Northern Cheyenne internal medicine specialist finds purpose and support at Sanford Health
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Ciciley Littlewolf, MD, doesn’t know where she first got the idea to be a doctor. Growing up on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana, she didn’t know a lot of medical professionals.
From an early age, though, she felt called to care for others in some sort of capacity, and a career in medicine naturally came from that calling. In fact, Dr. Littlewolf can recall an early memory where she put on her mom’s white blazer and boldly proclaimed, “I’m going to be a doctor.”
Her enthusiasm has only grown from there.
Dr. Littlewolf now works as an internal medicine specialist at Sanford Medical Center Fargo where she offers culturally sensitive care to every patient she sees. In this role, she finds fulfillment in helping others.
How Dr. Littlewolf cares for others through her practice
While it’s a bit of a mystery why the medical field appealed to Dr. Littlewolf at such an early age, one thing is certain – she has a deep sense of empathy.
“As a child, I developed empathy really early on, and I think that’s what made me stand apart from others,” said Dr. Littlewolf. “I saw my mother was struggling to raise six kids on her own, and I decided I was going to do what I could to help.”
That same empathetic spirit shapes the way Dr. Littlewolf offers care to hospitalized patients.
“It’s such a privilege to take care of really sick patients in the hospital,” said Dr. Littlewolf. “I don’t feel rushed when I’m here, so I’m able to spend more time with my patients during my rounds. It’s not uncommon for me to spend 20 or 30 minutes in a room with a family answering their questions.”
What it means to offer culturally sensitive care
One unique aspect of Dr. Littlewolf’s approach to her practice is how she helps every patient get care that is sensitive to their cultural background and needs.
This approach to care stems from her own experience. Being Northern Cheyenne herself, Dr. Littlewolf knows what it feels like to be underrepresented.
According to a 2018 report from the American Medical Association, just 0.4% of the physician workforce is Native American, and this can lead to greater health disparities in areas where a large Native American population lives and seeks care, like North Dakota and Minnesota.
“When you’re a patient, it’s awesome to have a doctor on your care team that looks like you and understands your background,” said Dr. Littlewolf. “One time, a patient with a Native American background told me they couldn’t believe they had a Native American doctor. They said that because I was there, they felt like they were going to be okay and make it through this illness.”
Dr. Littlewolf believes patients have better long-term health outcomes when they have a doctor who is sensitive to their culture and integrates those considerations into their care.
“I always ask patients if there are any cultural aspects of their background I should be aware of during their hospitalization,” said Dr. Littlewolf. “It really changes the way I approach patients. I think it makes me a better doctor and a better person.”
And when it comes to offering customized care, Dr. Littlewolf receives a lot of encouragement from Sanford Health.
“Sanford Health has created a collaborative environment for their providers, and they help you focus on your passions,” said Dr. Littlewolf. “The best decision I ever made was to stay with Sanford Health after completing my residency here. I love the people I work with, and I love what I do.”
Careers at Sanford Health provide excellent pay, comprehensive benefits, and above all, the opportunity to serve your community. If you’re looking for a rewarding career with plenty of room to grow, start exploring our open positions at sanfordcareers.com today.