About

When she was a junior in high school, she knew exactly what she wanted—to be a doctor

for her people. And she became the first Blackfeet woman to earn a medical degree. Ever.

(second overall)

She was also the first Blackfeet medical doctor to return home and practice on the

reservation. As soon as she finished medical school and residency, she applied at the Blackfeet

Community Hospital.

Since then:

• She was a crucial part of the design of—and often practiced at—the Heart Butte Clinic.

  That healthcare facility wouldn’t exist without her.

• In 1999, The Missoulian named her one of the top 100 Montanans of the 20th century.

  She has worked with universities across the region, trained thousands of medical

  students, and even delivered/been part of the delivery of thousands of babies—kids born

  here, to pretty much everyone’s family. In fact, her delivering a baby to someone in your

  family is something all of us here might have in common.

• Chief Earl Old Person knew that she literally saw the face of Creator in her people. And

  so, he honored her with the name Medicine Victory Woman and wanted the Blackfeet to

  know they should seek her out for healing. Later in life, an Elder in Canada named her

  Doctor Woman. However, he instructed her to use all three of her names at the same

  time: Piegan Woman (at birth), Medicine Victory Woman, and Doctor Woman.

• She was recognized by WWAMI, the medical education program that serves the ENTIRE

  Northwest, with the Dr. George Saari Award for her humanitarianism in medicine.

• U.S. News lists her as one of the best family medical providers in the region, specifically

  for her care of chronic pain patients.

• She is one of the most significant influences in the history of Native Americans in

  modern medicine.

With an uninterrupted—and nearly spotless—medical career spanning more than 30 years,

she is the most experienced healthcare provider in the entire Blackfeet Tribal Health Care

System. The last Chief of the Blackfeet believed in her so much that he entrusted the healthcare

of his people—your people, our families—to her hands. “You go to her for healing.” She’s saved

more Blackfeet, cared for more Blackfeet, and brought more Blackfeet into this world—literally

generations of families—than any person who has ever lived.

• She is: Piegan Woman

• She is a champion for her people: Medicine Victory Woman

• We go to her her for healing: Doctor Woman

Currently, Dr. DesRosier serves as the Medical Director for Tribal Health and works every day to

establish a level of care the Blackfeet deserve and continues to pioneer the way for young Blackfeet to

become Medical Professionals. She primarily works in the Care Center and is diligently attempting to

establish a Hospice Care Program under the umbrella of Tribal Health.

Expertise

Education

University of Washington: Bachelor of Science in Microbiology

Undergraduate

University of North Dakota: School of Family Medicine

Medical School 1989

University of North Dakota: School of Medicine

Residency

Board Certification

Board of Medical Examiners Licensure, Medical Doctor

State of Montana

Crow Agency

Family Medicine Staff Physician

Service Unit

Staff Physician/ Women's Health Director/ Chief Medical Officer

Member of:

Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Morbidity, Mortality and Code review team, Blood utilization review team, Chronic Pain Management and Case Review Team