Macaiah Shendo is at the forefront of a unique intersection between population health and brain science, pioneering a discipline he calls Indigenous neuropsychological epidemiology. As a member of the Pueblo of Jemez and a graduate of the University of New Mexico College of Population Health, Shendo has dedicated his academic and professional life to creating a framework that addresses the specific cognitive and public health needs of tribal communities. This conversation explores his transition from the technical world of aerospace engineering to the human-centric field of epidemiology, his methodology for monitoring community-wide brain health using neurocognitive tools, and his long-term commitment to health equity within New Mexico.
The discussion highlights the vital link between physical bodily functions and cognitive performance, particularly how conditions like vascular dementia or autoimmune disorders can be tracked through surveillance. Shendo explains the importance of social determinants—such as access to fresh produce, education, and stable income—in maintaining the cognitive longevity of Indigenous populations. He also details his ambitious plan to serve as a tribal epidemiologist while pursuing advanced doctoral degrees to provide clinical psychological expertise directly to his community.
You transitioned from a background in aerospace engineering to the study of community brain health during a global pandemic. How did that shift redefine your approach to public service, and what specific challenges did you face when applying technical problem-solving to human psychology and epidemiology?
Making the leap from the rigid, mathematical world of mechanical and aerospace engineering to the fluid, urgent landscape of public health was a decision born out of a deep sense of responsibility to the Pueblo of Jemez. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw my community struggling and realized that my technical skills needed to be redirected toward a field that could offer immediate help and long-term protection for our people. The shift redefined my approach to service by moving the focus from machines to the human experience, forcing me to learn how to solve problems where the variables are lived experiences and cultural nuances rather than just physical forces. The greatest challenge was moving into the College of Population Health and mastering the complexities of epidemiology in a matter of days, finding ways to apply a structured engineering mindset to the unpredictable nature of human psychology and disease patterns.
The emerging field of Indigenous neuropsychological epidemiology combines disease surveillance with neurocognitive data. How does this framework operate in practice, and what unique insights does it offer when tracking conditions like vascular dementia or autoimmune disorders across a population?
This framework operates by treating the brain as a central indicator of the overall health of an entire community, utilizing neuropsychological testing as a surveillance tool to monitor trends over time. In practice, we look at how the brain is deeply connected to bodily functions, meaning that disruptions in the body—such as liver dysfunction or autoimmune issues—often manifest as measurable changes in cognitive performance. By tracking these patterns across a population, we can gain unique insights into the prevalence of conditions like vascular dementia, ADHD, and autism, seeing how they cluster or emerge within specific environmental contexts. This approach allows us to move beyond individual clinical visits and instead create a bird’s-eye view of a community’s health, identifying risks early because we understand that our brains rely so heavily on our physical well-being.
Neurocognitive testing often utilizes simple tools, such as drawing analog clocks or performing timed word recalls, to assess visual-spatial and memory functions. Why are these specific metrics so effective for monitoring a community’s general health, and how do you plan to implement these screenings in rural areas?
Tools like drawing an analog clock from memory or performing timed word recalls are incredibly effective because they provide a snapshot of a person’s cognitive functioning at a specific point in time, specifically targeting visual-spatial reconstruction and memory. These metrics are sensitive enough to detect subtle changes in immediate and delayed recall, which can be early warning signs of broader health issues that might otherwise go unnoticed in a standard check-up. My plan for implementing these in rural areas involves bringing these accessible, low-tech screenings directly to the people, ensuring that distance from a major hospital like UNM Hospital isn’t a barrier to quality care. By using these straightforward assessments, we can gather high-quality data across a wide geographic area, making brain health monitoring a routine and integrated part of community public health initiatives.
Access to fresh produce, education, and stable income are essential components of long-term brain health. How do you intend to bridge the gap between clinical data and these social determinants of health within the Pueblo of Jemez, and what metrics will define your success?
Bridging the gap between clinical data and social determinants means recognizing that a patient’s ability to recall a list of words is directly tied to their access to nutrition, stable income, and health education. In the Pueblo of Jemez, I intend to use the neurocognitive data we collect to advocate for better resources, showing how a lack of fresh produce or everyday healthcare directly impacts the cognitive longevity of our community members. Success will be defined by more than just numbers; it will be measured by our ability to ensure everyone who needs help actually receives it and by the stabilization of health trends in our surveillance data. I am focused on doing this work well because the health of our community depends on a holistic approach that treats the environment and the economy as critical components of the medical record.
Your future plans include pursuing a Ph.D. in Health Equity Sciences while simultaneously serving as a tribal epidemiologist. How will you balance these academic goals with the immediate needs of your community, and what role will clinical psychological training play in your long-term strategy?
I am in this for the long haul, and I realize that balancing a Ph.D. in Health Equity Sciences with my role as a tribal epidemiologist requires a deep commitment to staying rooted in New Mexico. The academic work provides the high-level research tools necessary to address systemic inequities, while my role with the Tribe ensures that I am always there to help at home and address the immediate needs of my neighbors. Following my Ph.D., I plan to earn a Doctor of Psychology degree because I believe that formal neuropsychological training is the essential final piece of the puzzle for the field I am building. This long-term strategy is about becoming a multifaceted resource for my community, ensuring I have the expertise to not only track diseases but to provide the actual clinical care and psychological support our people deserve.
What is your forecast for the field of Indigenous neuropsychological epidemiology?
I forecast that this field will become a vital pillar of tribal sovereignty, allowing Indigenous communities to take full control of their own health data and cognitive wellness strategies. As we continue to integrate neurocognitive testing with traditional epidemiological surveillance, we will see a significant shift toward early intervention for conditions like vascular dementia and developmental disorders, specifically tailored to the unique cultural and social contexts of tribal lands. I believe we will move toward a model where brain health is monitored as naturally as blood pressure, leading to a future where Indigenous peoples have the specialized resources and data they need to thrive for generations. Ultimately, this field will prove that when we protect the brain health of a community, we are protecting its history, its language, and its future.
