"CN Principal Chief Chad Smith (left) and OU President David Boren shake hands over Cherokee Nation's collaboration with the OU College of Medicine, Tulsa." TULSA, OK – The Cherokee Nation today presented the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa, with $1.5 million to fund the fight against diabetes and cancer. Activities will focus on research, prevention, patient care, and faculty and staff development. “The generosity of the Cherokee Nation will be of enormous benefit to those in Tulsa and the northeastern Oklahoma area by funding research and patient care for those with diabetes or cancer,” said OU President David Boren. “Both the Cancer Institute and the Diabetes Center will be national leaders in the fight against these diseases.” This money will provide start-up funds for the Tulsa branches of the University of Oklahoma Cancer Institute and the Oklahoma Diabetes Center, both of which will be a part of the new Research and Medical Clinic. The Clinic is located on the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center campus and is scheduled to open in June. “The Cherokee Nation sees this partnership as a way to provide additional services to our tribal citizens for the prevention and treatment of cancer and diabetes,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. “These additional services will be provided by doctors who specialize in these life threatening diseases. It will allow us to expand those services into the Cherokee Nation health facilities as well as increase cancer and diabetes training opportunities for our health professionals.” The OU College of Medicine, Tulsa, and the Cherokee Nation will expand their association through this collaboration. The cancer and diabetes programs at OU-Tulsa will be a part of the network of services offered through the Cherokee Nation and will allow for additional care for patients. One in 10 Oklahomans have diabetes and that number is expected to skyrocket to one in three without appropriate interventions and education. Additionally, cancer rates in Oklahoma are more than 20 percent higher than the national average. “This will provide funds for us to begin development of the full spectrum and network of services in cancer and diabetes research and care. It will also allow us to stay in close partnership with the outstanding existing oncologists who are currently providing care throughout Oklahoma,” said OU-Tulsa President Gerry Clancy, M.D. “This partnership will provide increased educational opportunities for our students and residents, and will expose our students to the outstanding programs in primary care related to cancer and diabetes that the Cherokee Nation already has in place.”

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org