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At Red Cloud Indian School, being of service to the community is at the heart of education. Generosity is a virtue in Lakota culture; it’s a natural fit. Recently, Red Cloud students were the beneficiaries of the Asniya (meaning, “to heal”) Program, a health and science education outreach that partnership Creighton University medical students from Omaha, Nebraska. The Asniya Program recognizes that students are members of the local community, and seeks to provide them with basic health knowledge. In doing so, the students become advocates for healthy life choices in their homes and communities. “This program has been a part of the school for the past three years and the program has really enhanced our student’s health curriculum,” says Bob Brave Heart, superintendent. “The medical students are really hands-on with our students, letting them study and work with actual organs like a brain, eyes and heart. The students learn about health and also learn about organ donor programs.” The Asniya Program is part of the Project Creighton Medical Students United in Relief Assistance (CURA), one of the many venues for students from the university to experience, learn and practice the human aspect of medical care. Though immersion itineraries vary, a common element involves students traveling to their respective locales to interact within the local culture. In addition to travel to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the program takes Creighton medical students to Peru, Ghana, Southeast Asia, Romania, and India. Recently, 10 medical students traveled to the Red Cloud campus to spend their spring break week participating in the Asniya Program.
Having previously spent time on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Long admits that it is impossible to come away in one week’s time having a mastery in the understanding of Lakota culture or nuances of life on the reservation. Still, “The uniqueness of that community, its struggles related to health care and the complexity of possible solutions to them, did become apparent, “ he says. “It was good for us to spend time listening, learning, watching, and reflecting throughout our week.” Red Cloud isn’t the only one benefiting from the partnership. “I can say confidently that each of the members saw the need for one’s personal sincere investment in providing medical care to patients in context to their community. Future service to our patients will thereby surely be enhanced.”
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Creighton Medical Students outreach to Red Cloud School science classes 
“Creighton’s philosophy is rooted in the Jesuit principles of magis, or ‘the more,’ and cura personalis, or ‘care for the whole person.’ I am confident that a medical education through Creighton, given these principles and my application to them at Red Cloud, will lead me to become the kind of physician I hope to be,” says Mike Long, a Creighton medical student who organized the trip to Red Cloud. “I hope I can be generous of my time, focus, and attention in the care—both physical and personal—of my patients.”