Haskell and IHS Partner on New Health Care Facility to Expand Services and Student Opportunities
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Haskell Indian Nations University and the Indian Health Service (IHS), in partnership with the Haskell Indian Health Center, have signed an agreement to support construction of a new health care facility on the university’s campus, a project leaders say will improve health care access while creating new educational opportunities for Native students.
Under the agreement, the Indian Health Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will construct a new state-of-the-art clinic on 4.4 acres of Haskell land. The arrangement is designed to ensure uninterrupted health care services throughout construction.
Once the new facility is completed, the existing clinic building will be returned to Haskell for future academic and workforce training purposes, expanding the university’s capacity to prepare students for careers in health care, public service, and related fields.
The project is expected to provide Native students with direct access to clinical learning opportunities. Students will be able to participate in training, observational learning, and other professional development activities alongside Indian Health Service providers in a modern health care setting.
Officials say the partnership will help strengthen the pipeline of Native health professionals, including physicians, nurses, public health practitioners, and allied health workers who will go on to serve tribal communities.
The new facility will also increase the Indian Health Service’s capacity to provide culturally informed health care to patients in the Lawrence area while expanding opportunities for Haskell students to engage in clinical practice, preventive care, and community wellness programs.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to giving Native students more opportunities to learn, lead and serve in their own communities,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Expanding Haskell’s campus resources while improving access to modern health care services is a practical investment in the future of Indian Country and in the long-term strength of tribal communities.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. connected the project to his family’s longstanding relationship with Haskell.
“For generations, Haskell has helped develop Native leaders who strengthen their communities and serve this country,” Kennedy said. “My father visited Haskell in 1968 because he understood the importance of investing in Native students and tribal communities. This partnership carries that mission forward by expanding access to healthcare, strengthening tribal health systems, and preparing the next generation of Native health professionals.”
The agreement also emphasizes tribal self-determination, interagency collaboration, and long-term community well-being. Both agencies said the project will comply with federal preservation and environmental requirements, including the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.
Founded in 1884, Haskell Indian Nations University is a federally operated, fully accredited institution in Lawrence, Kansas, serving Native American and Alaska Native students from across the country. The university was established as part of the federal government’s treaty and trust obligations to provide education to Native people.
The Indian Health Service provides health care services to approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives from 575 federally recognized tribes across 37 states.
