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Early Life and Inspiration
Dr. Linda Susan Aranaydo (Muscogee Creek, Bear Clan, born 1948) is a Native American physician, educator, and activist who has dedicated her life to improving her community.

After recognizing the impact that health care inaccessibility had on her community, she decided to steer her career toward involvement in public health and family medicine. "Since a young age I had seen the tragic effects of untreated chronic illness in family, friends and elders who were reluctant to seek or unable to obtain health care. I have lost dear family members in California and Oklahoma to the complications of diabetes. My goal was to become a primary care provider and to help provide easily accessible, culturally appropriate quality health care to American Indians and other underserved people."

- Dr. Linda Susan Aranaydo Dr. Aranaydo is curre

Education
Despite facing discouragement from academic counselors due to her age and familial obligations, Aranaydo pursued secondary education at the age of 37. She attended Dr. Linda Aranaydo decided to attend the University of California, Berkeley at the age of 37 to earn a B.A. in social sciences.

earning an M.D. at the University of California, San Francisco.

Career
Dr. Linda Aranaydo started her career as a preschool teacher at Hintil Native American Children's Center in Oakland, CA. She continued teaching for 11 years before deciding to go to medical school. After attending medical school, and earning her postgraduate medical degree, she started her new career in the medical field. After earning her M.D., she worked in a variety of careers, from being a provider at Native American clinics, providing technical assistance to Native American clinics, direct, individual teaching services to Indian clinics. Dr. Aranaydo was a primary care provider based in Northern California for five years, but has since began providing her expertise and service to Indian clinics in a broader area.

Dr. Aranaydo has served on several councils and boards. In 1977, she served on the Governor's Task Force on Early Childhood Education. From 1978 to 1980 she was a part of the California State American Indian Education Council. Currently, Dr. Aranaydo is the Director of Medical Services for the California Rural Indian Health Board.

Activism
She was a member of the original landing party that arrived on November 9, 1969, setting the stage for the Occupation of Alcatraz. When the students returned to the island on November 20, she taught in the school and worked with Luwana Quitiquit (Pomo) to run the kitchen for the occupants.

Awards and Honors
Dr. Aranaydo obtained several awards and honors throughout her academic and professional career. In 1970, while pursuing her Bachelor's degree at the University of California, Berkley, she won an award of distinction in general scholarship for her academic achievements.

Dr. Aranaydo's work to help her Native American community avoid preventable diseases earned her the David Vanderryn Award for Outstanding Community Service as a Family Physician in 1995.