Chuck Branch, center, in yellow vest, led friends and family in a ceremony thanking them for their support.

Branch, a Native American, was the recipient of the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation’s prestigious Minority Scholars Award. Former MMA Alliance president Candy Adams, representing the American Medical Association, presented Branch with the scholarship plaque.

Branch then hosted a traditional Native American feast and “give-away” to recognize those people who helped him during his first 2 years of school.

“In my culture, when we reach milestones or receive an honor, we have a give-away to honor those who have been influential in helping us reach that goal. In doing so, we focus attention on the community in order to recognize the importance of community in our personal lives,” Branch explained.

Branch is Western Band Cherokee and Catawba Shawnee. 

University of Minnesota Medical School newsletter -- see page 3 for the Chuck Branch story