RAPID CITY – In recent years, tribal-citizens in Rapid City encountered considerable difficulty accessing quality care for their children and grandchildren. To better meet the community’s needs, the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board has worked to improve and expand the Oyate Health Center’s pediatric department.  

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), there exists a shortage of pediatric medical subspecialists in many fields, especially in facilities that operate in rural areas. Recruiting pediatricians can be difficult as competition between providers for their services is intense. The Oyate Health Center is fortunate to have brought on two highly talented pediatricians in Dr. Joan Gibson and Dr. Juan R. Jimenez Barbosa.

Dr. Gibson is a Board-Certified pediatrician with many years of experience. She has cared for pediatric patients on the Pine Ridge, Standing Rock, and Rosebud reservations in South Dakota. Before joining the medical staff at Oyate Health Center, Dr. Gibson worked at the Paiute tribe’s Toiyabe Health Center in Bishop, CA. Dr. Gibson went to medical school in New York City (SUNY Downstate) and did her pediatric residency in Houston, Texas (University of Texas). She is a fellowship-trained in Integrative Medicine (University of Arizona) and has training in pediatric mental health (the REACH Institute). 

Juan R. Jimenez Barbosa completed his Pediatric Residency Program in 2001 at San Juan City Hospital in Puerto Rico and worked as a pediatrician in an ER and private practice in Puerto Rico. He has a particular interest in well-child care, adolescent medicine, and treating asthma. 

With these two talents on board, the Oyate Health Center encourages parents to bring their children in for their yearly sports physicals and immunization updates. 

Oyate Health has expanded its hours of availability and has made telehealth available for those who would like to meet with their provider through an app. It encourages telehealth for patients who may be immunocompromised. Staff is also looking at ways to add more appointment times in the evening and on weekends.

Sports Physicals are offered every Monday through Friday until the end of August. During these scheduled time frames, sports physicals will be designated for Middle and High School aged kids. 

For more information, please contact the Oyate Health Center at (605) 355-2500 or visit oyatehealth.com. You can also follow us on Instagram @gptchb and Facebook.