The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC) was recently recognized through the Wisconsin Public Health Association’s 2026 “Excellence in Advancing Policy” Award for work supporting Tribal public health systems, partnerships, and policy advancement across the Great Lakes region.

While the recognition was presented to Dr. Kade Lenz, the work reflects the collective efforts of Tribes, Tribal public health staff, epidemiologists, environmental health professionals, leadership, and community partners working together to strengthen public health infrastructure serving Tribes.

GLITEC serves Tribes and urban Indian communities across Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Chicago through a wide range of public health initiatives focused on improving health outcomes and strengthening Tribal public health capacity. Over the past several years, GLITEC staff and partners have worked to advance initiatives related to Tribal data sovereignty, emergency preparedness, environmental health, chronic disease prevention, dementia and brain health, maternal and child health, infectious disease response, and community-driven public health planning.

Much of this work has focused on strengthening collaboration between Tribes, state health departments, federal agencies, universities, and national public health organizations while ensuring Tribal voices remain central in decisions impacting Tribal Nations. This includes efforts supporting Tribal epidemiology infrastructure, regional emergency preparedness coordination, culturally grounded community health assessments, environmental health initiatives, and improved access to Tribal public health data.

GLITEC has also supported work related to Tribal Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) development, data use agreements, public health workforce development, and technical assistance for Tribal health departments and programs. Across projects, the emphasis has remained on building sustainable systems that respect Tribal sovereignty while supporting community-driven public health priorities identified by Tribes themselves.

In addition to regional work, Dr. Lenz serves on the National Tribal Toxics Council under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). Through this role, he contributes to national conversations surrounding environmental health, toxic exposures, chemical safety, and environmental justice impacting Tribal Nations.

In February 2026, Dr. Lenz met with OCSPP leadership and staff at EPA Headquarters in Washington DC, to discuss Tribal environmental health priorities and emerging public health concerns impacting Tribes. Discussions included environmental exposures, chemical safety considerations, public health infrastructure needs, and the importance of Tribal representation in national environmental health decision-making processes.

For GLITEC, the Wisconsin Public Health Association recognition represents more than a single award. It reflects the growing visibility of Tribal public health leadership and the importance of investing in Native-led public health systems that are culturally grounded, community-driven, and responsive to the unique needs of Tribes.

The recognition also reflects the strength of the broader team at GLITEC and GLITC. Recent recognitions across the organization include:

• Amber Hoon, LPN and GLITEC Program Director for Dementia and Brain Health, receiving the 2025 Bemidji Area Health Warrior Award from the National Indian Health Board.
• Kade Lenz, PhD, MPH and GLITEC Program Director for the IHS Cooperative Agreement, being honored with the 2025 40 Under 40 in Public Health Award from the de Beaumont Foundation as the first awardee from a Tribal organization.
• Will Funmaker, MBA, MLT(ASCP)CM, GLITEC Director and Executive Director of the Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board, being recognized among Wisconsin’s Most Influential Native American Leaders for 2026 by Madison365.

Together, these recognitions reflect the depth of expertise, collaboration, and commitment across the organization and the Tribes served by GLITEC and GLITC. They also highlight the growing national recognition of Tribal public health leadership and the importance of supporting Native-led solutions to improve health outcomes for future generations.

 

Kade Lenz, PhD, MPH
Program Director – IHS Epidemiology Cooperative Agreement; Interim Program Director – TECPHI
Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC), Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.

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