Meet The Tribe: Vicky Jock, Health Administration Office Manager

(The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is proud to highlight Vicky Jock as this month's long-term employee for our series, "Meet the Tribe." It is our pleasure to share these tribal employee profiles and all the exceptional work they are doing on behalf of the Akwesasne community.)

If you walked into the Administration Office for the Saint Regis Mohawk Health Services at any time during the past three decades, you were most likely welcomed by one of the friendliest employees at the Tribe-Vicky Jock, who has greeted people to the Administration Office since 1987.

Vicky first began employment on Enniskó:wa/March 1, 1985 with Health Services as a replacement secretary for their Teen/Women Health Program. The most interesting part about joining Health Services at that time was Michael Cook, who left after just a few years but has since returned as its Director, initially hired her. For that, she feels that her "position has come full-circle as I begin to think about retirement."

When she first started in 1985, Health Services was situated in the Community Building, while the medical clinic operated from a white building that used to be located in the middle of the Tribe's existing parking lot. It was time when Health Service's 60 employees were busy seeking grants and securing funding to build a new facility to better meet our community's health needs.

Vicky says that one of her greatest accomplishments is her transition from being a replacement secretary to becoming a general secretary for the overall Health Services in 1987, which resulted in being promoted to the position of Executive Secretary for the Health Administration Office after just two years. Her position has since become Office Manager for Health Administration.

She also says one of her most memorable moments was helping to see years of fundraising efforts and proposal writing finally come to fruition as doors to a brand new health facility opened on Seskehkó:wa/September 19, 1991. For her involvement and other efforts Vicky joined Dr. Ben Kelly, Lori Thompson, Lynelle Terrance and Hazel Bero in being recognized in 1994 as an Indian Health Service's Nashville Area Office Employee of the Year.

As a fluent Kanien'keha (Mohawk language) speaker, she enjoys the chance to interact and have conversations with community members. "My favorite part of the job is the people I work with and the community we assist," said Vicky. She added, "I have always felt that we need to be nice to the community members we work with, as it is because of them that we are here in these programs. I also like speaking to our elderly community members, as they enjoy conversations in the Mohawk language."

She regularly uses her experience overseeing the day-to-day administrative responsibilities of Health Services to benefit other community efforts. She served on the Diabetes Center for Excellence's Golf Tournament Committee that raised money for a new building and is often seen volunteering for other community benefits, along with her sisters.

Vicky has always taken immense pride to ensure that all clients and staff of Saint Regis Mohawk Health Services have a positive and healthy experience.

Niawen:kówa for all your years of hard work.