Azee’ííł’íní Reflections

Phillip Lee Smith is what Diné call azee’ííł’íní, or a medical doctor, who shares his experiences and the wisdom he has acquired as a family practice physician for the Navajo Nation in the years prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. He speaks of a medical care system that was in aspects well designed and had the experienced providers address infectious threats. It was nevertheless underfunded and outpaced by the pathogen’s intense ability to exploit “residual high vulnerabilities of the Diné families.” Dr. Smith also shares hopeful messages about the power of vaccines and of good people working together to meet a crisis, whether as medical providers or community volunteers. “Other infectious pathogens will come into our midst in the future,” he concludes. “To address these new challenges, we can learn from the past, plan for the future, and live in the present.”