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Chris Walker

TAHLEQUAH, OK - On August 15, Chris Walker will become Cherokee Nation Health Services new executive director. Walker currently serves as the director of the Cherokee Nation Nowata Clinic.

Walker has 20 years of experience in the health care field and holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Oklahoma. He has been the administrator at the Cherokee Nation Nowata clinic since 1997. He was also responsible for the overall operations of health programs in a 5 county area, the largest service area within the system.

Before working for the Cherokee Nation, Walker served as the President and Senior Health Care Consultant for Cognicare Corporation in Tulsa. Walker has also worked to establish professional care in developing new health services and contracted facilities throughout the state.

Walker's main focus, as he enters this position, will be to focus on the implementation of the tribe’s long-range plan for the Cherokee Nation Health Services.

"I look at meeting the challenges of expanding the infrastructure to meet the needs of the patients", Walker said. "I want to continue to challenge Congress and the Legislature to have them focus on the severe under funding that we encounter every day."

Currently the Cherokee Nation, which is the second largest tribe in the United States, is funded only at a 31% level of need.

"I also hope to address new ways to challenge ourselves to work more diligently with the diabetes programs, because this is the number one health risk that the Cherokees face", Walker said.

"Chris is a very warm and caring person, a good listener and a creative thinker", said Mim Dixon, the outgoing executive director, "I think he will do well to improve health services for the Cherokee Nation."

Dixon’s original one-year contract with the Cherokee Nation will end in August. As part of that arrangement, Dixon helped train and hire Cherokee tribal members as possible replacements.

"Mimi Dixon has done an outstanding job in her time with the Cherokee Nation", said Principal Chief Chad Smith. "She has done everything that she promised to do and now is making sure that there will be a smooth transition as she prepares to leave. Our health care system is staffed with a wealth of excellent professionals, and Chris Walker will provide strong leadership and direction for that group."

Walker, his wife of 23 years, Dianna, and their three sons live in Owasso.