Indigenous youth representation in modern medicine: Lelani Gonnie’s mission to equal health care access

Lelani Gonnie, a 2026 graduate from Flagstaff High School (FHS), spent her high school career engaging herself in Native American youth advocacy work while getting hands-on experience in Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) and a sports medicine internship.

Gonnie views her passion for medicine as a form of advocacy for her Indigenous peoples, and hopes to serve as a linguistic and cultural bridge for elders and remove barriers that prevent her community on the reservation from accessing equal healthcare.