2024 Planet Positive Awards > Innovation > Best Social Impact > Winner

The River People Health Center (RPHC) is a beacon of hope for the Salt River–Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), whose members have experienced severe health disparities and have an average life expectancy of just 52 years. The RPHC is a direct response to the community’s “five in five” goal: to increase members’ average life span by five years within five years of opening. 

Funded by the Indian Health Service, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, the RPHC transformed a poorly maintained golf course into a vibrant health and wellness hub. Its design is a tribute to the community’s resilience and tradition, inspired by the nearby sacred mountains and the lore of a healer who journeyed from peak to peak to learn their craft. Since opening, the RPHC has unified, expanded, and introduced new services, eliminating the need for community members to travel more than 45 miles from their homes to receive comprehensive care. 

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