Health Professional Student Leadership Conference

Leadership Conference Banner - Saturday, Nov 4th

About the Conference

In planning for this year, our committee reflected on our mission and vision, and the DEI focus of the conference. CHIP envisions a future where transformative education is accessible to all health science students, which empowers students to become agents of change in the healthcare system. This conference embodies our vision; CHIP was built by engaged students who acknowledged health and social inequity issues and were eager to come together to address them. One powerful way students have worked toward these goals is through critical consideration of hierarchies and narratives that affect health, healthcare, and health education. For that reason, our theme this year is, Challenging the Narrative: Building Connections, Sharing Stories, and Working Toward Greater Health Equity. We hope this conference gives students an opportunity to connect through storytelling, learn from one another, and use their agency to help make impactful changes in healthcare.

The conference will host a keynote speaker, student-led breakout sessions, an interactive session on "imposter syndrome" in the health professional student population, and a social hour to foster connection among both current health professional students, and alumni.

Leadership Conference 2023 Keynote Speaker

Victoria Gokee, DDS

Dr. Gokee is from Miskwaabiikaang (Red Cliff) with familial ties to Mashkiiziibii (Bad River). She graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities School of Dentistry in May 2022. As well as graduating with high distinction, she also took elective courses in Orthodontics, Endodontics, TMD, CAD/CAM, Oral Pathology, Immunizations, and a Geriatric rotation working with patients with special needs and dementia/Alzheimer’s. She participated in Give Kids a Smile and went on an additional outreach in Grand Marais through the MN-CROHP (Minnesota Collaborative Rural Oral Health Project) during her time in dental school. Dr. Gokee is currently on track to get her FAGD (Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry) and is part of the Society of American Indian Dentists. She is passionate about public health, advancements in dentistry, and is seeking to improve her skills to be able to provide high quality comprehensive dental care. As part of her endeavor to improve her skills, she has committed to the Kois Training CE and has taken Endodontics Unsponsored and is certified in Invisalign.

At Bad River Dental, Gokee is the editor of the Mashkiizibii Dental Newsletter which strives to educate the community to improve oral health literacy and reduce oral health disparities. Her aspiration is to have a culturally responsive dental team that recognizes the unique historical and intergenerational traumas that impact dental care and the interdisciplinary nature of oral health and overall health to help our patients. She has also become a mentor to young tribal members in the dental department that have an interest in pursuing careers in healthcare.

In her spare time, Dr. Gokee enjoys reading, being active, participating in the community, and cultural activities such as moccasin making, beadwork, traditional lacrosse, attending ceremonies, harvesting traditional foods, and expanding her knowledge of her cultural identity.

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