Main description:

George Blue Spruce Jr. is recognized as the first American Indian dentist in the United States. His life story reaches back to the ancient Pueblo culture cherished by his grandparents and parents and extends to state-of-the-art dentistry and the current needs of the American Indian people. Blue Spruce's journey begins on the Santa Fe Indian School campus with his parents' determination that their children would excel academically and obtain college degrees. After graduating from dental school, Dr. Blue Spruce planned to return to the pueblos to treat his people. As it turned out, his destiny reached far beyond: from the wilds of Montana to New York City to San Francisco to South America and back to the United States. In Washington DC, he presented the needs of American Indians to Congress and lunched with the president. Throughout his journey Dr. Blue Spruce has traveled between two cultures, succeeding in mainstream society while keeping Pueblo tradition in his heart. Facing prejudice and conquering adversity, he reached the zenith of his career as director of the Phoenix Regional Indian Health Service and achieving the rank of assistant surgeon general of the United States.

Contents:

AcknowledgementsIntroductionChapter 1. Those Who Came Before MeChapter 2. Those Who Paved My WayChapter 3. Campus Brats, Cousins, and the Lessons of LifeChapter 4. Formal Education, Hard Knocks, and RewardsChapter 5. Creighton YearsChapter 6. Finally! Doctor Blue SpruceChapter 7. Lieutenant Blue Spruce, USN (DC)Chapter 8. Indian Health Service DentistChapter 9. From the Wilds of Montana to New York CityChapter 10. Merchant MarinesChapter 11. Back to SchoolChapter 12. Off to South AmericaChapter 13. Back to the StatesChapter 14. Special Assistant: Bureau of Health Manpower EducationChapter 15. Career Change - The "Money Man"Chapter 16. "King of the Hill"Chapter 17. Finally - Director of the Program Closest to My HeartChapter 18. Assistant Surgeon GeneralChapter 19. Come, Follow Me...Chapter 20. To Those Who Hold Our Future