About

Dr. Felina Cordova-Marks is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona Zuckerman College of Public Health in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences. She serves as the Director of Tribal Engagement for the college, Co-Lead of Indigenous Initiatives within the CoVHORT, and is the Director of the IndigiWellbeing program. Her research interests include Indigenous health, cancer caregiving, mental health, health disparities, and health promotion, with a focus on American Indian communities. Dr. Cordova-Marks is an accomplished author on topics such as cancer, cardiology, informal health caregiving, mental health, and health disparities, and she has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions, including being named a Nature x Breast Cancer Research Foundation Rising Scholar, a “Health Hero” by the National Indian Health Board, and Tucson’s Woman of the Year-40 Under 40 by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is actively involved in community engagement and leadership roles, including her position on the Hopi Education Endowment Fund Board and her editorial role for Cancer Research Communications.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Sociology
• Medicine
• Law
• Immunology
• Internal medicine
• Family medicine
• Gerontology
• Economic growth
• Demography
• Nursing
• Environmental health
• Public relations
• Psychiatry
• Business
• Public administration

Selected publications

• The Need for Tribal Enrollment Verification Programs at Urban Indian Organizations

  Digital Commons - USU (Utah State University) · 2026-04-13

  article

  Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) serve as community centers, providing culturally responsive services to urban American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. The majority offer patient navigation, which helps clients with scheduling and understanding treatment plans. They also provide insurance navigation, assisting clients with accessing eligible health insurance plans. Given their unique standing in a competitive marketplace, and since most UIOs require their clients to be enrolled tribal members, providing enrollment verification services is needed. Currently, prospective clients are responsible for verification, with no support provided. This can be a significant issue as UIOs serve a large number of AI/ANs, with tribal affiliations across the country, and clients may not have the resources to connect with their Tribe to obtain verification of enrollment. We propose that IHS and UIOs implement tribal enrollment verification services at all UIOs nationwide, similar to those implemented by the Native Forward Scholars Fund, which verifies eligibility for scholarships through direct contact with Tribal Nations/Tribes. This would address a key gap in services provided and a unique challenge that only UIOs face in their markets. Tribal enrollment navigation programs are a natural progression of current support services for AI/AN populations who utilize UIOs for care.

  Publisher

• Colorectal Cancer in the American Indian and Alaska Native Community: A Holistic Review

  Journal of Cancer Education · 2026-02-09

  articleOpen access

  Despite a decline in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality for the general United States population, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have seen an increase in both measures. AI/AN populations have also experienced the largest increase in early-onset colorectal cancer, have the second highest CRC incidence rates, and the AN community has the highest rates of CRC worldwide. AI/AN populations face numerous barriers, including limited access to care and a shift in dietary preferences away from traditional foods, which may contribute to these findings. This review of the literature explored what types of CRC research have been conducted and found that 7.1% is on diet, 8.2% on age, 3.5% on geography, and 64.7% on screening. This review expands the focus beyond screening and highlights research focused on potential underlying causes of CRC in AI/AN communities. A more comprehensive and population-specific fund of knowledge on the totality of the subject is critical to directing more effective prevention, earlier detection, and management. Evaluating different components of CRC honors the holistic approach to health practiced by many AI/AN communities.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• “Don’t leave it all to science”: How Mexicans living along the US-Mexico border view health and care seeking

