Judith Kaur facts for kids

Judith Salmon Kaur (born 1945) is a special doctor called an oncologist. She is one of the very few Native American oncologists in the United States. Dr. Kaur helps lead programs for Native American communities at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. She works to make sure everyone has a fair chance at good health.

Early Life and Education

Dr. Kaur is from the Choctaw and Cherokee nations. She is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. When she was only five years old, her grandmother told her she was "meant to be a healer."

Becoming a Doctor

Judith was the first person in her family to finish high school. After college, she first worked as a teacher. While teaching, she had a daughter and got married. Her husband noticed she loved reading Scientific American magazine. He encouraged her to apply to medical school.

In 1975, she joined a special program. It was called the Indians into Medicine Program (INMED) at the University of North Dakota. This program helps Native Americans and Alaska Natives become doctors and nurses. Dr. Kaur first wanted to be a family doctor. But in medical school, she decided to become an oncologist. Oncologists are doctors who treat cancer. She finished her medical degree at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Helping Communities with Health

Dr. Kaur is very dedicated to helping Native American communities. She wants to make healthcare better for everyone. She works to improve how people get treated for cancer.

Understanding Cancer in Native Communities

Dr. Kaur was one of the first researchers to study cancer in Native American groups. Before her work, many people thought cancer was only a "white people's disease." She helped tribes in the Midwest United States learn more about cancer. Her research showed that cancer affects everyone.

Focus on Women's Health

Dr. Kaur especially focuses on cancers that affect women. This includes breast cancer and cervical cancer. She has studied how these cancers affect Alaska Native and Native American women. She also helped pregnant Alaska Native women stop smoking.

Important Programs

Since 1999, Dr. Kaur has been the medical director of Native CIRCLE. This is a resource center for American Indian and Alaska Native cancer information. She also leads a program called Spirit of EAGLES. This program teaches about cancer in ways that are meaningful to Native cultures. Dr. Kaur also works to help Native communities get health insurance.

Awards and Recognition

In 2007, Dr. Kaur helped write a big report about cancer in the United States. It showed that while cancer rates were going down for many, they were not for Native Americans. In 2017, her old college, Augustana College, gave her a special award. In 2018, she received the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Award. These awards honored her important work with Native American communities.