Dr. Benally Thompson is an inpatient palliative medicine specialist in the Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care in the Department of Medicine. He is the Director of Indigenous Health and Cultural Guidance for the Native American Center of Health in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. In this role, he recruits and mentors Native American, Alaska Native, and non-Native MD and other health professions students interested in Native American health. He is the former National Clinical Lead for Palliative Care for the Indian Health Service. Dr. Benally Thompson is a member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Association of American Indian Physicians, and is a past Board Member and Chair for the American Indian Cancer Foundation. As a member of the Council of Elders for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), he serves and guides the membership of over 7,000 Indigenous STEM students and professionals. In 2015, AISES awarded Dr. Benally Thompson its highest honor, the Ely S. Parker Award, for his significant contributions to and impact on the Indigenous STEM and education community. In 2024, he was named Physician of the Year by the Association of American Indian Physicians for his exceptional clinical skills, compassionate patient care, and commitment to advancing healthcare for American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
Dr. Benally Thompson's clinical interests include symptom management, communication, and palliative care for patients facing serious illness.
Dr. Benally Thompson’s research interests are in building, administering, and reporting on productive and reproducible programs that increase the number of Native Americans and Alaska Natives in the health professions and help close the inequitable gaps in healthcare in those communities.