SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

Bruce Kafer is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and a registered nurse as well as a doctoral student pursuing a PhD in Nursing at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, OH. Mr. Kafer is a graduate of Cleveland State University where he attained a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Population Health Nursing. He also possesses a Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Community Mental Health Technology. Mr. Kafer has been on staff at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, for the past fifteen years. Prior to joining the government he worked in the private sector and for non-profit agencies in substance abuse and mental health programs. Nationally, Mr. Kafer has served on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Native American Advisory Council and has also worked with the Native American workgroup of the Under Secretary for Health Diversity Advisory Board. Mr. Kafer is a lead faculty for the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Native American “Gathering of Healers” programs. This innovative experiential training program is based on the Native American paradigm of spirit, mind, and body, and is a key learning and cultural immersion opportunity for VA staff. Mr. Kafer remains a stalwart advocate for indigenous people and is a principal advocate for military veterans and their families. He has research and practice interests in Native American Health as well as Organizational Health and Development.