Socia Love-Thurman, MD, Seattle Indian Health Board Site Director

Socia was born and raised in the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She also belongs to the Yuchi and Delaware Nations. She studied Microbiology and Native American Studies at the University of Oklahoma. She was selected as Miss Indian University of Oklahoma and then Miss Indian Oklahoma and focused her platform on promoting higher education among Native American youth. She then attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth and there founded the first chapter of the Association of Native American Medical Students. After joining the National Board, she developed a mentorship program for NA/AN medical students and physicians across the country.

To recharge she enjoys exploring the PNW with her husband and son, dancing traditional southern buckskin at pow wows, making regalia, swimming, and engaging in social justice work, most recently with protecting the land and water rights in Standing Rock, ND.