“Collaboration is at the center of any person's success. Medical School has been challenging for me as I am living alone and completely isolated for any of my family including my husband who lives in another state. It has been hard to find the resources and time to see my family while also trying to keep up with classes and my work in Redbud Resource Group and now the Culturally Sensitive Death Investigation working group. The opportunities presented in We Are Healers will help me carry the weight of all I must do to complete medical school and uphold my community obligations while still having time to be with my family and take care of myself.”

Madison Esposito (Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California) - Fourth-Year Medical Student | First Native Forensic Pathologist in the U.S. | 2024 Healers Community Circle Mentor

Project Title: Advancing Culturally Sensitive Forensic Practices to Address the MMIP Crisis in Indigenous Communities


Throughout 2024, Madison Esposito contributed to the evolution of the Culturally Sensitive Death Investigation working group into the International Coalition for Culturally Sensitive Death Investigation (ICCSDI). This initiative is dedicated to improving forensic investigations in Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) cases across North America.

As a member of ICCSDI, Madison presented at the MIWSAC National Conference in San Francisco, where her team conducted listening sessions with MMIP experts and Native advocates to collaboratively draft culturally sensitive forensic investigation guidelines. These were later shared at the Wisconsin Coroner and Medical Examiner Conference and at the USCAP National Conference in March 2025. A manuscript about the process and broader MMIP crisis has been published in the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology.

Madison also participated in SAFESTAR training for citizens of the Siletz Nation, offering trauma-informed resources for survivors of sexual violence. With support from We Are Healers, she co-developed Seeing Our Native Patients, a training series designed for medical providers working with MMIP survivors. These workshops were presented at AAIP 2024 and across multiple medical schools, with a manuscript currently in development to evaluate their impact.

In partnership with the California Tribal Epidemiology Center, Madison supported research publications addressing the scope of the MMIP crisis and intervention strategies. This work is also supported through her leadership role as Co-founder and Director of Research and Development at Redbud Resource Group, further advancing medical and forensic systems to better serve Indigenous communities.

Madison Esposito, a citizen of the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California, is a dedicated third-year medical student at the University of Minnesota. Having completed an MPH at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Madison co-founded the non-profit Redbud Resource Group, aiming to enhance public health outcomes for Native American communities through education, research, and community partnerships. Currently engaged in a pathology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Madison explores various pathology subspecialties, envisioning a future as a pathologist to advance Native wellness. With a passion for justice, Madison aspires to become a forensic pathologist, aiding tribal communities in seeking justice for murdered and missing Indigenous peoples. In her leisure time, Madison enjoys gaming, computer building, beading, hosting D&D games, and participating in Magic: The Gathering tournaments.