Osage Nation Health System Announces April 2023 Provider Spotlights
April 2023 Provider Spotlights include Alyson Speers, LCSW and Dr. Will W. Smith.
OSAGE NATION SERVICE AREA (April 24, 2023) - The Osage Nation Health System (ONHS) continues a ‘Provider Spotlight Series’ that highlights and introduces providers to new and existing ONHS patients. The series aims to strengthen relationships between providers and patients, which can positively increase patient health and likelihood to continue healthcare.
The April 2023 providers are Alyson Speers, LCSW and Dr. Will W. Smith:
About Alyson Speers, LCSW: Alyson Speers, LCSW completed her undergraduate education
at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. Upon graduation, Alyson Speers completed her clinical training and received her Master’s in Social Work degree from the University of Oklahoma. Alyson Speer’s primary focus of studies and clinical training during her graduate program was within community mental health. Alyson Speers met all criteria by both The National Association of Social Workers and the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers and successfully passed both state clinical licensure tests, resulting in being formally credentialed as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Alyson Speers then completed all required postgraduate experience and clinical hours while working at Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa.
About Dr. Will W. Smith: Dr. William W. Smith was born into an Army family, his father a
career Army Officer. As such, Dr. Smith’s early education took place in various parts of the world as well as many places in the United States. At age 19, during the Vietnam War, Dr. Smith decided to drop out of college and join the U.S. Navy. He then spent the next four years traveling the world while serving in the Navy. Upon completion of his Navy obligation, Dr. Smith returned to the United States for approximately six months before moving to Australia where he re-started his formal education. Dr. Smith attended the University of Melbourne and obtained a degree in Psychology and Philosophy. As it turned out, no one was hiring philosophers! Dr. Smith then returned to the United States, relocating to his mother’s home state of Mississippi and attended Ole Miss. He obtained degrees in Chemistry and Biology and then attended medical school at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Smith graduated from medical school in 1985 and then completed an internship in Family Medicine. He then worked as an emergency room physician for the next six years, all the while completing his residency in Psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
“It is called ‘medical practice’ because a physician’s education must never end,” and so for the last 35 years, Dr. Smith has been learning about the practice of psychiatry. Dr. Smith has served in many roles while practicing psychiatry. This includes inpatient, outpatient, state hospitals, outpatient clinics, mental health centers, private practice, children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Smith is well versed in both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.
Dr. Smith has joined the Wah-Zha-Zhe Clinic Behavioral Health team to be of service to and learn from the Native American patients he has the honor of treating. Dr. Smith is grateful to continue his education in Pawhuska for the OSAGE NATION HEALTH SYSTEM.
The ONHS Provider Spotlight Series will continue on a monthly basis highlighting providers throughout ONHS. ONHS includes the Wahzhazhe Health Center (Primary Care, Dental, Optometry, Behavioral Health, Contract Health/Purchase Referred Care, Pharmacy Services), Crisis Counseling Services, Prevention Programs, Community Health, Public Health Nursing, Primary Residential Treatment Centers and Elder Nutrition Services (Title VI). The Wahzhazhe Health Center is located at 715 Grandview Ave. in Pawhuska, Okla. For questions, please call (918) 287-9300 or visit osagenation-nsn.gov.