  Wellbeing Space and Society · 2025-08-05 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  • Binational mobility impacts health concepts and practices among border dwelling Mexicans • Mexicans’ embedded health concepts elevate the importance of localized ecologic and social context • Border dwelling Mexicans take an active role in managing their own health; doctors are an important resource in their toolkit • Binational mobility increases Mexicans’ options for accessing medical care and enacting self-care regimens The geographic and cultural distribution of the health beliefs that inform how people interpret disease etiologies, engage in the clinical arena, utilize traditional remedies, and respond to health promotion programming is an important and understudied topic. The impacts of place-based factors on health concepts may be especially critical among geographically displaced populations, who tend to face a similar and concerning host of barriers to medical care access and societal stressors. In this community-based participatory research study, we use qualitative interviews (n=30) among a sample of binationally mobile Mexicans living near the US-Mexico border in southern Arizona to explore how border residence shapes Mexicans’ health and healing world views and care-seeking practices. Findings centered around 1) participants’ binational mobility which reinforced their connections with Mexican healing practices and medical services and provided an escape valve in the face of US-based barriers to care; 2) their integrated mind-body-soul health concepts that grounded them in their ecological and social surroundings; 3) their commitment to taking a primary role in their own healing including localized health challenges and their views on the role of doctors, and 4) barriers to health management tied to labor conditions, border crossing stressors, and perceived ill effects of biomedical care. In conclusion, proximity to the border and binational mobility are shown here to reinforce Mexicans’ cultural health concepts and facilitate their ability to maintain a more active role in their own care-seeking practices and to circumvent some critical US-based barriers to medical services.

  PublisherDOI

• Analysis of Urban Indian Organizations’ Promotion of Cancer Services

  Cancer Research Communications · 2025-01-08 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  ABSTRACT: The burden of cancer remains elevated for American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the United States, particularly in urban communities. Urban Indian Organizations (UIO) are a part of the Indian healthcare system for urban AI/AN populations to receive culturally competent care; therefore, it is important that UIOs convey the importance of cancer preventive and treatment options through their websites. The purpose of this study was to utilize the Indian Health Service (IHS) Office of Urban Indian Health Programs’ official website to identify, analyze, and describe the IHS-funded UIOs offering cancer-related services. We utilized qualitative content analysis on UIOs with primary care service capabilities. After determination of UIOs, each eligible website was reviewed to determine whether promotion of specific cancer-related services was being done based on the following categories: primary prevention, cancer screening, cancer support, and information/technology services that focus on the social determinants of health. There is limited, vague, or outdated information on UIO websites regarding the type of cancer-related services and programs provided. We found that whereas 21 of 34 UIOs list any mention of cancer screenings, few mentioned specific testing capabilities for various cancers. In addition, the listing of support and preventative services was also limited, with less than half of UIOs reporting on patient navigation services, among others. There is untapped potential in the utilization of websites for extending the impact of UIOs and their work with urban AI/AN populations in prevention, screening, and support of patients with cancer in a culturally appropriate manner that can improve outcomes. SIGNIFICANCE: To the best of the knowledge of the authors, this is the first study to explore and measure cancer support services through public-facing channels. This study provides important data on how primary care facilities are engaging in public health promotion services in an online setting.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Supplementary Data from Analysis of Urban Indian Organizations’ Promotion of Cancer Services

  2025-05-13

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  <p>List of UIOs analyzed for this review</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evaluating Indigenous Identity and Stress as Potential Barriers to Accessing On-Campus Healthcare for Indigenous Students at a Large Southwestern University

  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2025-09-10

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  INTRODUCTION: This study examined the relationship between Indigenous identity, perceived stress, and healthcare utilization for Indigenous students on-campus. METHODS: Potential participants included undergraduate and graduate Indigenous students from Tribal Nations within the United States. Participants were recruited through community partnerships and in person communication. This survey included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Multiethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), and university Campus Health Service Health and Wellness Survey. RESULTS: 153 Indigenous students from United States-based Tribal Nations participated in this survey. While there appears to be a relationship between Indigenous identity, perceived stress, and Campus Health utilization, the results were not significant for the second tertile (OR: 1.1 (0.4, 2.7)) or third tertile (1.4 (0.5, 3.3)). Students who reported "Yes" or "Unsure" to questions on if their insurance needed them to go outside of the university were far less likely to use Campus Health (Yes OR: 0.2 (0.08-0.5)); (Unsure OR: 0.09 (0.03-0.3)) and CAPS (Yes OR: 0.2 (0.09-0.6)); (Unsure OR: 0.2 (0.04-0.4)). DISCUSSION: This study saw a complex relationship between Indigenous identity, perceived stress, and campus health utilization; however, the findings are not statistically significant. There are distinctions in on campus health care usage when adjusting for undergraduate or graduate student status and health insurance literacy. CONCLUSION: The research findings offer many promising avenues for future work around Indigenous identity, affordability of healthcare, and importance of health literacy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Supplementary Data from Analysis of Urban Indian Organizations’ Promotion of Cancer Services

