SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC)

“When I started optometry school, there were only about 25% women in the field, and there were very few American Indians/Alaska Natives. I felt very alone when they released the national demographics. They reported 0% AI/AN students in optometry school. I said, “That can’t be right,” because I am a student. The reply was that there were not enough AI/AN students to be reported with <0.5%. I was very disappointed. I literally didn’t count.” Dr. Pamela Steffes is the SEARHC Clinical Director of Optometry Services. Her mother was a nurse at SEARHC for many years. When Dr. Steffes was in high school, the SEARHC optometrist was a female American Indian provider, Dr. Salisa Williams from Oklahoma. Dr. Williams would continue to be a mentor for Dr. Steffes during her time at optometry school. Despite the challenges that education in the Lower 48 brings, Southeast Alaska came together to support Dr. Steffes in her growth through scholarships from Sealaska, Shee Atika, and Sitka Tribe of Alaska as well as encouragement from family, friends, elders and former teachers. “No two days are ever the same, but each day is rewarding. It’s such a gift to work with our patients and help them understand the importance of eye health and enable them to see to their best potential.” Thank you, Dr. Steffes, for the work you have done and the work you continue to do!

“I want to make people happy and provide the compassion, happiness and love that everyone deserves. Seeing someone leave the facility and knowing that I made them laugh or smile, that makes my day.” Karl Torgramsen, Wrangell Medical Center Over Karl Torgramsen’s three years with SEARHC, he has transitioned from Medical Assistant to Patient Access Representative. We want to thank Karl for the work he does making our patients feel welcome, comfortable and cared for.

We are so happy to welcome Cynthia Gordon to the SEARHC team! Cynthia is a registered nurse and certified diabetes care and education specialist. She has extensive experience providing diabetes education and empowering persons with Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes to manage blood glucose and their health to avoid complications. A fun fact about Cynthia, she loves to travel and has visited 25 countries (so far). Her favorite countries include Greece, Scotland and Japan. If you would like to schedule an appointment to receive diabetes care or education, please call 907.463.0400 or visit https://searhc.org/

😁 This week, we are celebrating our CNAs! 🥳 Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) offer so much to their patients. They offer compassion. They offer attentive care. They offer their knowledge, their time and their hard work. In the spirit of National Nursing Assistants’ week, please join us in extending gratitude to the CNAs of SEARHC. There’s plenty of ways to say thank you: ✅ Write them a letter! ✅ Bring them a small, heartfelt gift. ✅ Tag the CNA in your life in the comments below with a thank you note!

🥳 With joy, gratitude and pride, SEARHC wishes everyone a happy Celebration 2024! 🥳 What a wonderful opportunity that we all get to experience another Celebration together. We hope to visit with everyone at the SEARHC booth in the Carving Studio at the Celebration Native Artist Market on the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus, June 6 - June 8. Our team members, including some of our amazing providers, look forward to sharing employment and training opportunities as well as community resources. We hope to see you there!

🎉 After seven days on the open water, the SEARHC canoe has landed! 🛶 Well done to all those who joined the arduous Journey to Juneau! We are so glad you’ve made it safely to Celebration! For each person in the canoe, this was an enriching journey of the mind, body and spirit. Out on the waters, far away from cell reception, our paddlers have had a rare opportunity to connect with each other, with their environment and with the Alaska Native cultures that unite so many people across the communities we serve.  After a week of hard, athletic labor, learning about themselves and their spirits along the way, we are so proud and grateful to welcome them to Celebration 2024!

🛶 The SEARHC canoe has set out from Wrangell and is on the way to Celebration! 🛶 We are so proud to be a part of Celebration. Events like this, where we embody and honor the traditions of so many of our community members, patients and providers, are a cornerstone of physical, mental and spiritual health. Celebration is one of the largest gatherings of Alaska Native peoples from Southeast Alaska, occurring every two years. Events include art and food contests, traditional songs and dances, storytelling and more. Canoes originate from all over Southeast Alaska, coming to land in Juneau for the 4-day festival. The SEARHC canoe supports 16 Wrangell and Petersburg-based paddlers. They are a diverse group: Alaska Native, non-Native, men and women, young adults, middle-aged and elders. Each of them brings their own beautiful story with them on the Journey to Juneau. They left Wrangell on May 29, passed through Petersburg on May 30 and will be camping along the way until they get to Juneau on June 4. Seven days at sea! We wish our crew a safe and enriching journey.

📢 Exciting News from SEARHC! 🌟 We are thrilled to announce Dr. Cate Buley, FAAFP FACHE appointment to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at SEARHC. Dr. Buley has been a dedicated leader at SEARHC since 2003, and we look forward to her leadership in further advancing our mission. Dr. Buley succeeds Dr. Elliot Bruhl, who is returning to Minnesota to practice medicine at the Mayo Clinic and to care for members of his family. We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Bruhl for his 21 years of remarkable service and leadership. Join us in congratulating Dr. Buley on her new role! 🎉👏 Read the full press release here: https://ow.ly/SHrS50S2t0Q #SEARHC #HealthcareLeadership #CommunityHealth #CongratulationsDrBuley

Meet Alice Berg, PA-C! 🌟 Certified by the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), Alice brings a unique blend of expertise to her practice. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Master of Science in Fisheries from Humboldt State University, and a Master in Health Sciences (MHS) in Physician Assistant Studies from UC Davis, her educational background is as diverse as her approach to patient care. Alice's dedication to "root cause" medicine means she delves deep to uncover the underlying factors behind your health concerns. Providing primary care services at Vintage Park in Juneau, she's committed to forming therapeutic partnerships with her patients, ensuring personalized and comprehensive care every step of the way. Beyond the clinic, Alice enjoys the great outdoors. From backcountry skiing to open-water swimming, she embraces an active lifestyle that mirrors her passion for holistic health.

Thank you to the Wrangell Sentinel for covering the launch of the SEARHC canoe. The team has pushed off the shores of Shtax'héen Kwáan (Wrangell), toward Áakʼw Ḵwáan Aaní (Juneau), roughly a 150-mile journey to Celebration, the biennial Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultural event. Follow our pullers as they make the Journey at https://lnkd.in/gvM7u-Un.