The Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) is proud to announce that Tara Reed-Cooper has officially transitioned into her new role as Associate Director of Career Development within the Human Resources Department—a role she began shaping earlier this year.
Since January, Tara has been working diligently behind the scenes to build a strategic framework designed to better serve Tribal members and the broader community through focused career development initiatives. Her new position reflects CIHA’s commitment to fostering long-term economic mobility and healthcare career pathways for members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
In this role, Tara is tasked with:
• Developing targeted career programs for current staff and community members
• Facilitating mentorship, coaching, and leadership development opportunities
• Collaborating across departments and with external partners to enhance recruitment and career pipelines
• Promoting healthcare careers through direct community engagement
• Leveraging data to continually refine and improve programming
With a deep understanding of CIHA’s mission and values—including Integrity, Engagement, Stewardship, and Compassion—Tara is uniquely positioned to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Beginning next week, Tara will hit the road for a series of community club visits to introduce herself in this new role and share opportunities available through CIHA, including training, career ladder support, and professional development resources.
Her tour schedule is as follows:
• Monday, April 28 @ 6:00 PM – Painttown Community Club
• Tuesday, April 29 @ 6:00 PM – Snowbird Community Club
• Tuesday, May 6:
o 6:00 PM – Yellowhill Community Club
o 7:00 PM – Big Cove Community Club
o 8:00 PM – Wolftown Community Club
• Monday, May 12 @ 7:30 PM – Birdtown Community Club
• Tuesday, May 13 @ 7:00 PM – Towstring Community Club
Tara’s work is rooted in a vision of building a stronger, more resilient workforce that reflects the values and talents of the Cherokee people. Her leadership in this role is poised to make a meaningful impact not only within CIHA but across the community for years to come.
To learn more about Career Development opportunities at CIHA, contact Tara Reed-Cooper at 828.788.6384 or via email at Tara.Reed-Cooper@Cherokeehospital.org.