Lori Alvord

Lori Arviso Alvord (born 1958) is a Native American surgeon and author. She is perhaps best known for being the first Diné woman to ever become board certified in surgery. Her autobiography, The Scalpel and the Silver Bear, has brought increased attention to her career as a surgeon and has sold over 50,000 copies. Alvord was also nominated to serve as the U.S. Surgeon General in 2013. Alvord uses new techniques that bring together Navajo healing techniques and modern Western Medicine. English was the first language spoken in her home. She is a member of the Tsinnajinnie' (Black Streaked Wood) clan (Ponderosa Pine), and of the Ashihii' Diné (Salt People) clan.

Career Alvord graduated from Crownpoint High School in Crownpoint, New Mexico. Alvord's academic career began when she was accepted to Dartmouth College. She initially majored in Natural Sciences before transitioning into a major focusing on social sciences. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 1979 after double majoring in psychology and sociology, and minoring in Native American studies.

Following graduation from Dartmouth, Alvord undertook a career as a research assistant at the Veteran's Administration clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, New Mexico. The doctor who coordinated research in the lab suggested to Alvord that she should go to medical school, which caused her to blush. which led to her becoming the first board-certified female Diné surgeon.

After studying medicine at Stanford University, Alvord returned to her Navajo reservation in New Mexico only to learn that, despite the importance of her technical proficiency in surgery, simply "fixing" the physical problem was not sufficient to fully cure a patient. Addressing the psychological and spiritual aspects of healing was important as well. This led to a more holistic approach to medicine that took into account the patient's environment and relationships. It also incorporated artwork and nature into the hospital's design. In her mind, "Beauty is so important — artwork on the walls, gardens, outdoor porches with a view. A hospital should also have the right smells, the right foods, the right sounds, the things in life that soothe us. We should also avoid the things that are wrong, that cause stress — no harsh sounds, no bright lights, no invasive overhead paging."

From 1991 to 1997, Alvord practiced as a surgeon with the Indian Health Service, at one of its facilities in Gallup. From 2010 to 2012, Alvord served as the Associate Dean of the Central Michigan University College of Medicine, which opened during the Fall 2013 semester. She played an instrumental role in developing the new medical school. In 2006, Alvord received an honorary degree from Drexel University.

In 2018, The Stanford Medicine Alumni Association (SMAA) announced that Lori Arviso Alvord, MD received the prestigious J. E. Wallace Sterling Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine.