Roselyn Tso has been appointment director of the Navajo Area of the Indian Health Service.

Tso, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, recently served as director for the IHS Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes. In this position, she directed a national program and was responsible for a wide range of agency functions critical to the working partnership between the IHS and federally recognized tribes.

As Navajo Area director, she will lead the administration of IHS, a comprehensive federal, tribal, and urban Indian health care system, on the Navajo Nation.

“Roselyn’s wealth of experience and leadership skills will be a welcome addition to the IHS Navajo Area as we continue to improve and provide access to quality health care services for American Indians and Alaska Natives,” said Rear Adm. Michael D. Weahkee, IHS principal deputy director, in a news release. “I want to congratulate Roselyn on her selection as area director and thank her for her years of dedicated service in fulfilling the IHS mission.”

Tso has 35 years of experience providing policy development and technical assistance concerning Title I Indian Self-Determination contracting to the IHS Navajo Area.

“I’m proud to lead the IHS Navajo Area, and I’m excited about the opportunity to continue working with our health care partners to provide quality, comprehensive health care for the patients we serve.” Tso said in the news release.

Tso holds a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon, and a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix, Portland, Oregon.

The IHS Navajo Area delivers health services to more than 244,000 American Indians in five federal service units and six tribally operated health care facilities under authority of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act on and near the Navajo Nation.

The Navajo Nation is one of the largest American Indian reservations in the United States consisting of more than 25,000 contiguous square miles and three satellite communities, and extends into portions of the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.

The IHS Navajo Area serves members of the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and other American Indian beneficiaries in the area.

The IHS, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.

parmijo@the-journal.com