The Emmy-nominated documentary WALKING INTO THE UNKNOWN traces the The Emmy-nominated documentary WALKING INTO THE UNKNOWN traces the intimate journey of an American Indian physician and national health intimate journey of an American Indian physician and national health columnist as he navigates the health care system and gains a deeper columnist as he navigates the health care system and gains a deeper understanding of himself and his health risks. Dr. Arne Vainio works understanding of himself and his health risks. Dr. Arne Vainio works on the Fond du Lac (Ojibwe) Reservation in northern Minnesota, where on the Fond du Lac (Ojibwe) Reservation in northern Minnesota, where his Native patients face grim health statistics. His impending 50th his Native patients face grim health statistics. His impending 50th birthday - coupled with his frustration with middle-aged Native men birthday - coupled with his frustration with middle-aged Native men who avoid health screenings - prompts a revelation: he needs to heed who avoid health screenings - prompts a revelation: he needs to heed his own advice. At high risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and his own advice. At high risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer, Vainio chooses to confront the health issues that jeopardize cancer, Vainio chooses to confront the health issues that jeopardize his future by undergoing medical screenings, making diet changes and his future by undergoing medical screenings, making diet changes and adopting a lifestyle necessary to prevent a fatal outcome. This adopting a lifestyle necessary to prevent a fatal outcome. This poignant story reveals Dr. Vainio's vulnerability as he reverses poignant story reveals Dr. Vainio's vulnerability as he reverses roles and finds himself a patient. The program also includes several roles and finds himself a patient. The program also includes several powerful testimonials from community members who have experienced the powerful testimonials from community members who have experienced the premature loss of Native men in their families, along with premature loss of Native men in their families, along with explanations of several diagnostic tests told from the patient's explanations of several diagnostic tests told from the patient's point of view. point of view.

The Emmy-nominated documentary WALKING INTO THE UNKNOWN traces the The Emmy-nominated documentary WALKING INTO THE UNKNOWN traces the intimate journey of an American Indian physician and national health intimate journey of an American Indian physician and national health columnist as he navigates the health care system and gains a deeper columnist as he navigates the health care system and gains a deeper understanding of himself and his health risks. Dr. Arne Vainio works understanding of himself and his health risks. Dr. Arne Vainio works on the Fond du Lac (Ojibwe) Reservation in northern Minnesota, where on the Fond du Lac (Ojibwe) Reservation in northern Minnesota, where his Native patients face grim health statistics. His impending 50th his Native patients face grim health statistics. His impending 50th birthday - coupled with his frustration with middle-aged Native men birthday - coupled with his frustration with middle-aged Native men who avoid health screenings - prompts a revelation: he needs to heed who avoid health screenings - prompts a revelation: he needs to heed his own advice. At high risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and his own advice. At high risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer, Vainio chooses to confront the health issues that jeopardize cancer, Vainio chooses to confront the health issues that jeopardize his future by undergoing medical screenings, making diet changes and his future by undergoing medical screenings, making diet changes and adopting a lifestyle necessary to prevent a fatal outcome. This adopting a lifestyle necessary to prevent a fatal outcome. This poignant story reveals Dr. Vainio's vulnerability as he reverses poignant story reveals Dr. Vainio's vulnerability as he reverses roles and finds himself a patient. The program also includes several roles and finds himself a patient. The program also includes several powerful testimonials from community members who have experienced the powerful testimonials from community members who have experienced the premature loss of Native men in their families, along with premature loss of Native men in their families, along with explanations of several diagnostic tests told from the patient's explanations of several diagnostic tests told from the patient's point of view. point of view.