A Tribal Health System in Practice: Nursing Leadership and Rural Care in the Chickasaw Nation

Nov. 12, 2026 at 12 PM CT

A Tribal Health System in Practice: Nursing Leadership and Rural Care in the Chickasaw Nation

Tribal health systems are an important part of the rural healthcare landscape, yet their governance, access models and care delivery structures may be unfamiliar to many healthcare leaders. During this Rural Health Month webinar, leaders from the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health will provide an inside look at one Tribally operated health system and the nursing teams who serve its patients and communities. Presenters will explore what Tribal sovereignty means in healthcare, how a Tribally operated system differs from the Indian Health Service and how eligibility, access, rural geography, workforce, care coordination and broader Tribal resources influence the way care is delivered. The discussion will also highlight what Tribal and rural health systems share, what makes this environment distinct and what those differences mean for nursing leadership.

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe how Tribal sovereignty, rural geography, access structures and community resources influence nursing leadership and care delivery within the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health.

About the Presenters

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Kevin Meeks, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health

Rear Admiral Kevin Meeks, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, is a distinguished healthcare leader with 32 years of service in the U.S. Public Health Service and Indian Health Service (IHS). He served as Area Director of the Oklahoma City Area IHS and later as IHS Deputy Director for Field Operations, overseeing 12 Area Offices and helping lead care delivery for 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. Since 2020, he has served as Deputy Secretary of Health for the Chickasaw Nation, helping lead the delivery of high-quality healthcare to First Americans across the Chickasaw service area. Rear Admiral Meeks holds a bachelor’s degree from East Central University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma. His honors include the Surgeon General’s Medallion, the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal and induction into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame.

Tomi Tice, MSN, RN, CENP, Under Secretary, Hospital and Nursing Services, Chief Nursing Officer, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health

Tomi Tice, MSN, RN, CENP, serves as Under Secretary of Hospital and Nursing Services and Chief Nursing Officer for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health in Oklahoma. She has more than 26 years of nursing experience, including 18 years with the organization and more than a decade in leadership. Her work focuses on strengthening nursing practice, supporting teams and improving care across hospital and ambulatory settings in a rural, tribally owned health system. Tomi also spent seven years teaching BSN students at East Central University and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership at Oklahoma City University.

Haley Coppedge, MBA-HC, BSN, RN, Executive Officer of Ambulatory Nursing, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health

Haley Coppedge, MBA-HC, BSN, RN, is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and serves as the Executive Officer of Ambulatory Nursing for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, providing strategic leadership and oversight of nursing practice across the health system’s ambulatory care settings. With more than 15 years of nursing experience, including over a decade of progressive leadership within the Chickasaw Nation, she has focused on advancing nursing practice, developing nursing leaders, strengthening workforce sustainability and implementing innovative, evidence-based care delivery models. She is passionate about empowering nursing teams, fostering collaborative leadership and developing sustainable strategies to improve healthcare access, quality and outcomes in tribal and rural communities.

Amanda Cole, MBA-HC, BSN, RN, Executive Officer, Hospital and Nursing Services, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health

Amanda Cole, MBA-HC, BSN, RN, serves as the Executive Officer of Hospital and Nursing Services for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, overseeing hospital operations and nursing services with a focus on quality, efficiency and organizational performance. With 15 years of nursing experience in rural healthcare, including 10 years in tribal healthcare, her background spans emergency nursing, care coordination and hospital leadership, where she has led initiatives including nursing self-scheduling, development of a nursing float pool and the implementation of Epic. Her leadership approach emphasizes collaboration, practical innovation and creating an environment where nurses feel supported, engaged and equipped to provide exceptional patient care.