Coastal Cascades Dentist Society welcomes Dr. Rachel Meek to its council. Her position on the council reflects our efforts to have wider representation throughout our new, larger geographical area, as she is currently working for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians near Newport. Dr. Meek is a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and she actively seeks opportunities to use advocacy and her work as a clinical dentist to address the need for care in native populations, particularly children.
Dr. Meek is also actively involved as a leader at the State association level. Her involvement began as an ODA liaison while she was a student studying dentistry at Oregon Health and Science University. She is currently serving on the ODA’s Legislative Task Force and its Regulatory Advisory Council.
Although Dr. Meek did not initially think she would pursue a career in the medical field, after working as an orthodontic assistant and volunteering on service trips, she decided that dentistry offered a way for her to truly help others’ health. She also discovered that there are not that many native dentists, which led her to work at the Siletz Community Health Clinic after graduating. Plus, she wanted to stay in Oregon.
In addition to dentistry, the health services encompass all health services on the reservation, including medical, pharmacy, and laboratory services. There is also a natural health area featuring various herbs and spices to help alleviate common ailments. This holistic approach to health facilitates collaboration between dentists and other medical professionals, enabling them to refer patients to one another for specialized care.
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