  2025-02-26

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  <p>List of UIOs analyzed for this review</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Reaffirming Indigenous data sovereignty in New Mexico as a result of COVID-19

  Frontiers in Public Health · 2025-06-03 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Despite New Mexico's history of working with and enhancing collaboration with the 23 Tribes in the state, data sharing and collaboration with Tribes was poor during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Mexico's policies of state collaboration with Tribes conflicts with the principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and fails to recognize Tribal public health authorities. New Mexico state agencies limited what data Tribes and Tribal Organizations received, resulting in the suppression of Tribes' inherent rights. This policy brief concludes with recommendations for the state of New Mexico to respect Tribal sovereignty, uphold the tenants of Indigenous Data Sovereignty, restore trust with Tribes, and support increased capacity and capability of Tribes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Table 1 from Analysis of Urban Indian Organizations’ Promotion of Cancer Services

  2025-02-26

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  <p>Findings of the 34 UIOs reviewed for wellness programs, cancer screening services, cancer support services, and information/technology support</p>

  PublisherDOI

• Data from Analysis of Urban Indian Organizations’ Promotion of Cancer Services

  2025-02-26

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  <div>Abstract<p>The burden of cancer remains elevated for American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the United States, particularly in urban communities. Urban Indian Organizations (UIO) are a part of the Indian healthcare system for urban AI/AN populations to receive culturally competent care; therefore, it is important that UIOs convey the importance of cancer preventive and treatment options through their websites. The purpose of this study was to utilize the Indian Health Service (IHS) Office of Urban Indian Health Programs’ official website to identify, analyze, and describe the IHS-funded UIOs offering cancer-related services. We utilized qualitative content analysis on UIOs with primary care service capabilities. After determination of UIOs, each eligible website was reviewed to determine whether promotion of specific cancer-related services was being done based on the following categories: primary prevention, cancer screening, cancer support, and information/technology services that focus on the social determinants of health. There is limited, vague, or outdated information on UIO websites regarding the type of cancer-related services and programs provided. We found that whereas 21 of 34 UIOs list any mention of cancer screenings, few mentioned specific testing capabilities for various cancers. In addition, the listing of support and preventative services was also limited, with less than half of UIOs reporting on patient navigation services, among others. There is untapped potential in the utilization of websites for extending the impact of UIOs and their work with urban AI/AN populations in prevention, screening, and support of patients with cancer in a culturally appropriate manner that can improve outcomes.</p>Significance:<p>To the best of the knowledge of the authors, this is the first study to explore and measure cancer support services through public-facing channels. This study provides important data on how primary care facilities are engaging in public health promotion services in an online setting.</p></div>

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Stephanie Russo Carroll

  14 shared

• Elizabeth T. Jacobs

  University of Arizona

  13 shared

• Kristen Pogreba-Brown

  10 shared

• Pamela Garcia‐Filion

  University of Arizona

  10 shared

• Leslie V. Farland

  Harvard University

  10 shared

• Jennifer Erdrich

  University of Arizona

  9 shared

• Kacey C. Ernst

  University of Arizona

  9 shared

• Collin J. Catalfamo

  8 shared

Awards & honors

• Nature x Breast Cancer Research Foundation Rising Scholar (2…
• Health Hero by the National Indian Health Board
• Regional/Local impact award for wellness program IndigiWellb…
• Diversity and Inclusion Leader for Arizona
• American Psychosocial Oncology Society Health Equity Scholar