer, diabetes and nutrition education to more than 2,300 members of the Navajo Nation. We were joined by Genentech, Kenvue and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In addition to handing out sunscreen to attendees and providing educational material on the risks of skin cancer, we supplied resources from Nourish My Health, a public health campaign that McKesson and Health Mart have partnered with on highlighting the vital role of healthy eating to reduce chronic illnesses.  

Beyond equipping attendees with invaluable information, we also focused on bringing care closer to those in attendance. With diabetes being one of the leading causes of death in this population, we spoke with attendees about the importance of regularly monitoring their blood sugar. 

Additionally, we provided available resource guides to local clinics, hospitals and other healthcare settings that serve members of the Navajo Nation. 

“This event is just one of the many ways we’re putting our company’s purpose into action,” says Niki Shah, vice president of Impact Innovation & Activation at McKesson. “Our goal with activations like this one is that we not only build trust within these communities, so they are confident to take additional steps for better health, but we also actively contribute to tackling key health disparities facing these communities today.” 

At the end of the fair, we conducted an experience survey of nearly 250 attendees to gauge the impact of our education efforts. At least 90% of respondents found the information we shared helpful, and 85% indicated that they plan to schedule time with their doctors based on the information they learned from McKesson and our partners at the event.  

Our work with the Navajo Nation – and other Native American communities – doesn’t stop at a singular annual event. 

“In continuation of our work in this community, we’ve engaged community leaders to establish a year-round campaign to continue to build awareness and education within the Navajo population,” says Mark Murtagh, senior manager, Community & Corporate Impact. “We are deepening the relationship with the broader Native American community to help improve health outcomes.”