Northern Oklahoma College alumni Willie J. Street MPAS, PA-C will be inducted into the NOC Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame April 1 along with fellow inductees Dr. Jim Appleman and Jeff Medders.

They will be honored in ceremonies taking place during the NOC Alumni and Friends Reunion Dinner in the Renfro Center at NOC Tonkawa at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 1.

Also, the Class of 1973 will be honored at the event.

As a physician assistant with Phillips 66 Health Services, Willie leverages over three decades of clinical expertise to ensure the highest level of healthcare service is delivered to the staff at the Ponca City refinery. He is an innovative healthcare professional who rises up in the face of adversity to conquer the most challenging situations in highly complex environments. His professional and clinical focus is on the staff’s health, safety, and wellbeing, while also deliberately influencing the emergency response and corporate care environment for Phillips 66 Health Services.

Willie is a member of the Tonkawa tribe and a descendant of the Cherokee and Ponca tribes.

A lifelong resident of Oklahoma, he was raised in a challenging home environment, losing his mother at a young age. Helping his father, he guided the family’s welfare as a first-generation high school and college graduate.

At NOC, Willie found direction and support from influential staff and instructors to complete his associate of science degree program in 1982. This success lit the passion in Willie to enter healthcare as a professional provider. However, his path to that career would not be easy, and it was only through determination, hard work and resilience that he was able to achieve his goals. The next phase of his journey saw Willie enter the blue collar workforce, and then Wichita State University part-time while earning certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).Through the hard work as an EMT, hospital cardiac monitor technician and nursing assistant, this confirmed his true calling for healthcare. Willie ultimately graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in health science and bachelor’s degree as a physician assistant in 1992. During his time at WSU, he was named Outstanding Minority Student by the President of WSU and the Sandra Sommers Memorial Scholar by the Kansas Academy of Physician Assistants. In 2022, Willie obtained a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas Rio Grande.Willie credits his wife of 39 years, LuAnn, for her support, inspiration, and encouragement that has been the foundation to his career aspirations and accomplishments.

After graduation, Willie built a dynamic and broadranging career in healthcare. He immediately went to work serving the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations of Oklahoma.Because of his excellence in delivering healthcare services and his natural leadership abilities, he was chosen to be the Director of Ambulatory Services for Choctaw Nation, responsible for five clinics covering eleven counties in Eastern Oklahoma. In addition to his work with the Native American tribes in Eastern Oklahoma, Willie worked with Stigler Hospital to provide medical care to poor and underserved Oklahomans in rural Haskell County, working out of makeshift clinics set up in trailers.

In 2000, he moved back to his hometown of Tonkawa to fulfill his long-held desire to provide quality healthcare to the surrounding communities through a partnership with his wife and Dr. Paul Briggs. In this practice, he served the local communities and rural residents, focusing on his passion – improving the quality and quantity of healthcare available to Oklahomans in underserved rural and indigenous communities.

During his time at the helm of Tonkawa Healthcare Services, Willie demonstrated his commitment to serving tribal populations by participating in the Tonkawa and Ponca tribe health fairs, serving on the Kaw Nation Health Board and continuously advocating for better access to quality healthcare. Willie was also extensively active in the local community in many ways, including volunteering for the Tonkawa Fire/EMS department, coaching little league baseball, giving presentations on health topics to elementary and mid-high students and senior citizen groups, along with supporting the annual Relay for Life Program. Over those 10 years, Willie also provided medical coverage for all THS football games, along with conducting annual sports physicals to local mid-high and high school athletes, with all proceeds being donated to the Tonkawa High School Athletic Department.

Willie eventually transitioned to service with Phillips 66 Health Services, taking his successes to a new level in a corporate environment. At the Ponca City refinery, he was instrumental in obtaining state certification as an Emergency Medical Response Agency, offering onsite accredited and licensed EMR/EMT training. He also contributed to the development of the now corporate-wide medical rehab program to prevent injuries to first responders while training or responding to emergencies. During the pandemic, Willie was the medical team leader of a COVID response team that provided vaccines for over 2,000 Phillips 66 employees, contractors, teachers, law enforcement, and officials.

Willie has always been committed to his family, as well as giving back to and serving the local community. In his free time, he enjoys attending church, live sporting events, and spending quality time with family and friends. He is a loving husband and father of six adult children, six grandchildren, and his fur baby Charlie, the miniature beagle.