An enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Dr. Garroutte is a Research Professor of Sociology who has a background of research and publication related to the study of Native American issues, racial/ethnic identity, religion, and health disparities associated with aging and culture. Past publications include a book, Real Indians: Identity and the Survival of Native America, and various articles in sociological and health-related journals. In collaboration with Cherokee Nation Health Services, Dr. Garroutte has conducted a series of research projects funded by the National Institute on Aging to examine medical communication needs among American Indian elders using tribal clinics. She is a past Area Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Tulsa, Oklahoma.Â
