During the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic’s Red Feather Gala in November, the Clinic’s CEO, Robyn Sunday‐Allen was surprised by a proclamation by Governor Brad Henry naming November 14, 2009 “Robyn Sunday‐Allen Day” in Oklahoma.

Some 350 gala guests witnessed the presentation of the proclamation by Jay Mitchell, Emergency Medical Services Administrator for the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In reading the proclamation, Mitchell noted that Sunday‐Allen was raised in a Cherokee‐speaking home, reviewed her strong family ties, highlighted her educational history with the University of Oklahoma and touched on her work as CEO of the Clinic.

During the ceremony, Sunday‐Allen learned that support staff at the Clinic had worked for weeks to surprise her during the gala. “Without my staff, I would not be here today,” Sunday‐Allen said after asking her staff to stand for recognition. “Thank you for honoring me and for everything you do on behalf of our Native people.”

Sunday‐Allen also thanked her family, the Clinic’s Board of Directors and those attending the function, ending her impromptu speech by noting that her Cherokee culture was the key to who she is today.

The Oklahoma City Indian Clinic serves more than 16,000 urban American Indians from all tribes. Its mission is to be to be the national model for American Indian healthcare by providing accessible, comprehensive health and social services in an urban medical center.